David Moyes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
David Moyes
OBE

Moyes in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth	(1963-04-25) 25 April 1963 (age 62)
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Centre-back
Club information
Current club	Everton (manager)
Youth career
0000–1978	ÍBV
1978–1980	Drumchapel Amateurs
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1980–1983	Celtic	24	(0)
1983–1985	Cambridge United	79	(1)
1985–1987	Bristol City	83	(3)
1987–1990	Shrewsbury Town	96	(11)
1990–1992	Dunfermline Athletic	105	(13)
1992–1993	Hamilton Academical	5	(0)
1993–1998	Preston North End	143	(15)
Total		535	(43)
National team
1980	Scotland U18
Teams managed
1998–2002	Preston North End
2002–2013	Everton
2013–2014	Manchester United
2014–2015	Real Sociedad
2016–2017	Sunderland
2017–2018	West Ham United
2019–2024	West Ham United
2025–	Everton
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

David William Moyes (born 25 April 1963) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player. He currently manages Premier League club Everton. He has been named LMA Manager of the Year three times. He also helps lead the League Managers Association.

Moyes played as a centre-back for over 540 league games. He started his playing career with Celtic, where he won a championship. He also played for Cambridge United, Bristol City, Shrewsbury Town, and Dunfermline Athletic. He finished his playing days with Preston North End. He then became a coach at Preston and later their manager in 1998. Moyes led Preston to win the Division Two title in 1999–2000. They also reached the play-off final for promotion to the Premier League the next season.

In March 2002, Moyes became the manager of Everton. Under his leadership, Everton finished fourth in the league in 2004–05. This was their highest finish since 1988. They also played in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. This was their first time in that competition since 1970–71. Moyes also guided Everton to the 2008–09 FA Cup final. They were runners-up, which was their best FA Cup result since 1995. Everton usually finished between fifth and eighth in the league under Moyes. When he left, he was the longest-serving manager in the league after Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger. He had been there for 11 years and 3 months.

Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United in June 2013. However, he was sacked after only 10 months. The club was in seventh place and could not qualify for European competitions. Moyes then became head coach of Spanish club Real Sociedad in November 2014. He was sacked again after less than a year. In July 2016, he became manager of Sunderland. He resigned at the end of the 2016–17 season after the club was moved down to a lower league.

Moyes was appointed manager of West Ham in November 2017. He helped the club avoid being moved down and finished 13th. He left when his contract ended. He returned to West Ham for a second time in December 2019. During his second time there, West Ham finished in the top seven twice in a row. In 2023, they won the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. They beat Fiorentina in the final. This was the club's first major trophy in 43 years. Moyes left West Ham in 2024 and returned to Everton the next year.

Playing Career: How David Moyes Played Football

Club Career: Moyes on the Field

David Moyes started his football journey in Iceland. He played half a season with the youth team of ÍBV in 1978. Moyes played for many clubs, usually as a centre-back. He began at Celtic, where he won a championship medal. He played 24 league games for them. He finished his playing career with Preston North End.

While playing for Shrewsbury Town in 1987, Moyes started coaching. He coached at Concord College, a nearby private school. This helped him earn extra money. Moyes later played over one hundred games for Dunfermline Athletic. This was between 1990 and 1993. He even started in the 1991 Scottish League Cup final.

Moyes played in over 530 league games during his career. After playing, he became a coach at Preston. He worked his way up to assistant manager. Then, in 1998, he became the main manager.

International Career: Playing for Scotland

Moyes was the captain for Scotland's under-18 team. He played under Andy Roxburgh in 1980. Roxburgh later became a top technical director for UEFA.

Managerial Career: Moyes as a Coach

Preston North End: First Steps as a Manager

Moyes became the manager of Preston North End in January 1998. The club was struggling in Division Two. They were in danger of being moved down to a lower league. Moyes had prepared for management for a long time. He took coaching courses when he was only 22. He also kept notes on the managers he played under.

