La Liga club Real Sociedad say they have hired former Manchester United manager David Moyes as their new coach, giving the Scotsman a chance to revive his career after his failed stint at Old Trafford.
Sociedad said on their website on Monday night that Moyes signed a deal to coach the club until June 30, 2016, although there were reports that minor contractual details still had to be confirmed.
“The Royal Society has reached an agreement with David Moyes to be the first team coach until 30 June 2016,” said a statement on the official website of Sociedad, who are 15th in the 20-team Spanish league.
It will be Moyes’ first coaching job since being fired by United last season after less than a year of a six-year contract, having succeeded Alex Ferguson after his retirement. At the time of his departure from Old Trafford, United, the defending champions, were seventh in the 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 only 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 manager 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.
Lowe was manager for five years from 1930 while Toshack has had three different stints in the hotseat, beginning in 1985 and then most recently in 2002.
Current Wales coach Coleman, meanwhile, was appointed on a three-year contract in July 2007 after Sociedad were relegated to the Segunda Division for the first time in 40 years.
Coleman resigned from his post in January 2008, citing a difference of ideas with new president Inaki Badiola, having led Sociedad up to fifth in the table and one point off the promotion places.
