‘Thrilled’ Moyes thanks West Ham… and wouldn’t return to ‘fight relegation’
New Year honoree David Moyes has described his former players at West Ham as “great” and suggested he will not return to a job at the top or bottom of the Premier League.
Moyes won the Conference League with the Hammers in 2023 but has put his 44-year professional career in the game on hold since leaving the London Stadium at the end of last season.
“I had a great time at West Ham – big thanks to the people there who helped me get an OBE,” Moyes told BBC Sport about his reign of more than five years in two periods.
“The players there were great and winning a trophy there was special. We’ve had some brilliant managers in this league, but not all of them have been on the right track.
“Some of the best managers in the world have failed to make it in the Premier League for various reasons.”
👏 David Moyes has received an OBE in the King’s New Year Honors list!
“I’m thrilled to be in this position,” he says. pic.twitter.com/1kt2oeU1yH
– Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 30, 2024
Moyes OBE “incredible”
Former Sunderland, Real Sociedad, Manchester United, Everton and Preston North End head coach Moyes has followed in his father David’s footsteps and picked up an award.
“It really is an incredible honor,” he said. “I don’t think that at the beginning of life you expect to be rewarded with such awards.
“I am thrilled to be in this position. The first thing that came to my mind was the journey I have taken and the people who have helped me, be it recently or at the very beginning, such as school teachers who allowed me one day a week training with Celtic when I was 15 and dropped out of school.
“It’s the insight and belief that people have to have in you to achieve something. If I had to thank all of this, it would be my family and my wife for their incredible support. My father has an MBE and is very happy that he now has a son who has an OBE.”
Congratulations to our former player and manager David Moyes on being awarded an OBE. 💙#pnefc pic.twitter.com/i6sLFF5VyW
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) December 31, 2024
Moyes is not “finished” yet
Moyes, now 61, experienced one of the most pressured jobs in the world during his short tenure as manager of Manchester United – the most successful team in the history of the English top flight – as he succeeded legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson in the 2013/14 season Football.
After his appointment, he led Preston, Everton and West Ham out of danger, but suffered relegation at the end of his season with Sunderland in 2016/17.
“I don’t consider myself finished yet, but I’m definitely enjoying some time off,” said the Scot. “Football is in my blood, ever since I was a child.
“If another part comes, then so be it. I don’t want to get involved in something that is very, very difficult.
“It’s probably very, very difficult to be a top team, (and) I don’t want to be at the bottom of the relegation round and fighting against relegation, which I’ve experienced a few times.”