Preston avoided being moved down at the end of the 1997–98 season. The next season, they reached the Division Two play-offs. However, they lost to Gillingham in the semi-finals.

The following season, Moyes led Preston to win the Division Two title. This meant they were promoted to Division One. He then guided Preston to the Division One play-offs the season after. He did this with mostly the same players. Preston lost 3–0 to Bolton Wanderers in the final. This meant they missed out on promotion to the Premier League. Moyes signed a new five-year contract with the club a month later. He left Preston for Everton in March 2002. He managed Preston for 234 matches, winning 113 of them.

Everton: A Long and Successful Period

2002–2004: Starting at Everton

Moyes joined Everton on March 14, 2002. At his first press conference, he called Everton 'The People's Club'. He said it was a "fantastic opportunity". His first game was two days later against Fulham. Everton won 2–1.

Everton played well and avoided being moved down to a lower league. This was a real risk when Moyes first arrived. Everton had a rich history, but the past decade had not been very successful.

Moyes prepared for his first full season by signing new players. These included Li Tie, Joseph Yobo, and Richard Wright. He let go of older players like Jesper Blomqvist. Everton just missed out on qualifying for the UEFA Cup on the last day of the season. They finished seventh in the league. Moyes won the LMA Manager of the Year award for the first time. He also won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for November 2002.

For the 2003–04 season, Moyes signed Kevin Kilbane, James McFadden, and Nigel Martyn. Francis Jeffers also returned on loan. However, the team had poor results. Everton did not win a game in 2004 until late February. Everton finished 17th, just avoiding being moved down.

2004–2009: Reaching New Heights

In the summer of 2004, Moyes signed Tim Cahill and Marcus Bent. Cahill became one of Moyes' best signings, scoring 15 goals in his first season. Wayne Rooney left the club to join Manchester United. Moyes later had a disagreement with Rooney, but they settled it. Moyes gave the money from the settlement to a charity for former Everton players.

During the 2004–05 season, Everton did much better than expected. They finished fourth in the league. This earned them a spot in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. Moyes won the LMA Manager of the Year award again. He then broke Everton's transfer record to sign striker James Beattie. He also signed Mikel Arteta.

At the start of the 2005–06 season, Everton struggled again. They were fighting to avoid being moved down. They lost in the Champions League qualifiers and the UEFA Cup. Moyes signed several new players, including Phil Neville and made Arteta a permanent signing. They moved up from last place in October to finish 11th.

Moyes broke the club transfer record again in 2006. He bought Andrew Johnson for £8.6 million. Joleon Lescott and Tim Howard also joined the team. These players were very successful. Everton's league form improved, but their FA Cup record did not. They finished sixth in the league, qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

The 2007–08 season was very steady for Everton. They finished fifth in the league. They also reached the semi-final of the Football League Cup. They made it to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup. Moyes signed more important players, including Yakubu for a record £11.25 million. Steven Pienaar, Phil Jagielka, and Leighton Baines also joined. Everton became known for fair play, getting the fewest yellow cards in the league.

Moyes brought in Steve Round as his assistant manager for the 2008–09 season. New players included Lars Jacobsen, Segundo Castillo, and Louis Saha. On the last day of transfers, Moyes signed Marouane Fellaini for a club record £15 million. In October 2008, Moyes signed a new five-year contract. In April 2009, Moyes led his team to the 2008–09 FA Cup semi-final. They beat Manchester United in a penalty shoot-out. Everton reached the final for the first time since 1995. They lost 2–1 to Chelsea in the final.

2009–2013: Final Years at Everton

In the summer of 2009, Moyes sold Joleon Lescott to Manchester City for £22 million. With that money, Moyes signed Johnny Heitinga, Sylvain Distin, and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. He also brought back Jô on loan and signed Lucas Neill. Moyes was named Premier League Manager of the Month for January 2010. He managed his 600th game on February 6, 2010. Everton finished eighth that season.

