Everton’s longest serving manager in the Premier League era was David Moyes by some considerable distance.
The Scot was in charge of The Toffees for 11 years, and took them from being a middle-to-bottom of the table club to a consistent top 10 team. In fact, he earned the club a top-four finish in only his second season at the helm at Goodison Park.
What’s better for Everton fans is that Moyes took them to the Europa League on a number of occasions. He truly revolutionised Everton, and the fans were acutely aware of this.
So when Everton announced the Scot’s departure from The Toffees in May 2013, fans were clearly devastated by the news. However, almost none of the fans were bitter about the news, as they were surely aware of what a servant to Everton Moyes had been. They were truly grateful for his service to the club, and wished him the best for his future.
This is what the fans had to say:
https://twitter.com/Fitzy_EFC/status/332497819338412032
@Everton Best of luck David Moyes! Your presence will be missed, from all the way here in Canada
— Adrian Hiotis (@AdrianHiotis) 10 May 2013
@Everton both the club and David Moyes conducted themselves impeccably. He is a real gentleman and the perfect replacement for Sir Alex
— Justin Cooke (@JC7777) 10 May 2013
@Everton sad day for all the fans.
— Peter Thomas (@petlesthomas) 9 May 2013
@Everton gutted to see him leave but hope he’s a success! COYB!
— Iain (@TheIainC) 9 May 2013
@Everton saddened to see #moyes go. Wishing him all the best for the future #efc
— spacemonkey #GTTO (@smmike73) 9 May 2013
@Everton Am sure he will do a good Job at Man-u
— Hassan Ndung’u (@Hassannio) 9 May 2013
@Everton Good luck David Moyes. Huge challenge !!!
— Ghislain A (@ghislade) 9 May 2013
@Everton Moyes himself made a legacy at this club!
— Vjeran Pavic (@vjeranpavic) 9 May 2013
@Everton gutted but it was inevitable. Fantastic Manager, great man. I’ll always love Moyes
— News Junkie (@_NewsJunkie) 9 May 2013
@Everton I am gutted he is leaving but wish him the best.
— Steffnies (@Steff_Dagg) 9 May 2013
@Everton #EFC Thanks for all David Moyes has done in his many years at efc he will be missed our loss is #mufc gain.
— colin croft (@12colin64) 9 May 2013
@Everton All the best for the scot. I hope that Everton can find another great manager to replace him.
— Matteo Angiolini (@MatteoAngiolini) 9 May 2013
@Everton Thanks for everything Moyesy lad. It’s been a good ride but onwards and upwards as they say!
— Alan EFC Baldwin (@Jaws305) 9 May 2013
@BBCSport Thank you to David Moyes for the most exciting decade of football @Everton. You have inspired the club and fans. #InMoyesWeTrust
— Estív (@StephenGunther) 9 May 2013
Since the Scot’s departure from Goodison Park, The Toffees have looked somewhat lost. They have continuously appointed new managers thinking that they will be the long-term successor to Moyes, but nothing has ever come of it.
Roberto Marítez came and offered promise, but ultimately failed. Then Ronald Koeman came and was probably even worse. Sam Allardyce stepped up last season to save Everton, but that is not the appointment that the club would have envisioned when Moyes departed.
So Everton are at the same place this season that they have been before, with new manager Marco Silva arriving. The Portuguese has come and brought a lot of promise at Goodison Park, as well as a fair amount of investment in bolstering the squad. Everton fans will be desperate that this appointment will last, and he will be able to continue Moyes’ legacy five years later.
