Last week, it was Alan Irvine potentially making a return to management with Hearts. This week, it’s another ex-Preston boss in the headlines; David Moyes.
Of course, the two are linked. Irvine was Moyes’ assistant at Everton, before Preston swooped to land Irvine in 2007. He followed in Moyes’ footsteps by becoming North End boss, lasting just over two years in the job.
Irvine went back to Everton with Moyes in 2011, and then followed him to West Ham in 2017. Both are out of football right now, but that may be about to change.
The Telegraph claimed over the weekend that Moyes was interested in the Everton job, eyeing a return to Goodison Park. Marco Silva finds himself under huge pressure, and may be on the brink of the sack after a shock 2-0 home defeat to Norwich City.
Moyes is now positioning himself for the job, and The Sun claim that he is set to step in as Everton boss until the end of the season. His deal would include a two-year extension option if he impresses, according to that report.
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The 56-year-old has been out of management since the end of the 2017-18 season, but his relationship with Bill Kenwright could see him return to Everton. Silva’s exit could come soon, and Moyes is the hot favourite to take the reins.
Moyes spent more than 11 years as Everton boss, before leaving for Manchester United. The North End hero left Deepdale for Goodison Park in 2002, and made himself a top Premier League manager with the Toffees.
Many Preston fans would love to see Moyes back in the game. As a former North End player and manager, he remains a popular figure at Deepdale. In fact, TEAMtalk actually claimed last year that Preston wanted Moyes if Alex Neil didn’t improve the club’s form.
Moyes has been nothing but complimentary towards Neil though, praising his work at Deepdale. Maybe one day, Moyes will be back as Preston manager, but this move shows how highly-regarded the Scot still is.
He may not have had much joy with Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham United, but Moyes isn’t quite in the realm of dropping down to the Championship just yet.
If he does return to Everton, hopefully it works out for Moyes and the Toffees, with North End supporters no doubt wishing him well – though Hearts may now fear that he’d take Irvine back to Everton with him.