In May 2010, Moyes said he might be interested in managing Celtic in the future. However, he did not apply for the job when it became open. In August 2010, Moyes said he was not interested in the Aston Villa manager job.

In September 2010, Moyes was fined £8,000 for his behavior towards a referee. In January 2012, Moyes became only the fourth manager to win 150 Premier League games. He celebrated his 400th Premier League game in November 2012.

When he reached his 10th anniversary at Everton, many other managers praised Moyes. His work for Everton was also praised in the UK Parliament.

On May 9, 2013, Moyes told Everton he would leave. He was going to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Three days later, Moyes managed his last game at Goodison Park. Everton fans held banners thanking him. Moyes said he was "gobsmacked and thankful" for their support.

Some Everton fans called Moyes "Dithering Dave". They thought he was sometimes slow to make decisions, especially about new players. Another criticism was his team's poor record against the "Big Four" clubs. These were Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool. His Everton team never won an away game against these teams.

Manchester United: A Short Stay

Moyes replaced Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United in 2013.

Moyes signed a six-year contract with Manchester United. He officially started on July 1, 2013. Sir Alex Ferguson had chosen Moyes as his replacement. A banner at Old Trafford read "The Chosen One". Moyes won his only trophy with Manchester United in his first official game. They beat Wigan Athletic 2–0 in the FA Community Shield. This made him the first United manager to win a trophy in his first season.

However, United had their worst start to a Premier League season. They lost to Liverpool, Manchester City, and West Bromwich Albion. On September 2, 2013, Moyes signed Marouane Fellaini. He reunited with his former player for £27.5 million.

In December, Manchester United lost home games to Everton and Newcastle United. This was the first time they lost two home league games in a row since 2001–02. United were ninth in the table. Moyes said he was responsible for the losses. However, he was confident his team would get better. United did well in the Champions League. They finished first in their group.

In January 2014, United were knocked out of the FA Cup. They lost to Swansea City at home. They also lost in the semi-final of the Football League Cup to Sunderland. In February, United lost to Stoke. After two big home losses to Liverpool and Manchester City, some fans flew a banner saying "Wrong One – Moyes Out". United won their next game 4–1. Moyes said most fans were supportive. The club reached the Champions League quarter-finals. They lost to Bayern Munich.

On April 20, 2014, United lost 2–0 at Everton. Two days later, United announced they had sacked Moyes. He was in charge for 10 months. This was one of the shortest manager stays in United's history. United were seventh in the league. They would not qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995. Moyes was replaced by Ryan Giggs temporarily. He received £5 million in compensation.

Some people criticized Moyes for sounding negative at United. He called rivals Liverpool "favourites" before a game. He also said Manchester City were "at the sort of level we are aspiring to".

Real Sociedad: An Adventure in Spain

Moyes as a coach of Real Sociedad in 2015

On November 10, 2014, Moyes became the new head coach of La Liga club Real Sociedad. He signed an 18-month deal. The team was in 15th place when he joined. His first game was a 0–0 draw against Deportivo La Coruña. Six days later, he got his first win at home. Carlos Vela scored three goals in a 3–0 win over Elche. On January 4, 2015, Moyes led Sociedad to a 1–0 win over Barcelona. This result was seen as a big achievement.

He was sacked on November 9, 2015. This was because of a poor start to the season.

Sunderland: A Difficult Season

On July 23, 2016, Moyes was appointed manager of Sunderland. He returned to the Premier League after leaving Manchester United.

Sunderland was moved down to the EFL Championship on April 29, 2017. This was the first time Moyes' team had been moved down. He said he wanted to stay as manager. However, he resigned on May 22, one day after the season ended.

West Ham United: Two Times a Hammer

Initial Stint (2017–2018): Saving West Ham

Moyes became manager of West Ham United on November 7, 2017. The team was in the relegation zone. His first game was a 2–0 loss to Watford. This was also his 500th Premier League game. On December 9, he got his first win as Hammers manager. Marko Arnautović scored the only goal against Chelsea.

