A lot has gone on between them but now David Moyes has shared his true feelings on West Ham fans after their Goodison Park moment.
Many at West Ham were expecting some form of peacocking from David Moyes ahead of their big reunion.
Moyes has been known to blow his own trumpet when responding to doubters over the years.
The Scot famously told the world ‘that’s what I do, I win’ in his first press conference back at West Ham at the turn of the year in the 2019/2020 season.
Moyes had been Hammers boss previously but was not kept on despite helping them avoid relegation.
He did the same again before embarking on three consecutive European campaigns for the first time in West Ham’s history.
Not to mention leading the Irons to their record ever Premier League points total and their only major trophy of the last 45 years.
With West Ham having struggled badly since his departure and Everton on the rise under him, Moyes might have taken the opportunity for some chest-thumping.
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Many managers would have – imagine Sam Allardyce in a similar situation for example.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Moyes shares true feelings about West Ham fans after moment
Especially given some Hammers supporters made it perfectly clear they’d grown tired of his approach to football and wanted him out.
A minority even took it too far by bringing ‘Moyes Out’ banners to games.
Things were certainly set up nicely for him (on the volley) after Moyes was named Premier League manager of the month the day before the reunion.
The 61-year-old former Hammer is cut from a different cloth, though.
Now Moyes has shared his true feelings about West Ham fans after their Goodison Park moment.
As the press cast a line into the waters ahead of West Ham’s trip to Everton, Moyes refused to take the bait for a dig at Sullivan or the fans.
Supporters were imploring Graham Potter and their team ‘not to lose this one’.
Chiefly because they didn’t want to deal with the ‘I told you so’s’ from pundits, journalists, their own supporters who wanted to keep Moyes or perhaps even the man himself.
His class in the build-up to the game – admitting it would be ‘difficult’ to face his old club after their special time together – went down well with his former fanbase.
West Ham fans showed Moyes what they really think of him during the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park and his response was telling.
There was a mutual love-in on the pitch after the final whistle.
As he reflected on the moment in the press room at Everton, Moyes could not hide his emotions.
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Classy Moyes gets emotional about West Ham fans
“The West Ham supporters have been really, really good to me over the years,” Moyes told The Liverpool Echo.
“There were many times we’ve been in Europe where they were fantastic and I wanted to show my respect to them because I think they’ve been very good to me.
“They gave me a great send off when I left West Ham, so they deserve to be acknowledged.”
I’m not crying, you are.
What utter class. What a man, what a manager.
Moyes is undoubtedly one of West Ham’s greatest ever managers.
His record speaks for itself and, based on how things have gone since he left, will stand the test of time too.
As time passes, his legend will grow with perspective.
This is not the first time Moyes has showed his genuine love and appreciation for the Hammers.
When he won an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours, Moyes credited West Ham for the award.
Now it’s great to see him feeling he’s gets the credit he deserves for the job he did in east London.
The good news is, Moyes thinks West Ham are on the up again under Potter.