West Ham brings back Moyes for another survival mission

By: Rob Harris, The Associated Press Posted: 3:13 PM CST Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 Last Modified: 3:51 PM CST Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019

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LONDON - Discarded for not being the “high-calibre” manager desired by West Ham, David Moyes was brought back by the east London club on Sunday for a second spell in charge.

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LONDON - Discarded for not being the “high-calibre” manager desired by West Ham, David Moyes was brought back by the east London club on Sunday for a second spell in charge.

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LONDON – Discarded for not being the “high-calibre” manager desired by West Ham, David Moyes was brought back by the east London club on Sunday for a second spell in charge.

Premier League survival was Moyes’ mission two seasons ago, and that’s the manager’s job again.

Only this time, rather than a six-month contract, Moyes has secured an 18-month deal to succeed Manuel Pellegrini.

Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham Utd and Leicester City at the London Stadium in London, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

The Chilean lost his job on Saturday, with West Ham only a place and a point above the relegation zone after a loss to Leicester.

“I’ll be looking to see what I can do and what I can make improvements to, how we can get some wins with the players and how we can get some quick wins on the field as well,” Moyes said.

“I do believe that the squad of players I’ve got here is a better squad of players than when I took over before, so I am looking forward to working with them.”

The Scot’s first game is at home on Wednesday to Bournemouth.

“I’ve missed being here because I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I enjoyed being around the stadium and I loved being in this part of the world and I missed the club, so I can’t wait to get started.”

Two years ago, Moyes guided West Ham out of the relegation zone on his hiring to a 13th-place finish during a six-month reign that was terminated at the end of the 2017-18 season.

It was joint chairman David Sullivan who said before hiring Pellegrini that they needed to find a “high-calibre figure” rather than Moyes who could take the club “in line with our ambitions.”

Now Sullivan has had to go back to the coach he cast aside.

“David proved in his short time with the club that he was capable of getting results and we believe that he will start moving the club in the right direction once again,” Sullivan said. “We are delighted to welcome David back. He knows the club well and he built strong relationships during that time which will be crucial for the work that needs to be done going forward.”

The spell in east London helped Moyes rebuild a coaching reputation that was damaged by unsuccessful spells at Manchester United – as Alex Ferguson’s immediate successor – Real Sociedad and Sunderland since leaving Everton in 2013.

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