On January 13, 2018, West Ham won 4–1 against Huddersfield. This was Moyes' 200th Premier League win. He became only the fourth manager to reach this goal. After a win against Leicester City, Moyes helped West Ham stay in the Premier League. His six-month contract ended on May 13, 2018, and he left the club.

Second Stint (2019–2024): Winning a European Trophy

Moyes in 2023

On December 29, 2019, Moyes returned to West Ham United. He signed an 18-month contract. He replaced Manuel Pellegrini, who had left the team near the relegation zone. Moyes said, "I win. I'm here to get West Ham wins."

His first game back was a 4–0 win against Bournemouth. West Ham finished 16th in the Premier League. Moyes' 19 games in charge earned 20 points.

In the 2020–21 season, Moyes led West Ham to a record 65 Premier League points. They finished sixth and qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League. The team won 19 Premier League games, a club record. West Ham fans started calling him "Moyesiah". In June 2021, Moyes signed a new three-year contract.

In the 2021–22 season, Moyes guided West Ham to a top-seven finish. They also reached the Europa League semi-final. This was the first time the club finished in the top seven in two seasons in a row.

In the 2022–23 season, Moyes led the club to win the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final. They beat Fiorentina. West Ham did not lose any games in the tournament. They won 12 games and drew one. West Ham finished 14th in the Premier League.

In February 2024, Moyes said he had been offered a new contract. However, he would wait until the end of the season to decide. On May 6, 2024, West Ham confirmed Moyes would leave the club. His contract ended at the close of the 2023–24 season.

Return to Everton: Back Home

On January 11, 2025, Moyes returned to Everton. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. He replaced Sean Dyche. Everton was 16th in the league at the time. On January 19, 2025, Moyes led Everton to their first win in six matches. They won 3-2 at home against Tottenham Hotspur.

Personal Life: Beyond the Pitch

David Moyes was born and grew up in Glasgow, Scotland. His family later moved to Bearsden. Moyes' father, David Sr, was a scout for Everton. He was also a coach at Drumchapel Amateurs, where Moyes started playing. His mother, Joan, was from Northern Ireland.

Moyes is a devout Christian. He often talked about his faith with other players. He does not often discuss his faith in interviews.

Moyes supports the Labour Party. In 2010, he supported Andy Burnham for party leader. During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, he supported Scotland staying in the UK.

In 2005, Moyes received an honorary award from Myerscough College. In 2017, he received another honorary award from the University of Central Lancashire.

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Moyes took a pay cut. This helped West Ham keep paying all their non-playing staff. He also delivered fruit and vegetables to people in need in his home village. On September 22, 2020, Moyes tested positive for COVID-19. He had to leave a game before it started.

In April 2021, Moyes suggested combining the English and Scottish football leagues. He also thought the Premier League could have two divisions.

Moyes was given an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award in 2025. This was for his services to football.

Managerial Statistics: Moyes' Record

Honours: Trophies and Awards

Player Achievements

Celtic

• Scottish Premier Division: 1981–82

Bristol City

• Associate Members' Cup: 1985–86

Dunfermline Athletic

• Scottish League Cup runners-up: 1991–92

Preston North End

• Football League Third Division: 1995–96

Manager Achievements

Preston North End

• Football League Second Division: 1999–2000

Everton

• FA Cup runners-up: 2008–09

Manchester United

• FA Community Shield: 2013

West Ham United

• UEFA Europa Conference League: 2022–23

Individual Awards

• LMA Manager of the Year: 2002–03, 2004–05, 2008–09
• Premier League Manager of the Month: November 2002, September 2004, January 2006, February 2008, February 2009, January 2010, March 2010, October 2010, September 2012, March 2013
• London Football Awards Manager of the Year: 2021, 2022

Special Recognition

• Officer of the Order of the British Empire: 2025

Images for kids

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  Moyes in 2006

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  Moyes managing Everton in 2010

See also

In Spanish: David Moyes para niños