David Moyes has gone from fruit and veg delivery driver during the pandemic - to demanding one of football’s “big prizes” to top off his 24-year managerial career.
The West Ham boss that never in his wildest dreams did he think he’d be back in the European “fast motorway” of progress. In the depths of the coronavirus lockdown West Ham were fourth bottom and fearing relegation to the Championship. Now a Europa League last-four clash with Eintracht Frankfurt - the first semi-final of his career as a coach - stands between Moyes’s Hammers and a final in Seville.
“In my wildest dreams? No I didn’t envisage it because I was trying to keep West Ham out of the Championship,” the 58-year-old said. “I have not made a big deal of it, everyone did something to help their community. It gave me something to do. It took my mind off being fourth bottom of the league! I am really lucky I have this group of players. For people who don’t see West Ham, for us to come up from near the bottom, nearly getting relegated, making Europe last year, now we are in the semi final of a European competition, it is like being on a fast motorway and I hope that continues.”
Building a dynasty at Everton, struggles succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, and then a major flop at Sunderland as they plunged out of the top flight - plus Sociedad and a first spell at West Ham - have left Moyes savouring the successes when they come. But he knows that making memories for his club is one thing, landing an actual trophy is another. It’s a gap in his 1,033 game managerial career.
“Yes I do enjoy it. I need to learn to do it better. I have not got a big prize. I would really like one of the big prizes. You enter these tournaments, Europe, FA Cup whatever, people say will you change the team. Everyone you try to win. At the moment I have been to a quarter-final in Champions League once. Quarter final of the Europa League. This is the first time personally in a semi-final. So yeah it is a big moment.
“But in 48 hours we have another game in the Premier League and that is why football moves. I will enjoy this. I had my dad here which is great, with my brother. He had the chance to come and see it too. I don’t get the trophy for this so there is no jumping around celebrating but I am really pleased about how far we have come in such a short period.”
Is this one in the eye for those who thought he was finished, especially after a disaster at the Stadium of Light? “No, no. The game changes so quickly. You win. I try to win as much as a I can, all managers do.”
He is still demanding more for his players, marshalled by Declan Rice who he described as “one of the best midfielders in Europe.” Moyes added: “We are still learning how to keep the ball better. We are trying to make it all better. I try to play to win. To find a way to win. Winning is the most important thing. It overtakes style, everything. We have to try and qualify for Europe with our league position which is a big thing. We are not favourites for the Europa League but I want the players to think we are, I want them playing with self belief. It has been a monumental period for us to get to the semi final of a European competition. I hope there will be a final too.”
