David Moyes has admitted that the offer to return to Everton after almost eight months away from football was a complete surprise.

The 61-year-old was appointed on Saturday morning, less than 48 hours after the Premier League side announced. Sean Dyche’s two-year reign ends.

In a candid first press conference a day after meeting his squad, Moyes revealed the timeline of the talks, how he overcame his nerves and what he has said to striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Here are six key topics to discuss as Aston Villa prepare for his first game in charge at home to Aston Villa, 15 points above Everton in the table on Wednesday (7.30pm GMT).

2002 ⏩ 2025 pic.twitter.com/a74o9M8Ldz

— Everton (@Everton) January 13, 2025

Moyes to Everton: The Friedkin Group acted quickly

The Friedkin Group completed their long-awaited deal to take over Everton on 19 December, putting chairman and chief executive Dan Friedkin and the club’s new executive chairman, Mark Watts, in a position to make major decisions.

The first of those was the sacking of Dyche, who previously said Watts had shown him “nothing but support” during a “casual” meeting at the club’s Finch Farm training ground shortly after the takeover.

“It was really quick,” Moyes said of Everton’s initial contact, adding that he first heard from them “on Tuesday or Wednesday”.

“I got a call to say that there might be a change. I had a lot of conversations with Dan and Mark, and that’s where it really started.

David Moyes discusses his backroom staff, with Leighton Baines confirmed to move on from lead #EFCU18 to join his coaching team. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/4K6P4xdLLM

— Everton (@Everton) January 13, 2025

“Up until that point, I had no idea. I thought Sean was doing a really good job and I didn’t notice any change at that point.

“They are in America and I am here, so the communication has been mainly through video calls. I had a few Americans (on Monday).

Everton ‘a different beast’ – and Moyes talks earlier

After being awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours, Moyes said he is open to a return to football But “do not want to be in a bottom fight relegation”.

“In truth, I wasn’t necessarily looking to go back,” said the man who made his name during 11 years at the club, guiding them to eight top-seven finishes – including fourth in 2004/05 – along with four European campaigns and an FA Cup final in 2008/09. .

“Goodison will help.” pic.twitter.com/lp7mZ7htYW

— Everton (@Everton) January 13, 2025

“As everyone knows, this is a different animal for me than many other clubs. Everton is different. Since I left West Ham (in May) I have had many opportunities to consider other jobs.

“I didn’t really expect to get the job – I didn’t see it. But when I was asked, there was too great a chance to turn it down.

After leaving Everton for the first time, Moyes briefly succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in an ill-fated Manchester United tenure in 2013/14, eventually rebuilding his reputation in two spells with the Hammers between 2017 and 2024.

Everton never finished lower than 12th and finished in the top 10 five times in their first eight seasons since Moyes’ departure, but have avoided relegation in each of the last two campaigns, with a total of eight points deducted since last financial regulation. the season

▶️ David Moyes says Armando Broja will undergo another scan on the ankle injury sustained in our FA Cup win against Peterborough. pic.twitter.com/TxICoB7DxK

— Everton (@Everton) January 13, 2025

“I’ve come very close to coming back on three or four occasions,” declared Moyes, in his second spell at West Ham producing their first European trophy since 1965 in the form of the 2022-23 Conference League.

“I have communicated at different times and in different periods in my career. That’s football, and I have no problem with that.

Moyes feels ‘huge pressure’

With 19 league games played, Everton have won three and are one point above the relegation zone with a game in hand on the teams below them.

Only rock-bottom Southampton have won less, and Saints are the only top-flight team with a worse tally than Everton’s 15 goals, five fewer than next-lowest scorers Ipswich Town.

“For a few weeks, I didn’t think there was any chance Everton would be in the relegation fight,” Moyes said. “I thought they would be strong enough to get out of it.

