Everton have confirmed the return of David Moyes as the permanent successor to outgoing manager Sean Dyche.
Moyes spent more than a decade at Everton, joining the club in March 2002 before leaving to replace Sir Alex Ferguson in Manchester United in the summer of 2013. The Toffees did not win a trophy during the Scots' venerable reign but were rarely threatened with relegation and finished in the top five on three separate occasions.
In the 11 and a half years since Moyes left, Everton have climbed above seventh place only once. The last three campaigns have been spent battling relegation.
Dyche twice kept Everton in the top flight, but was discharged on Thursday afternoonjust three hours before the Merseyside club beat Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup. The new owners of the clubThe Friedkin Group took majority ownership three weeks ago and have made their first major appointment.
“It's great to be back!” Moyes told the club's website. “I have enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and I did not hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to join this great club.
“I am excited to be working with The Friedkin Group and look forward to helping them rebuild the club.
“Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in leaving the players behind in this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team. “
The club's new chief executive Marc Watts added: “We are delighted that David is joining us at this key moment in Everton's history. With over a decade of experience at the club, he is the right leader to drive us into our season last at Goodison. The park and in our new stadium We look forward to working with David to build the foundations of a new era for Everton.
Moyes will mainly focus on widening the gap between Everton and Everton drop zonewhich currently stands only at a single, dangerous point.