Everton have confirmed the return of David Moyes as the permanent manager, replacing the recently departed Sean Dyche.
Moyes, who spent over a decade at Goodison Park, initially joined the club in March 2002 and left to manage Manchester United in 2013, following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. Although the Scottish manager did not secure any trophies during his tenure, he consistently kept Everton out of relegation battles and guided them to top-five finishes on three occasions.
Since Moyes’ departure, Everton have only finished above seventh place once, with recent seasons spent fighting relegation.
Dyche, who had successfully steered the club through two relegation battles, was dismissed just hours before Everton’s FA Cup win over Peterborough. The decision came shortly after the Friedkin Group, the club’s new owners, assumed majority control of the club three weeks ago.
“It’s great to be back!” Moyes told Everton’s website. “I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club. I’m excited to be working with The Friedkin Group and I look forward to helping them rebuild the club.”
He added, “Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players in this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”
The club’s new executive chairman, Marc Watts, expressed confidence in Moyes’ leadership, saying, “We are pleased that David is joining us at this pivotal time in Everton’s history. With over a decade of experience at the club, he is the right leader to propel us through our final season at Goodison Park and into our new stadium.”
Moyes’ primary focus will be to widen Everton’s precarious one-point gap from the relegation zone as the club strives to secure Premier League survival this season.
