David Moyes wants to get the old West Ham band back together in more ways than one after returning to the game with Everton.
After leaving West Ham in the summer David Moyes is officially back in football.
The former Hammers boss has returned to Premier League rivals Everton for a second spell.
Moyes made his name with the Toffees during a memorable 11-year dynasty.
After difficult periods at Man United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland, Moyes did a superb job over two different spells at West Ham.
Highlights included ending West Ham’s 43-year trophy draught with the Europa Conference League triumph, a record Premier League points tally, two top seven finishes and Europa League semi and quarter-final appearances.
Moyes has been out of work since West Ham decided to part ways with the Scot.
He has waited for the right opportunity to come along and has now signed up to a romantic Everton return as they look to transition to their new stadium in the summer as a Premier League team.
West Ham’s attempt to replace Moyes proved disastrous.
The Hammers made the wrong hire in Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked this week after just six wins in 20 league games.
Moyes was actually tenuously linked with a third Hammers spell ahead of Lopetegui’s sacking.
Moyes wants old West Ham staff at Everton
But that was never realistically on the cards.
West Ham beat Everton to Graham Potter as Lopetegui’s replacement.
And now Everton have announced Moyes’ return to Goodison.
The club has notably not revealed the length of Moyes’ contract.
West Ham fans will be following the goings-on at Everton very closely.
Especially as Moyes wants his old West Ham staff at Everton and it’s inevitable he’ll try for two Hammers stars next.
The Toffees were only offering Moyes an initial six-month deal.
But he wanted a longer term commitment of two-and-a-half or three years to give him time to succeed.
According to reports Moyes is now planning a reunion with his old Hammers staff Alan Irvine and Billy McKinlay on Merseyside.
Irvine had to quit as Moyes’ assistant at West Ham due to family commitments in the north. But that won’t be an issue now.
McKinlay worked with Moyes over his two spells with the Irons.
It may not be the only West Ham reunion Moyes is planning at Everton, though.
Inevitable Moyes will try for two Hammers stars next
Two players he signed while Hammers boss were far and away his favourites.
Moyes affectionately refers to Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal as ‘my Czech boys’.
He consistently picks Soucek and Coufal out for praise, saying they were key in transforming the culture during his time at the London Stadium.
In fact when he received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours, Moyes dedicated it to West Ham and then said he wants his old club to do well due to his affinity with the likes of Soucek and Coufal.
Soucek remains a key player for West Ham.
But many believe he will ultimately not fit into the way Potter wants West Ham to play.
Meanwhile Coufal has been heavily linked with a move away from West Ham.
Especially after the club signed Aaron Wan-Bissaka for £15m in the summer.
The Hammers have admitted they need to make sales in order to make signings in the January transfer window.
Whether they would be willing to offload one or both of Soucek and Coufal remains to be seen.
West Ham’s midfield is a problem area. Losing Soucek would be very risky. But if it allowed the club to raise significant funds to buy a replacement who fits Potter’s plan then Moyes may have some hope of pulling it off.
Coufal is more realistic for the Toffees.
But that would leave the Hammers without a recognised back-up at right-back.
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