David Moyes returns to West Ham with Everton on Saturday and Tomas Soucek is urging the club’s fans to show him the respect he is due after a major claim about the Scot.
The table could not be laid any better for David Moyes on his return to West Ham as Everton boss.
The Hammers were warned to ‘be careful what you wish for’ when withdrawing a contract offer to the Scot before he departed two years ago next month.
Moyes has since done a brilliant job back at Everton, keeping the Toffees up comfortably and getting them into contention for a European place.
Soucek calls on West Ham fans to show Moyes the respect he deserves
Meanwhile West Ham are fighting to stay in the Premier League, with Moyes’ Everton the latest obstacle in their way.
The David Moyes derby stirs a lot of emotions in east London given the job he did, the way things ended and the uprising against the club’s board this season.
How should David Moyes be remembered at West Ham? 💭
European trophy winner? Boring football? Or something else? 🤔
David Moyes, Manager of West Ham United, celebrates with their winners medal after the team's victory during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 final match between ACF Fiorentina and West Ham United FC at Eden Arena
Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Ahead of the game, Moyes slammed how the owners have run West Ham since his departure.
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He also aimed a dig at Hammers fans and the board for ‘wanting more’ when he had done a fine job of establishing West Ham as a top half side.
David Moyes hugs Tomas Soucek after his crucial goal in a memorable Europa League win over Sevilla
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Having led West Ham to their only major trophy of what will be the last 47 years, Moyes will undoubtedly be warmly welcomed back by fans.
But Tomas Soucek wants to make sure supporters show their former boss the respect he deserves, claiming Moyes is one of West Ham’s best ever managers.
The big Czech “thinks” the Hammers faithful will do that as he urged them to do the right thing.
“Obviously we all know that David Moyes did an unbelievable job for the club, and I was with him here for many years, so I have a great connection with him,” Soucek told West Ham’s website.
Soucek says Moyes is one of West Ham’s best ever managers
“I think it would be nice to see him before and after the game, but the 90 minutes will be my full focus for the team.
“He did a really great job.
What changes would you make to this team? Feel free to tell me how wrong I’ve got it 😂
A graphic showing the team that West Ham United should name against Everton in their Premier League game on 25/04/2026.
Credit: GRV Media
“He’s one of the best managers West Ham have ever had, so it’s unbelievable and I think the fans will applaud him when he comes, but I don’t want to compare teams before and teams now.
“It’s a totally different team, so we built something new again and we want to save this club (from relegation).”
David Moyes celebrates by kissing the Europa Conference League trophy after West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in 2023
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Many West Ham fans wanted the club to move on to a more attack-minded, modern manager when Moyes was leaving.
It was not their fault the club’s owners completely botched that all-important next move by appointing Julen Lopetegui and then Graham Potter while letting Tim Steidten spend £155m on a failed rebuild.
Some Everton supporters already have misgivings over the style of play under Moyes, similar to the discontent in sections of the West Ham fanbase.
But it seems highly unlikely West Ham would be in this situation had they stuck with Moyes.
Soucek claims the Scot is up there with the best the Hammers have ever had in the dugout.
Moyes’ list of achievements certainly backs up that claim:
Moyes kept the club up twice in two spells
Qualified for Europe three seasons in a row for the first time in West Ham’s history
Achieved a club record Premier League points total and goal difference
Finished sixth, seventh and ninth in three of his four full seasons
Made the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the Europa League
Won the Europa Conference League, West Ham’s only major trophy since 1980
Signed club legends such as Jarrod Bowen and Soucek
Shielded the owners from fan discontent
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