David Moyes has spoken about his negotiations with The Friedkin Group that brought him back to Everton while outlining his ambitions for his second spell with the club
Returning Everton manager David Moyes has spoken about his negotiations with The Friedkin Group that brought him back to Goodison Park while outlining his ambitions for a second spell with the Blues. The Scot was previously in charge of Everton between 2002-13, steering them to nine top half finishes, including their highest ever Premier League position of fourth in 2004/05.
Moyes explained how Everton’s new owners, who completed their takeover to obtain Farhad Moshiri’s entire stake in the club on December 19, came to him offering the position.
Moyes is understood to have held Zoom calls with USA-based Everton chairman and TFG chief executive Dan Friedkin and executive chairman Marc Watts before Sean Dyche’s departure was announced on Thursday before meeting Watts in person on Merseyside over the weekend, along with TFG’s vice president of sports investment strategy Brian Walker.
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In terms of what TFG wanted and the questions they asked, Moyes said: “My experience and knowledge of the club a little bit, but I have been away for a long time. I do think I have an idea of what the supporters like and what’s required. We need to give the supporters what they want. I think the owners might help use me as someone they can bounce ideas off, as well.”
He added: “The moment they came on they were saying: ‘We want you in the job’ They weren’t saying it was an interview, put it that way. They wanted to know where I was at. Overall, they were very keen to get me in. They are new to it. They were a bit stunned this happened so quickly. They were hoping to be in a situation where SD would see the season out and then see where it goes from there.”
Although Moyes is Everton’s longest serving manager of the Premier League era, more time has elapsed since he’s been away but during that period of almost a dozen years, he has built up a huge bank of further experience, with plenty of highs and lows. Following his short-lived tenure at Manchester United, he had a spell overseas coaching Real Sociedad in Spain before suffering Premier League relegation with Sunderland but then lifting his first major trophy at West Ham United as he guided them to glory in the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023, exorcising his Fiorentina demons with the Blues after their UEFA Cup penalty shoot-out exit to the Tuscans in 2008.
Asked what he can achieve this time, Moyes said: “It is what I need to do again. Somebody asked if we are in a worse or better position than when I took over last time.
“I think just because of the scrutiny of football and the time you get in a job and the way the world works, maybe it is a more difficult time now. They have just come through a couple of difficult years anyway, staying away from the bottom and the financial situation really difficult.
“I hope I can regenerate the club. I am excited by the thought of everything going well and getting into the new stadium.
“I really am. I would love the opportunity to do that.
“I am excited coming to Goodison, too. I was a young coach hoping it would go right and now I am older and wiser. I know I have to get it right.”
