Phil Neville has been telling anyone who will listen that he thinks David Moyes will be a success at his new club Real Sociedad. The former Everton and Manchester United boss was appointed as manager of the La Liga club this week with the club languishing in 15th place. Former manager Jagoba Arrasate was given his marching orders after overseeing a series of disastrous league results.
Moyes has been out of football management since he was sacked after ten months in charge of Manchester United but over saw a difficult transition after sir Alex Ferguson retired after many, many successful and trophy laden years.
Could this be the right move for the ex-Red Devils Boss? Neville certainly thinks so and if anyone knows the gaffer better than anyone (other than Mrs Moyes) then it is Phil Neville. The former Goodison player spent nine seasons working with David Moyes as both a player and a coach at Everton and Manchester United.
Speaking with BBC Radio, Neville explained why this might just be the perfect opportunity. “I think it will be a fantastic move for him, he’ll be able to concentrate on getting back to doing what he does best, and that’s management.” When asked about the clubs ambitions Neville explained “He’s joined a club that have similar ambitions probably to Everton, I think that is why they employed him.”
Neville went on to explain that he felt that current Red Devils Louis Van Gaal was, as he put it “benefiting from what David Moyes went through last year.”
This appointment could be right for David Moyes and Real Sociedad will certainly be looking for him to emulate his success at Everton. However, the experience he has gained during his turbulent ten months at Old Trafford will stand him in good stead when he faces the fierce Spanish footballing media.
To say they are partisan about their football in Spain is an understatement and Moyes will be expected to make an instant impact. He will be hardened by his old Trafford experience and I expect him to raid his former club, Marouane Fellaini comes to mind. In fact, the Belgium midfielder was previously out of favour under van Gaal and so you might expect him to make a cut price move to the Basque team.
So, whilst the British tabloid press are notorious for bashing manager and player alike the Spanish are far worse. However, at Sociedad Moyes will be able to rebuild and take a former great team back up the table. What can go wrong? Does anyone remember Steve McLaren’s success in the Nederland’s with FC Twente?
Sometimes it just does not work in the English leagues but success can come for our coaching methods abroad. I for one wish David Moyes all the luck in the world because he is nice guy, an outstanding coach, a hard worker and passionate about what he does.
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