Ex-Man Utd boss Moyes named Sociedad manager

Sport360 staff 09:22 11/11/2014
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  • Chance to impress: David Moyes has agreed an 18 month deal with La Liga strugglers Real Sociedad.

    David Moyes has been named as the new coach of Spanish side Real Sociedad – seven months after he was sacked as Manchester United manager.

    Moyes, who was axed by United in April following a dismal first season in charge at Old Trafford, has been handed a one-and-a-half-year deal with the Primera Division club.

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    “Real Sociedad have reached an agreement with David Moyes to be the first team coach until 30 June 2016,” a statement on Sociedad’s official website read.

    “Details about the official presentation of Real Sociedad’s new coach and who will form part of his technical team will be published on Tuesday morning.”

    Moyes left United just 10 months into a six-year contract after being named as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013.

    At the time of his departure, United, the defending champions, were seventh in the Barclays Premier League and 23 points behind leaders Liverpool.

    Moyes also left the 20-time title winners with a host of unwanted records broken during his tenure, including failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in almost two decades.

    Moyes, who became the third shortest-serving manager in the club’s history, won 27, drew nine and lost 15 of his 51 games in charge of United.

    All that came after Moyes had enjoyed 11 critically acclaimed years at Everton, leading the club to five top-six finishes.

    The Toffees qualified for the Champions League for the first time under Moyes’ stewardship – although they lost in the qualifying stages of the competition – and he also took the Merseyside club to the FA Cup final in 2009.

    The former Preston boss takes over a Sociedad side who moved out of the Primera Division relegation zone on Sunday night with a 2-1 home win over champions Atletico Madrid. Asier Santana, Sociedad’s B team coach, was in charge for that match following last week’s sacking of Jagoba Arrasate.

    Arrasate was dismissed in the wake of a hugely disappointing start to the campaign which saw Sociedad – who finished fourth in 2013 and seventh last term – win just one of their opening 10 league fixtures as well as being eliminated from the Europa League.

    Ex-West Brom and Real Betis boss Pepe Mel was also in the running to replace Arrasate, but Moyes was reportedly Sociedad’s first choice and La Real confirmed the Scot’s appointment late on Monday night.

    Moyes’ first game in charge is set to be the trip to promoted Deportivo La Coruna after the international break.

    Moyes becomes the fourth British manager of the San Sebastian-based outfit, following in the footsteps of Englishman Harry Lowe and Welsh duo John Toshack and Chris Coleman.

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