David Moyes: Do returning managers work - Mourinho, Hodgson, Ancelotti, Zidane? 
2025-01-11
Category: sports

David Moyes is returning to Everton 11 and a half years after leaving the club for Manchester United.During his first spell, he took a club struggling near the bottom of the Premier League and transformed them into European regulars.He returns with Everton just one point outside the relegation zone - so will not want to tarnish his legacy.BBC Sport looks at other managers returning to their old clubs - including Moyes at West Ham - to see if it usually works or not.
Jose Mourinho - Chelsea 
Spell 1: June 2004 â September 2007. Spell 2: June 2013 - December 2015Mourinho arrived as the self-proclaimed 'Special One' to succeed Claudio Ranieri after winning the Champions League with Porto, backing up his claim by winning Chelsea's first title in 55 years in his opening campaign, then retaining it.He also won the FA Cup once and the League Cup twice but left by "mutual consent" amid off-field tensions and disagreements with owner Roman Abramovich.Mourinho returned to Chelsea in 2014 after spells at Inter Milan, where he won a treble, including the Champions League in 2010, and at Real Madrid, where he won La Liga in 2012.He was given a hero's welcome back to Stamford Bridge when taking over from Rafael Benitez, repeating some of his earlier success by winning the Premier League and League Cup in 2015 but once more there was behind-the-scenes dissent.Mourinho departed by "mutual consent" in December 2015 after Chelsea lost nine of their first 16 league games.League stats:Spell 1: Games 120; Win ratio 70.8%; Points per game 2.33Spell 2: Games 92; Win ratio 59.8%; Points per game 2Verdict on second spell: Success
Kevin Keegan - Newcastle 
Spell 1: February 1992 â January 1997. Spell 2: January 2008 â September 2008Keegan achieved legendary status as player and manager on Tyneside. While he did not have success winning trophies, he took Newcastle United back into the Premier League and brought a thrilling style of football and big names to St James' Park, such as David Ginola and, latterly in his first spell, Alan Shearer.The period was also memorable for Keegan's anguish at squandering a 12-point lead in the league table and his "I will love it if we beat them" outburst aimed at Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the 1995-96 title slipped away.For all this, Keegan was worshipped for his work but suddenly resigned in January 1997.Keegan made a shock return under Newcastle's then-owner Mike Ashley 11 years later, receiving a rapturous welcome, but it turned sour quickly as he was unhappy with the relationship with both Ashley and director of football Dennis Wise.He left after nine months, saying: "It was not like it said in the brochure."League stats:Spell 1: Games 143; Win ratio 54.5%; Points per game 1.85Spell 2: Games 19; Win ratio 26.3%; Points per game 1.11Verdict: Failure
David Moyes - West Ham
Spell 1: November 2017 â May 2018. Spell 2: December 2019 â May 2024Moyes first arrived at West Ham United as successor to Slaven Bilic on a short-term deal, but his contract was not renewed and he was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini.West Ham effectively admitted the error of their ways when Pellegrini was sacked after 18 months, with Moyes returning.Moyes was a success on his comeback, taking West Ham to the semi-final of the Europa League in 2022 before winning their first major trophy in 43 years - and their first European success since 1965 - when they beat Fiorentina in the 2023 Europa Conference League final.The Scot left at the end of last season amid supporter discontent about the style of football, but his achievement in bringing back success deserves huge credit.League stats:Spell 1: Games 27; Win ratio 29.6%; Points per game 1.22Spell 2: Games 171; Win ratio 38%; Points per game 1.36Verdict: Success
Roy Hodgson - Crystal Palace
Spell 1: September 2017 â May 2021. Spell 2: March 2023 â February 2024Hodgson's first spell at Selhurst Park marked his return to football after a shambolic spell as England manager, where he resigned after the humiliation of the last-16 loss to minnows Iceland at Euro 2016 in France.He took over from Frank de Boer after Palace had lost their first four league games without scoring a goal, stabilising the club as they finished in mid-table for four successive seasons before he stepped down.Hodgson returned after Patrick Vieira was sacked and a promising end to the 2022-23 season led him to sign a new deal, but he subsequently stepped down with Palace only five points above the relegation zone.League stats:Spell 1: Games 148; Win ratio 32.4%; Points per game 1.22Spell 2: Games 34; Win ratio 32.4%; Points per game 1.24Verdict: Failure
Tony Pulis - Stoke
Spell 1: November 2002 â June 2005. Spell 2: June 2006 â May 2013Pulis had a chequered career in the Potteries, his first spell ending when he was sacked because, in the words of then chairman Gunnar Thor Gislason: "He has failed to exploit the strategy of exploiting foreign markets."He was back a year later, lured from Plymouth Argyle by new chairman Peter Coates. This was to be a much more fulfilling spell, despite initial opposition from Stoke City fans.Pulis guided the Potters back to the top flight two years later after a 23-year absence, and Stoke never finished lower than 14th in five Premier League campaigns under his stewardship.The highlight was taking Stoke to their first FA Cup final in 2011, where they lost to Manchester City.Pulis left Stoke by mutual consent in May 2013, having finished 13th in the Premier League.League stats:Spell 1: Games 122; Win ratio 36.1%; Points per game 1.33Spell 2: Games 282; Win ratio 34%; Points per game 1.3Verdict: Success
Kenny Dalglish - Liverpool
