Former Sunderland boss David Moyes says being almost "sickened" by football after his departure from the club was a turning point in his career. The 62-year-old manager, who has since restored his reputation with West Ham and Everton, attributes his struggles at Wearside to a combination of factors, including changes to the club's finances and inability to compete.
Moyes' departure from Sunderland in 2017 came after just one season, during which he won only six Premier League games. The decision was met with surprise, as Moyes had tendered his resignation rather than face being sacked by the club. He cited a desire not to force the then-financially-troubled club to pay compensation for the remainder of his four-year contract.
The experience left its mark on Moyes, who admits that football can have a profound impact on managers. "It was a difficult period," he says. "I'm not sure there are many managers who have done the journey without having blips." However, he believes that his experiences at Sunderland, Real Sociedad and Manchester United served as a valuable learning curve.
Moyes' return to Goodison Park on Monday for an Everton match against Sunderland marks the first time he has set foot in Wearside since leaving. The former manager says that the experience of being relegated from a club where he had previously succeeded was "horrible" and one that no manager wants to go through again.
Despite his struggles at Sunderland, Moyes believes that his experiences have made him a more determined and resilient manager. He credits this newfound resolve to the fact that he is now driven by a desire to succeed rather than fear of failure. As he prepares to face his former employers once again, Moyes is confident that his decision to leave Sunderland was the right one, and that it ultimately led him back to where he belongs - at the top of the Premier League.
Moyes' departure from Sunderland in 2017 came after just one season, during which he won only six Premier League games. The decision was met with surprise, as Moyes had tendered his resignation rather than face being sacked by the club. He cited a desire not to force the then-financially-troubled club to pay compensation for the remainder of his four-year contract.
The experience left its mark on Moyes, who admits that football can have a profound impact on managers. "It was a difficult period," he says. "I'm not sure there are many managers who have done the journey without having blips." However, he believes that his experiences at Sunderland, Real Sociedad and Manchester United served as a valuable learning curve.
Moyes' return to Goodison Park on Monday for an Everton match against Sunderland marks the first time he has set foot in Wearside since leaving. The former manager says that the experience of being relegated from a club where he had previously succeeded was "horrible" and one that no manager wants to go through again.
Despite his struggles at Sunderland, Moyes believes that his experiences have made him a more determined and resilient manager. He credits this newfound resolve to the fact that he is now driven by a desire to succeed rather than fear of failure. As he prepares to face his former employers once again, Moyes is confident that his decision to leave Sunderland was the right one, and that it ultimately led him back to where he belongs - at the top of the Premier League.