Scottish Professional Football coach, David Moyes, was one of the most celebrated managers in the initial years of his career. Amidst ups and downs further down his career, it looks like Moyes found his old self in West Ham. He led West Ham United to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and a European qualification spot last season.
We are delighted to announce that manager David Moyes has signed a new three-year contract with the Club! ✍️
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 12, 2021
This is only the third time in the club’s history that they finish in a European qualification spot. In doing so, they also accumulated their highest total point tally in the league. An achievement that has rightfully earned David Moyes a contract extension, West Ham fans will be delighted with the News.
PROFILE
Moyes started his professional career as a coach with Preston North End. The ex-Preston player started as a coach for the club before moving higher up the ranks until he finally took the managerial role in 1998. He led the club to the Division Two title the next season and the Division One playoffs in the following year.
"I am delighted to have committed my future to West Ham United. This is where I want to be and I’m happy. I’m excited to be given this opportunity to build on what we all have already achieved here."
🗣 David Moyes on signing his new long-term contract…
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 12, 2021
THE EVERTON JOB
Moyes was a renowned centre-back for Celtic, making over five hundred appearances for the club. His achievement with Preston and his popularity caught the eye of Everton. In 2002, Moyes was appointed as the Manager of Everton Football Club. Three years later, Everton finished fourth in the Premier League; their highest finish since 1988. A finish that gave them an opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League, something that they had failed to do since the 1970s.
David Moyes' Premier League record in charge of Everton (2002-2013): 40.5% win rate
David Moyes' Premier League record since leaving Everton (2013-): 31.3% win rate pic.twitter.com/3XZz1GVke0
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 25, 2019
Under David Moyes, Everton also reached the FA Cup final in 2009. They also consistently finished between the 5th and 8th place in the League. In 2013, when he left Everton, he was the longest-serving manager in the league only behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. His tenacity was rewarded with a management role in Manchester United.
THE DOWNFALL
However, the timing of his appointment was not ideal. He was the successor to Ferguson, a shadow he could not escape. Even though Moyes boasted a better win percentage at United than he did at Everton, his achievements were constantly compared to his predecessor, one he could not match. The manager did not get enough time to settle and after ten months, he was sacked.
Manchester Evening News stated, “Moyes never sounded or managed like a United manager. United got an Everton manager, Everton coaches, an Everton player and achieved an Everton finish; seventh”
Moyes travelled to Spain to take charge of Real Sociedad the following season. He had a decent initial season, which included a victory against Barcelona. However, he was sacked following a poor start to the season.
📉 West Ham have picked up the fewest points per game in the Premier League in 2020 (0.6)
🗓️ David Moyes' first game in charge was January 1st pic.twitter.com/25iXn2977F
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 29, 2020
In 2016, David Moyes made his return to the Premier League to take charge of Sunderland. The club was relegated that season; their first relegation in ten years, and Moyes’s first. Although Moyes said he would remain at the club, he resigned shortly afterwards.
THE REVIVAL
In November 2017, he was appointed as West Ham manager and led them out of the relegation zone. However, surprisingly, his six-month-long contract was not renewed. In December 2019, Moyes was re-appointed as the Hammers boss on a year and a half contract.
Following his re-appointment, he made the following comment:
David Moyes will become only the 4th manager in #PL history to take charge of 500 matches when @WestHamUtd take on Watford
Ten key Matchweek 12 stats ➡️ https://t.co/LjGXacrMtC pic.twitter.com/EifplB6esR
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 15, 2017
In his 65 games so far, Moyes has managed 29 wins and lost 23 times. He recorded a win percentage of 44.62, which is less than his stat at Everton. The bigger picture suggests that Moyes might be en route to beat the record he set at Everton. Moyes’s scintillating transformation has led many to believe that he might just be the right man for the job. Overwhelming praise for the manager has been pouring in and it looks like there is much more to come.
THE TRANSFORMATION
Manuel Pellegrini left the club just one point away from the relegation zone. Nobody in the football community predicted that the team would finish sixth in the season that followed, especially with David Moyes at the helm. Moyes has done a phenomenal job at West Ham. The results are proof of the excellent management skills the scot has carried out.
https://twitter.com/FootTheBall/status/1397281627286302722
In what seemed like a lack of ambition when the club signed David Moyes, the recent form has outright brushed aside any concern. The 55-year-old mentioned in one of his interviews that he had changed his approach to management. Rather than being the shrewd figure, he is trying to be the new friendly manager that incorporates the new techniques of management.
⚽️ Since making his debut, @JesseLingard has scored more league goals (3) than any other West Ham player
📝 His fine performances under David Moyes have the Hammers dreaming of a Champions League finish 👇
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 24, 2021
Though he still hasn’t forgotten his touch in the transfer market, shrewd and intelligent. Most of the Manger’s acquisitions has made a positive impact in the league. The loan deal for Jesse Lingard being one standout move among others.
The manager identified the lack of work ethic that was present before he came in and let go of all that he didn’t need. Apart from bringing in some key figures, he also transformed the men already at his disposal. Declan Rice’s meteoric rise is a key marker for the same. The so-called defensive midfielder is now playing the kind of football that has gained recognition among the elite clubs in football.
POTENTIAL TRANSFERS
Chelsea outcast Tammy Abraham has been on the radar for the Hammers for a while now. Considering the fact that most of West Ham’s goals have come from midfield or wing roles, it would be a wise decision to bring a striker to add a different dimension. With the recent success, Moyes is likely to be given a bigger pocket to invest from and the Chelsea forward looks like the ideal target too.
David Moyes 'ready' to sign Jesse Lingard #mufc https://t.co/erjz8FJL2R pic.twitter.com/3ERDancO5k
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) June 11, 2021
There are other potential areas that need improvement as well. With a notion of investing for the future, Alex Kral from Spartak Moscow and Adam Hlozek from Sparta Prague seem like the ideal signings too. The former is a 23-year-old midfielder that looks set to leap over to the bigger stages. Adam Hlozek is just eighteen and could be the prospect that West Ham desperately lacks.
With all the success and impending decisions, it will be a treat to see how David Moyes fares at West Ham next season. Will he take the right decisions once again? It seems so, and West Ham will hope that they once again made the right decision.
