David Moyes to Real Sociedad: Former Manchester United manager closing in Sociedad job
Moyes was sacked after 10 months in charge of United
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Your support makes all the difference.David Moyes is set for a return to management almost seven months after his sacking at Manchester United by agreeing a deal to become the new coach of La Liga club Real Sociedad, according to reports in Spain.
The 51-year-old has been in San Sebastián discussing a deal with the Basque club since Friday according to ‘AS’ and he is set to be unveiled as the successor to Jagoba Arrasate after La Real’s home match against champions Atlético Madrid at Anoeta tonight.
He is expected to be the best paid manager in the club’s history and beat off competition from former West Brom and Betis manager Pepe Mel and Argentina’s World Cup coach Alejandro Sabella for the role. La Real sit second from bottom in La Liga with just one victory all season and they crashed out of the Europa League in the qualifying rounds.
Moyes has been out of work since his Old Trafford departure in May but has always been open to working abroad, mentioning the Bundesliga by name during his time at Everton. “I always had the hope of being a coach abroad,” he said.
“If I had the choice, I would probably go to Germany, in part because of the mentality, which is similar to mine.
"I'm also fascinated by what happens in German football.”
Now he is set to get his chance to experience life working abroad, albeit in warmer climes, but the task of rebuilding the Basque club is a tough one. La Real finished seventh last season to qualify for Europe under Arrasate and the year before secured a Champions League place but things have not gone to plan so far this campaign. They have won just once in the league, albeit a 4-2 home success against current leaders Real Madrid, and suffered a shock exit to Russian side FK Krasnodar in the Europa League qualifying round.
That led to the departure of Arrasate, who stepped up to the manager’s role last season after being assistant to Philippe Montanier, and the club were keen to bring his successor in over the international break to give the new manager time to work with his players before their next match at Deportivo La Coruña.
Moyes is expected to be in the Anoeta stands tonight to watch Sociedad take on Diego Simeone’s Atleti and he could take his first training session as early as Monday morning. The final details of his contract are still to be discussed but he could sign a deal until the end of the 2016-17 campaign with an option to extend his stay if it suits all parties. The contract is reported to be worth 2 million euros a year, a drop from his salary at Old Trafford.
The Scotsman wanted to bring Phil Neville, his former Everton and Manchester United assistant, with him but ‘AS’ reports he rejected the approach, instead opting to concentrate on his career as a television pundit and commentator. Moyes has since turned to fellow countryman Gary McAllister to be his assistant, according to the report.
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