SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach David Moyes of Real Sociedad looks on during the La Liga match between Real Socided and Elche FC at Estadio Anoeta on November 28, 2014 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Sunderland and their chairman Ellis Short have long admired David Moyes and have made several attempts to hire the manager over the years. Now, they finally got him, appointing Moyes to take over as Black Cats boss just one day after Sam Allardyce left to manage England.
Moyes has been unemployed since November, when he was fired by Real Sociedad. Before that, he had his disastrous season with Manchester United, so Moyes' recent history is far from sparkling, but this is still the same man that did a terrific job in 11 years at Everton.
It's easy to make a case for Moyes because of that time with the Toffees. He had a fourth-place finish at Goodison Park, as well as a pair of seasons in fifth place. Everton became a fixture in the top half under Moyes, finishing in the top eight in his last seven seasons at the club. His work there was impressive enough to get Sir Alex Ferguson's attention and the job at Manchester United, even if his spell with the Red Devils didn't go so well.
Of course, it's difficult to discount his runs at Manchester United and Real Sociedad, where he had problems. And even at Everton, Moyes never won a trophy. He made just one cup final and when they did get into the Champions League with a fourth place finish, they went out in the qualifying round.
Moyes should be a good fit at Sunderland, though. It's a club not too dissimilar from Everton -- certainly more so than Man United and Real Sociedad -- and he's taking over for Alladryce, whose system is similar to his own. The players already at the club are generally well-suited to what Moyes likes to do and Sunderland haven't signed a single player yet this summer, so Moyes should have plenty of money to buy the guys he wants to bring in.
Sunderland were put in an awkward spot when Allardyce became the favorite for the England job last week and had little time to find a new manager, with the preseason already underway. That Moyes is the Black Cats' ninth manager in eight years isn't great either, as Sunderland have longed for consistency and stability. With Moyes, a man the club has admired and chased for years, Sunderland might finally get that.
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