Nearly a decade since his departure as Everton manager and almost 23 years since he first took charge of the club, David Moyes has returned for a second spell at the helm. His appointment follows the dismissal of Sean Dyche, whose sacking was announced on Thursday, hours before Everton’s 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory over Peterborough United. It was officially confirmed on Saturday morning that Moyes has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Here’s a look at the key tasks that await the 61-year-old as he settles back into the manager’s office at the club’s Finch Farm training complex in Halewood.
Assembling His Backroom Staff
Following the announcement of Moyes’ return, which included quotes from both Moyes and Everton’s executive chairman Marc Watts, it was stated that “further announcements on David’s staff will follow in due course.” During his first tenure, former Everton player Alan Irvine began as Moyes’ assistant manager, but after leaving in 2007 to take charge of Preston North End, Steve Round, formerly of Newcastle United, joined the Blues the following year.
Round, who most recently worked on Mikel Arteta’s staff at Arsenal, is currently available and could be rejoining Moyes at Everton. Additionally, Billy McKinlay, Moyes’ assistant at West Ham United, is expected to reunite with him at Everton. There is also speculation that Alan Irvine, now 66, could return to the club, and Leighton Baines, who was in caretaker charge for the match against Peterborough, might join the staff as well. Baines, whom Moyes signed for a club-record £6 million in 2007, is also being tipped for a role.
Moyes will also need to make a decision about the goalkeeping coach position. Alan Kelly, who was let go by Dyche after taking time off for surgery, was replaced by Billy Mercer, but Mercer left with Dyche. Chris Woods, 65, who served as a goalkeeping coach under Moyes and was brought to Everton by Walter Smith in 1998, has been mentioned as a potential returnee.
January Transfer Business
Everton are awaiting confirmation that they will not face additional sanctions under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, though the club is optimistic that they will avoid further penalties after last season’s points deductions. Despite the significant personal fortune of owner Dan Friedkin, estimated at $11.3 billion (£9.26 billion), Financial Fair Play restrictions will limit Everton’s ability to make major signings this month.
There is hope that Moyes, known for his recruitment expertise, will be able to make strategic additions in the January transfer window. Right-wing is considered a priority, as on-loan players Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom have yet to register a goal or assist this season. There is also a need for additional cover at left-back, where Vitalii Mykolenko has had a patchy run of form.
Getting to Know New Faces
While many staff members at Everton will be familiar with Moyes from his first tenure, the same cannot be said for all the players. With a generation gap since his previous spell, some of the current squad were not even born when Moyes initially took charge in 2002.
Seamus Coleman, who Moyes signed from Sligo Rovers for a mere £60,000 in January 2009, is the only player remaining from his first tenure, though Moyes has previously worked with other squad members. Ashley Young and Michael Keane were both at Manchester United during Moyes’ brief spell at Old Trafford, although Young was a regular in the team, while Keane was still a young player looking to make his Premier League debut.
One player Moyes knows well is England’s number one goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Now 30, Pickford is Everton’s most capped England player, with 73 appearances for his country. He is set to make his 300th Everton appearance in Moyes’ first game back, against Aston Villa. Pickford and Moyes worked together at Sunderland in 2016, when the goalkeeper had made only three first-team appearances. Despite Sunderland’s relegation that season, Pickford’s performances earned him a £25 million move to Everton in 2017.
David Moyes has three immediate tasks as Everton backroom team to be formed
