Everton job ´too big an opportunity to turn down´, says Moyes

David Moyes says returning to Everton was “too big an opportunity to turn down” and is confident he can ease fears of a relegation battle at the club.

The 61-year-old returned to Merseyside on Saturday to replace Sean Dyche, who was dismissed just hours before Everton’s FA Cup tie against Peterborough United.

Moyes, who has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract, oversaw 518 games in all competitions in his first stint in charge of the Toffees, winning 218 of those, before leaving for Manchester United in 2013.

He has been out of work since leaving West Ham at the end of last season and admitted he had come close to returning to Everton a few times since leaving for Old Trafford.

“I’ve had other opportunities, quite a few since leaving West Ham United and I didn’t feel ready,” Moyes said in his first press conference on Monday.

“But I always felt if this job came up – and I didn’t expect it to – when I got asked it was too big of an opportunity to turn down. I want to show I can go again. I’ve got to try to prove myself again.

“I’ve come very close to coming back [to Everton] on maybe three or four occasions. I’ve had talks, and for whatever reason it’s fallen through.

“It used to be that going back was no good, but I did that at West Ham, and we went on to win a European trophy. So we’re back on the journey again.”

Everton currently sit 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone after a run of just one win in 11 games, and face Aston Villa in Moyes’ first game in charge.

2002 2025 pic.twitter.com/a74o9M8Ldz

— Everton (@Everton) January 13, 2025

They have also failed to score in eight of their last 10 Premier League games, scoring just three goals during this run (excluding own goals) from 119 shots and an expected goals total of 8.8.

Moyes acknowledged that big improvements need to be made in the final third but is confident the team can stave off relegation by the end of the campaign.

“Everton is different,” Moyes said. “For a couple of weeks, I didn’t think there was any chance Everton could be in it [the relegation battle].

“I’ve come into the seat and I’m going to back that and say I believe we will be strong enough to stay away from it [relegation].

“I am not kidding myself; we need everyone behind us, the players playing better, scoring more goals. I believe we have got a team of players who, a few weeks ago, I didn’t see any difficulty.

“We have got a lot of work to do to move up the table. I hope we are ready to be the best we can.

“Hopefully, I can give the supporters something to shout about and bring in some new players. Hopefully, we can come together and spend a bit of money.

“They [new owners The Freidkin Group] want to get us back on track, and we all know we need a bit of a sticking plaster at the moment, and we have to try to make that work.”