Sunderland

Sunderland chairman Ellis Short "delighted" with David Moyes capture

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 23 July 2016

Sunderland chairman Ellis Short says that his club are "absolutely delighted" to have been able to bring David Moyes to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland chairman Ellis Short has said that his club are "absolutely delighted" to have been able to bring David Moyes to the Stadium of Light.

Moyes signed a four-year contract with the Premier League outfit on Saturday morning, replacing Sam Allardyce, who has been handed the England job.

The former Manchester United boss had been linked with a number of positions since leaving Real Sociedad last year, but Sunderland have won the race to bring the Scot back to England.

"We are absolutely delighted to welcome David Moyes to Sunderland, who was by far and away our first choice," Short told the club's official website. "He is a man whose football pedigree speaks for itself and is someone I have long admired. I have spoken with him on many occasions and I have always been hugely impressed.

"He was my number one managerial target for the last five appointments, but his desire to honour existing contracts meant we were not able to bring him to Sunderland previously. To be able to finally welcome him as our manager is fantastic news for the club."

Moyes, 53, spent 11 years at Everton between 2002 and 2013, but only lasted 10 months in the Manchester United role before joining Sociedad in Spain's top flight.