▶️ David Moyes confirms Dominic Calvert-Lewin trained this morning but Dwight McNeill will miss the Aston Villa game as he continues his recovery from a knee injury. pic.twitter.com/OCb7dbwULX

— Everton (@Everton) January 13, 2025

“I have come to the seat now and I am going to back myself on it, saying that we will be strong enough to get away from it. If we are going to do that we need the players to play better and score more goals.

“I will try to settle down, take the club in a different direction and make it better. I see it as a huge push.

“All I can remember is that we always felt like a team that was always challenging against the top teams and trying to stay in Europe.

“I did it very quickly here and at West Ham, so my idea is to try to do everything as quickly as possible, because I won’t be here for 11 years, like I was before.”

Moyes said he felt “really nervous” returning to Finch Farm. “I didn’t come back from the day I left,” he reflected, though his memories of some of the high-profile names awaiting him when he took over in 2002 at the age of 38 gave him an element. A reassuring reference.

“On the first day, when I went in, I had to go into the dressing room with David Ginola, Paul Gascoigne, Duncan Ferguson and Tommy Gravesen. Being a really young coach, I said ‘My goodness, they won’t even know who I am.’

Boss. 💙 pic.twitter.com/AF5hzDWF0o

— Everton (@Everton) January 13, 2025

Everton transfer: ‘Elite’ signings and contract talks

Former England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, midfielders Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doukour and captain Seamus Coleman are among the players out of contract at the end of this season.

Moyes will also be able to assess some of the players Dyche signed during the summer, including Tim Irogbunam, Iliman Ndia, Jack O’Brien and loan players such as Aurel Mangala and Jack Harrison, as he plans for Everton’s first-leg survival and strong campaign. is forming season at their new 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

“The stadium looks business, it looks elite,” he said. “We need to start getting some elite players and start looking at the level of players (so) we can give everyone something to shout about in the new stadium.

“I need to impress the players and tell them that we need them to come. There are 11 players out of contract and that is something we need to (deal with).

“I need that many players to show that they are ready to help us and not think about other things. There is an opportunity for refreshment.”

Back with the blues. 💙 pic.twitter.com/8shgHOcczE

— Everton (@Everton) January 13, 2025

What Moyes told Calvert-Lewin

Calvert-Levine Top-scored for Everton in 2019/20 and 2020/21, but the injury-plagued 27-year-old scored as many goals in the latter half of that season as he has in the four campaigns since, including just two so far in 2024. /25.

Despite starting every league game and 16 times, Calvert-Levine has gone 15 matches without a goal, although a run of four goals in five games in April and May shows that the 2020/21 Player of the Season is still a possibility. production

“We all feel it can make a big difference,” Moyes said. “If he gets his goalscoring boots back, it will be a huge help to Evertonians and the manager as well.

“We will give him as much confidence and help as possible, but then you need the player to stand up and do his job. I have told him that I need goals from him immediately and he needs to start delivering.

Story continues… 🔵 pic.twitter.com/c6hK3wjY4w

— Everton (@Everton) January 11, 2025

Moise backs owners – but remains ‘concerned’

Friedkins’ takeover of Everton has brought 10 of the 20 Premier League clubs into American hands and Moyes has also pointed out that US investors have become increasingly involved in English Football League clubs.

The Scot seemed excited to work under the group, who also own Italian giants Roma, where he has not been afraid to sack big-name managers including Jose Mourinho and Daniele De Rossi.

When he left the Serie A side in January 2023, Mourinho – Briefly linked to the vacancy left by Dyche – Dan Friedkin said he “doesn’t understand football”.

“Dan and Mark were very good,” Moyes observed of his conversation with the pair. “Many Evertonians must be delighted. Looks like they are heading in the right direction.

“You can never tell how managers are going to do, and managers can’t tell what owners are going to do. I like the communication – they want to get us back on track and we need some sticking plaster at the moment.

“Who isn’t worried about their owners? All managers are. We have a big influx of American owners into the Premier League, so we have to work on their cultures and what they expect.”