David Moyes has said he was almost sickened by football after resigning from Sunderland but believes the experience made him more determined to rekindle his fortunes with West Ham and Everton.
Moyes returns to the Stadium of Light with Everton on Monday for the first time since leaving Sunderland in 2017. The Scot tendered his resignation after the only relegation of his managerial career so that the then financially troubled club would not have to pay compensation for the remainder of his four-year contract.
The 62-year-old lasted 10 months on Wearside and won only six Premier League games during his one season. After sackings by Real Sociedad and Manchester United in his previous jobs, Moyes admits a third consecutive setback with Sunderland took a toll.
“It was a difficult period,” said the Everton manager. “I’m not sure there are many managers who have done the journey without having blips. It is a bit like Ange [Postecoglou] now having left Nottingham Forest. He will come back because Ange is a really good manager, there is no doubt about that.
“I think football can sicken you if you are not careful, so you have got to stay resolute, keep your head down and believe that you weren’t that far away. I wouldn’t say it was an excuse but Sunderland were changing at the time – it wasn’t the same finances and the ability to do as much. I was so disappointed that I hadn’t been able to keep them up, so I resigned.
“I sort of knew from quite early on that it would be difficult. I had a chance to leave for another club during that season and I chose not to because I wanted to see it through if I could do so. It was disappointing but I had a good time there and met a lot of good people, but we were just on the decline then and it was hard to stop.”
Moyes restored his reputation during two spells at West Ham and when easing Everton away from relegation danger on his return to the club last season. He believes his experiences at Sunderland, United and Real Sociedad proved a valuable learning curve.
“There was a period where we won three out of four around November-December time and that was about as good as it got,” he said. “After that we were really struggling and it was really difficult. But I think it makes you a little bit tougher going into other jobs, and it makes you realise you don’t want that to happen again. Being relegated for any manager is a horrible, horrible feeling and not something you want to go through.”
