Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has expressed his disappointment at being sacked as Real Sociedad coach and revealed that he knocked back offers in recent months to respect his contract at the Anoeta.
The former Everton boss’ reign at Real Sociedad lasted little more than a year after he was sacked as their coach last week, due to a constant decline in performances and results.
Real Sociedad have their heads just above the relegation zone in La Liga because of superior goal difference and have won just two of their opening eleven fixtures in the league.
Moyes revealed that he is disappointed with the way he was sacked. He feels he achieved the targets that were set last season and was confident that if he was allowed to continue he would have turned the results around soon.
The former Everton manager also feels more disappointed now as he had offers from other clubs in the summer and declined them all in order to honour his contract with La Real.
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In a statement released in the League Managers’ Association website, the former Manchester United boss said: “I am disappointed to have left Real Sociedad. When I accepted the job as manager of La Real last November, my remit was to avoid relegation and retain the club’s La Liga status.
"We succeeded in attaining that target and finished 12th in the table. I feel that we made significant progress last season; beating Barcelona in front of our home fans was a memorable highlight.
“Despite some positive performances from our team, results have not gone our way in recent weeks. However, I was confident we would finish in a strong position by the end of the season.
"I made a firm promise to Real Sociedad to honour my contract and it is disappointing not to be able to fulfil this commitment especially when I have turned down a number of job opportunities in recent months.
"After spending 12 years in the Premier League as manager of Everton and Manchester United, I was keen to take the opportunity to work abroad and have learnt a great deal from the experience.”
Moyes thanked the club hierarchy for providing him the opportunity to ply his trade in a new league and country and admits that it was a pleasure for him to experience Sociedad and Spain over the last year.
“I would like to thank the club and the President for giving me the opportunity to manage in Spain, at a club with such a rich history of employing British Managers.
"I would also like to thank the players, staff and my assistant, Billy McKinlay, for their support and the wonderful people of San Sebastian.
“It has been a pleasure to work in their beautiful city and immerse myself in their culture. Their warmth and generosity has made me feel very at home over the last year.”
Moyes managed Sociedad in 42 matches in all competitions, winning only 12 of them and drawing and losing 15 respectively.
