As Manchester United scramble to confirm David Moyes’ appointment (it’s been awhile since they’ve had to do this sort of thing), Everton have confirmed that the Scot’s 11 run at the club will come to an end at the end of the season.
After watching Chelsea draw 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge, Moyes went through the departure formalities this morning at Everton’s Finch Farm training base. He leaves the club after taking over from Preston North End in 2002.
Annually strapped with financial constraints at Everton, Moyes consistently outperformed expectations by taking the Toffees to a Top 4 finish in the 2004-05 season, earning them a Champions League qualification. Despite never lifting a trophy, Moyes managed to reach the 2009 FA Cup final where Chelsea defeated the Toffees 2-1 and the 2012 FA Cup semi-final where they lost 2-1 to Liverpool.
Everton’s official website released the following statement confirming Moyes’ departure:
David Moyes will leave the Club at the end of the season. The Manager met Chairman Bill Kenwright early yesterday evening (Wednesday 8th May) and confirmed his desire to join Manchester United. The Chairman, on behalf of the Club, would like to place on record his thanks to David for the massive contribution he has made to Everton since his arrival in March 2002. He has been an outstanding Manager. During his tenure at Goodison Park, David has taken charge of the team on over 500 occasions including four European campaigns. His final two games as Everton Manager will be the remaining Premier League matches against West Ham United and Chelsea. Everton officials will start the search for a replacement manager immediately.
Moyes will arrive at Old Trafford needing to address the current drama surrounding former Toffee Wayne Rooney, who asked to leave United two weeks ago in order to rejuvenate his career. Ferguson reportedly rebuffed Rooney’s request, informing the striker that his future remained at United.
Claiming Rooney would be given a new deal, Ferguson stated, “He’ll be here next year. You can have my word on that.” A spokesman for United reaffirmed this on Wednesday explaining, “Wayne Rooney is not for sale.”
MORE: What now for Wayne Rooney?
But with the changing of the guard at United, speculation has persisted and Rooney has reportedly asked to leave the club for a second time. It will now be up to Moyes to diffuse the situation. The two certainly have history.
The Scottish manager handed Rooney his Premier League debut at Everton in August 2002 in a 2–2 home draw against Tottenham. He was 16 years old at the time. In October of that year, just five days before his 17th birthday, Rooney scored a last minute winning goal against Arsenal, making him the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history (a mark which has since been surpassed by James Milner and James Vaughan). Two years later, Moyes sold Wazza to Manchester United in a deal worth a £27 million.
It will be interesting to see whether Moyes can convince the striker to stay at United. Two years after Rooney’s departure from Goodison Park the pair had a falling out when Moyes successfully sued the striker for allegations made in an autobiography. Rooney thereafter personally apologized and many believe their relationship to be in a decent state.
How healthy that relationship truly is will now doubt be further examined over the coming weeks.
Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have been mentioned as potential destinations for the England international.
