David Moyes says he is not ready to retire as a football manager but insists he will choose his next step carefully.
Moyes has been appointed OBE in the New Year Honors list for services to football, with his tally of 697 Premier League games as a manager surpassed only by Arsene Wenger (828) and Alex Ferguson (810).
The 61-year-old has officiated 1,150 games in his career, starting at Preston North End before moving to the Premier League with Everton in 2002.
Moyes has also had spells at Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and two separate spells at West Ham.
He has been out of management since his second spell at the Hammers ended in May and led West Ham to the Europa Conference League title in 2022/23.
Moyes won 103 of his 231 games in charge of West Ham during his second spell (D45 L83), with his winning percentage standing at 44.59%, a total that only improved during his time in charge of United (52.94%) and Preston (47.86%). across all competitions.
He has been linked to numerous jobs and has developed a number of approaches this season, but for now he is content with a break.
“I don't consider myself ready yet, but I'm certainly enjoying some time off,” Moyes told BBC Sport.
“The one thing I won't do is put personal pressure on a manager because I don't believe in that. I didn't enjoy it when I was in that position myself.”
“We're all getting a little older and I have to make sure I do the right thing for myself.
“Football is in my blood. It has been that way since I was a boy. I enjoy watching football and have enjoyed my career.
“If there is another part to it, then so be it. But I would just want it to be a good part. I wouldn't want to come in and do something that is very difficult.
“I don't want to be at the bottom of the league and fighting against relegation, which I've experienced a few times, so we'll see how it goes.”
David Moyes isn't done with football management yet, but he is looking for the right job. #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/4UFfqDRqXW
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 31, 2024
Moyes' successor at West Ham, Julen Lopetegui, has endured a difficult few months at the helm, with the Hammers halfway to 13th in the Premier League.
Their latest defeat came at the hands of runaway leaders Liverpool, with Arne Slot's side winning 5-0, marking a miserable end to the year for West Ham.
The Hammers have conceded more goals in the Premier League than any other team in 2024, with 79 goals conceded in a single calendar year since 1967 (85).
West Ham's recent form has put Lopetegui's future at the London Stadium in doubt just six months after taking charge, a feeling Moyes knows all too well.
He was famously given an opportunity at one of England's biggest clubs but stayed at Manchester United for less than ten months, with the Red Devils having been on a managerial merry-go-round ever since.
Since Moyes' departure in 2014, the Red Devils have since had nine different managers, including interims, with new head coach Ruben Amorim coming under early pressure.
Since Amorim's first match on November 24, only Southampton (seven) have lost more games in all competitions between Premier League clubs than United (six).
Their defeat to Newcastle United on Monday sees the Red Devils end the year in fourteenth place, their lowest end-of-year position in the league since 1989.
However, Moyes balked at the idea of Amorim coming under pressure after leading just eleven games in all competitions.
“To say to a manager, 'We'll give you six months or a year to see how you go', I don't think that's right,” Moyes said.
“I think the people who appoint managers should defend their judgment, keep their managers and give them a chance to do their job.
“Let's be honest: Manchester United is one-off in some ways.
“The pressure you are under at Manchester United is greater than at most clubs. When you fulfill that role you have to accept that that is how it will be.”
“But at the moment it's not the manager's fault. The manager is still finding his way and trying to tiptoe into the job.”
6 – Manchester United have lost six games in December, the most in a single month since September 1930 (7). Re. pic.twitter.com/cApZFtaubw
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2024
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