David Moyes has said he takes no comfort from the turmoil at West Ham with his former club on to their third manager since he departed 16 months ago.
Moyes delivered West Ham’s first trophy for 43 years in the 2023 Europa Conference League only for many supporters to demand a change of manager and more adventurous style throughout the following season. He admits that 2024 was probably the right time to leave from his perspective too.
His successor at the London Stadium, Julen Lopetegui, was sacked after 22 games while his replacement, Graham Potter, was replaced by Nuno Espírito Santo on Saturday having presided over six wins in 25 matches. But the Everton manager insists the instability and lack of direction at West Ham gives him no satisfaction.
“I think sometimes at football clubs everyone thinks the grass can always be greener but I had a great time at West Ham, I really did. A hugely enjoyable time,” said Moyes, who was speaking before Potter’s dismissal. “I got on great with everybody but if people want to keep changing all the time, I don’t know if that is the best way for clubs.
“I think clubs need to build, get stability, and there are a few clubs like that. I think one is Everton, at the moment, who for different reasons badly need stability in building and moving things in the right direction. West Ham was also a club like that.
“Twice when we came in, [West Ham] was a club that had to avoid relegation which was just like Everton. Whatever you say about the pressure of the job, that is the worst part of it, trying to deal with a team near the bottom of the league,” Moyes added. “I think the biggest thing is that West Ham is a huge club with a great support and they want success as well.
“It is very difficult. The modern game makes it very difficult for teams outside the real big boys to do it. But I think for West Ham to play three years in a row in Europe and sell the most expensive player in British football at the time [Declan Rice]you would have said is a statement of where they are and what they have done.
“At West Ham, we were spending £40m [on one player] and that was because European football takes you to another level in terms of what you can entice and the money you can bring in. I think it was a great time at West Ham but it was probably the right time for me to move on as well as West Ham.”
Potter was sacked after losing five of six games this season and Moyes believes strong leadership is required to resist the regular calls for change at West Ham.
“I think if clubs are always going to keep jumping because of what is probably a minority of supporters then it is going to be difficult for them,” Moyes said. “I think you need to have strong people, who don’t budge and stick with it all the time.
after newsletter promotion
“I think of people in my past at Everton – [former chair] Sir Philip Carter was very much like that. Strong, [did] a great job in keeping the noise outside and not listening to it. But I think there are so many more inlets now where the ownership can take information from and you hope that your owners are strong when it comes to it.”
