He went to Spain to repair his reputation, but the former Manchester United manager David Moyes lasted only 12 months at Real Sociedad before being sacked on Monday after a turbulent year in charge during which he failed to turn around the Basque side’s fortunes.
“Real Sociedad have decided to cancel the contract of first team coach David Moyes,” a club statement announced. “The club wish to thank him … for all he brought to the club, his professionalism and his dedication in carrying out his duties.”
Moyes moved to La Liga last November, just seven months after being fired by United for overseeing a disastrous debut season after he replaced club legend Alex Ferguson.
There had been moments of promise early in Moyes’s reign as he dragged an under-performing squad away from the relegation zone. A 1-0 win over Barcelona that would go on to win the treble a few months later in January was undoubtedly the highlight.
While he was at Everton his sides were renowned for their slow start to the season but after just two victories, against the league’s bottom two sides Granada and Levante, and with the daunting task of Sevilla and Barcelona to come after the international break, a change at the helm became inevitable.
Friday’s 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Las Palmas left Sociedad above the relegation zone only on goal difference with just nine points from their first 11 games, exactly the same situation they were in when Moyes was hired 364 days ago.
Moyes’s contract was due to run until the end of the season, but, despite being a personal favourite of president Jokin Aperribay, the pressure from fans and local media was too much to bear for those in charge of the club.
