Real Sociedad hires Moyes as its coach

BARCELONA — Spanish club Real Sociedad hired former Manchester United manager David Moyes on Monday, giving the Scotsman a chance to revive his career after his failed stint at Old Trafford.

Sociedad posted a statement on its website saying it had “reached a deal with manager David Moyes to be the coach of the first team until June 30, 2016”.

It is Moyes’ first coaching assignment since being fired last season after less than a year in charge at United, where he took the top job after Alex Ferguson retired.

Moyes had moved to United after spending more than a decade at Everton, where he established a reputation as one of the top British managers.

The San Sebastian-based Sociedad is 15th in the 20-team Spanish league after earning a 2-1 win over defending champions Atletico Madrid on Sunday under caretaker coaches.

Sociedad fired Jagoba Arrasate after he earned just one win in the first 10 rounds of the league and failing to reach the Europa League group stage in his second year in charge of the team.

Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay said last week that Moyes was one of four potential candidates to replace Arrasate. The other identified candidate was former West Bromwich Albion and Real Betis boss Pepe Mel.

Moyes will inherit a team known for its attractive, passing-based style during recent seasons that led it to a fourth-place finish and Champions League berth last year. The team lost forward Antoine Griezmann and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo this off season, but it still has Mexican forward Carlos Vela to lead its attack, Inigo Martinez to anchor its defence and veteran Xabi Prieto in the midfield.

Manchester United fired Moyes in April, only 10 months after Ferguson had hand-picked him as his successor. Moyes failed to uphold Ferguson’s winning legacy and left with the team languishing in seventh place in the Premier League and failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 19 years.

Moyes will now have the opportunity to turn around his career and Sociedad’s fortunes by re-floating the club’s campaign to qualify for the Europa League with a fifth- or sixth-place finish, instead of worrying about a late-season relegation battle.

Moyes’ debut for Sociedad will be on the road at struggling Deportivo La Coruna on Nov 22 after the international break. AP