When Walter Smith was sacked as the Everton manager in 2002, he was replaced by a fellow Scottish: David William Moyes. Before being promoted to the Premiership, Moyes managed Preston North End F.C. where he spent 4 years with the Northenders. In his very first press conference Moyes stated that Everton were The People’s Club. He further added "I am from a city (Glasgow) that is not unlike Liverpool. I am joining the people's football club. The majority of people you meet on the street are Everton fans. It is a fantastic opportunity, something you dream about. I said ‘yes’ right away as it is such a big club."
Moyes started the season with a bang finishing seventh, just two places below rivals Liverpool. In that season he was awarded as the LMA Manager of the Year. He brought in many new international faces in Everton. which included the Nigerian international Joseph Yobo ,Goalkeeper Richard Wright from Arsenal and Chinese midfielder Li Tie. Kevin Kilban –a former Preston North End F.C , the Scottish James Mcfadden and the inform Nigel Martyn from Leeds United were also included the following season. His introduction of Wayne Rooney in Everton was highly admired by the English supporters and the Everton staff. Rooney became the youngest player to score in the Premier League just five days before his seventeenth birthday. A goal which ended the thirty match unbeaten streak of Arsenal. Moyes brought Rooney on the forefront and making him a player which he is today. It was not all smiles for Moyes as the 2003-04 season was a disaster as they were almost relegated finishing 17th in the table. The following season Everton stood tall before rivals by finishing 4th and sealing the Champions League spot from Liverpool which earned him Manager of the Year for the second time. This was the highest position Everton had ever climbed and was placed between the top 4 spenders Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. But they were knocked out from the competition in the 3rd qualifying round by Spanish side Villarreal 4-2 on aggregate.
David Moyes was becoming famous in Everton for his signings of not so very expensive players. From 2004-06 he signed James Beattie and midfielder Thomas Gravesen from Hamburger SV who remained in the club for 5 years and later sold to Real Madrid for £2.5 million. In 2005 he signed the dutch winger Andy van der Meyde, the Portugal left back Nuno Valente, Phil Neville of Manchester United and Simon Davies (Former Tottenham Hotspur player). Since 2006 Everton have always been featured in the top 5 of the Premier League. David Moyes with fewer budgets is trying to put in a competitive side that can challenge and give stiff competition to the top four Premier League side and he has done it on a regular basis and that makes him David amongst Goliaths.
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