As he approaches the one-year mark of his emotional return to Goodison Park, Everton manager David Moyes is defiantly looking forward, setting his sights on European qualification and championing a new era for the club.
A Year of Progress and Renewed Fire
Sunday marks the first anniversary of Moyes's comeback to the club he managed for over a decade. Despite recent frustrations, including a disappointing draw with Wolves and a spate of injuries, the 62-year-old Scot insists his enthusiasm is undimmed. "It has made me go again," Moyes said of the opportunity, describing it as the only job that could have lured him back to the Premier League dugout.
His fiery reaction to Michael Keane's recent red card—and the subsequent failed appeal—proved the old passion remains. Everton's current predicament, with one win in six games and eight senior players missing for Saturday's FA Cup tie against Sunderland, has sparked some grumbles. However, Moyes is keen to provide perspective on the journey from the relegation scrap he inherited.
European Dream the Driving Force
Moyes's ambition for Everton is clear and bold. "My dream is that we can be close enough at the end to challenge for a European spot," he stated. He draws parallels with his achievement at West Ham, transforming a team battling relegation into European regulars. "It will be amazing for Everton supporters when they get the chance to get back to Europe again," he added.
He acknowledges the scale of the task, given Everton's recent struggles, but is determined to shift the narrative. "Everton has had too much negativity over recent years. I want to be ambitious. I don't want to be negative," Moyes emphasised. He wants to champion the new stadium, and players like the injured Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, as symbols of a brighter future.
Rebuilding the Foundations On and Off the Pitch
The manager recognises that true progress extends beyond the first team. He pointed to the long-term work needed to rebuild an academy system depleted by sales made under previous ownership for Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) reasons. "The club is starting to get itself back together," Moyes noted, referencing the new football leadership structure installed by the Friedkin Group.
His aims for the next year are multifaceted: "I want to see Everton's young teams being really successful again... I want so much behind the scenes at Everton to improve." On the pitch, he sees the new stadium's revenue streams as a crucial building block for squad development, now that the worst of the PSR issues are in the past.
Signed to a two-and-a-half-year deal, Moyes has no intention of matching his 11-year first stint but believes the rebuilding job is far from complete. "As long as I'm needed here and as long as I'm doing OK, I'll keep going," he concluded, reaffirming that his return to Everton has reignited his managerial fire.
