- David Moyes rejoined the club in January, 2025
- Scot has changed Everton fortunes, from relegation battles to European contention
- On the brink of hitting 50 points for the first time since the 2020‑21 campaign
Everton are on the brink of hitting 50 points for the first time since the 2020‑21 campaign under Carlo Ancelotti.
Despite the late heartbreak of the Merseyside derby defeat and a defeat to West Ham, David Moyes’ side remains in the race for European qualification.
With just three points separating them from the top six, the transformation has been remarkable.
One man who has watched the revival with keen interest is former Everton goalkeeper Sander Westerveld. The Dutchman, who spent a brief loan spell at Goodison Park in 2005, believes Moyes has worked wonders and deserves to be mentioned alongside the Premier League’s best managers this season.
Westerveld: ‘He has changed this team around almost by himself’
Speaking to BBC Radio, Westerveld was full of praise for the Scot.
“You talk about managers of the season and of course Regis Le Bris at Sunderland has done a fantastic job or Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola are up there if they win the league,” Westerveld said.
“But, I think David Moyes is definitely one of the coaches of the season.
“If you look at the last few seasons for Everton – battling relegation – and then Moyes comes back in and it’s just like he ended last time. In his first spell he was always battling for European football with strong squads.
“Almost by himself he has changed this team around. If they had won yesterday they would be genuine contenders for the Champions League. They are still up there, it’s still only a couple of points.
“He has done an amazing job and they are a totally different team to what they were at the beginning of the season.”
David Moyes took Everton from relegation fears to European contenders
When Moyes returned to Everton in January 2025, the club was hovering just above the relegation zone. Fast forward 15 months, and the Toffees are competing for a place in Europe.
The squad has been reshaped with limited funds, and an identity has been restored. Players like James Garner, Iliman Ndiaye and Beto have flourished under his guidance.
Everton sit 11th in the table, but only three points separate them from sixth‑placed Brighton. Champions League football is still a mathematical possibility if results fall their way and Aston Villa win the Europa League final, but the more realistic target is a Europa League or Conference League spot. Regardless, the turnaround has been extraordinary.
Westerveld, who made just two appearances for Everton during his loan spell from Portsmouth, knows the club’s recent struggles firsthand.
The Scot has not only steadied the ship, but he has also made Everton a team to watch again. With four games remaining, the European dream is still alive. And as Westerveld put it, Moyes has done it “almost by himself.”
That is why, whatever happens between now and the end of May, David Moyes deserves a place in the Manager of the Season conversation.
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