Spell 1: May 1985 â February 1991. Spell 2: January 2011 â May 2012Dalglish was already assured of lifetime legendary status at Liverpool for his feats as a player when he succeeded Joe Fagan after the Heysel Stadium disaster in Brussels. He built on it by winning the club's first League and FA Cup double in his opening season as player-manager, scoring the goal that won the title at Chelsea.He added two more titles in 1987-88 and in 1989-90, also winning a second all-Merseyside FA Cup Final in 1989, coming weeks after the Hillsborough disaster at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.The strain of Hillsborough took a heavy toll on Dalglish, who did so much for the club and fans in the aftermath, resigning citing pressure in February 1991.He made a comeback to football and lifted another Premier League title at Anfield, where his Blackburn Rovers side played on the last day in 1994-95. He returned to Liverpool in January 2011, in an interim capacity at first, before being appointed permanently.Dalglish's second spell was mixed and, even though he won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final in 2012, he was sacked and replaced by Brendan Rodgers.League stats:Spell 1: Games 224; Win ratio 60.7%; Points per game 2.07Spell 2: Games 56; Win ratio 42.9%; Points per game 1.52Verdict: Failure
Harry Redknapp - Portsmouth
Spell 1: March 2022 â November 2004. Spell 2: December 2005 â October 2008Redknapp's first spell at Fratton Park started as director of football in 2001 before succeeding Graham Rix as manager in March 2002, taking them to the Division One (now Championship) title in 2002-03. He left in November 2004.He then joined fierce rivals Southampton but was unable to prevent their relegation to the Championship, returning to Portsmouth in December 2005 shortly after resigning at St Mary's.Redknapp kept Pompey in the Premier League, helped by big spending under owner Sacha Gaydamak, guiding them to their first FA Cup final in 69 years in 2008, beating Cardiff City 1-0.This led to him receiving the Freedom of the City of Portsmouth - the ceremony coming two days after he left to take over at Tottenham Hotspur.League stats:Spell 1: Games 51; Win ratio 31.4%; Points per game 1.18Spell 2: Games 107; Win ratio 39.3%; Points per game 1.42Verdict: Success
Neil Warnock - Crystal Palace, Huddersfield
Crystal Palace spell 1: October 2007 â March 2010. Spell 2: August 2014 â December 2014When Warnock joined Palace in October 2007, he claimed it would be his final job in management but he provided a steady influence until leaving in March 2010 after Palace had been deducted 10 points for going into administration.He was back at Selhurst Park in August 2014, taking over from Tony Pulis, but he lasted only four months before being sacked with Palace in the relegation zone.League statsSpell 1: Games 116; Win ratio 36.2%; Points per game 1.4Spell 2: Games 16; Win ratio 18.8%; Points per game 0.94Verdict: FailureHuddersfield Town spell 1: July 1993 â June 1995. Spell 2: February 2023 â September 2023Warnock took the Terriers into the second tier via the play-offs in 1995 with victory over Bristol Rovers at Wembley, then came out of retirement to return at the age of 74 in February 2023.He had an instant impact, guiding Huddersfield to safety in the Championship. He signed a new one-year deal at the end of the season, but left in September 2023, given a hero's farewell by fans.League statsSpell 1: Games 92; Win ratio 42.4%; Points per game 1.58Spell 2: Games 22; Win ratio 40.9%; Points per game 1.5Verdict: Success
Carlo Ancelotti - Real Madrid
Spell 1: June 2013 - May 2015. Spell 2: June 2021 - presentItalian Carlo Ancelotti replaced Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid boss in the summer of 2013 with Zinedine Zidane (more on him later) on his coaching staff.With world-record signing Gareth Bale in the team, Ancelotti led Real to 'La Decima' - their 10th European Cup or Champions League. They also won the Copa del Rey.The next season they went on a 22-game club-record winning run - and scored 118 La Liga goals - but only won the Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup. Ancelotti was sacked despite winning four trophies in two seasons, with points hauls of 87 and 92 not enough to win La Liga.To the surprise of nearly everyone, including Everton, Real Madrid brought him back in 2021 after 18 months in charge at Goodison Park - replacing Zidane as manager.Ancelotti's second spell at Real has gone better than his first, winning two more Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, plus a Copa del Rey and other bits and pieces in three and a half years.In November, Real president Florentino Perez was reportedly considering sacking him again. In December, he became the most successful manager in the club's history with a 15th trophy. Classic Real Madrid.League statsSpell 1: Games 76; Win ratio 75%; Points per game 2.36Spell 2: Games 133; Win ratio 69.2%; Points per game 2.27 (ongoing)Verdict: Success
Zinedine Zidane - Real Madrid
Spell 1: January 2016 - May 2018. Spell 2: March 2019 - May 2021Zidane's managerial career remains a curiosity - with two trophy-laden spells as Real Madrid boss his only senior roles to date.The Frenchman had been a Real player, adviser, sporting director, assistant manager and B team manager before he replaced Rafael Benitez as manager in January 2016.What followed was a truly remarkable spell - as he won the Champions League three times in just two and a half seasons in charge.He also won La Liga once - and a total of nine trophies.But after beating Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, he resigned - saying the club "needs a change, a different voice, another methodology".Ten months later, he was back. Remarkably Real got through two managers in that time - Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari.The second spell was not as spectacular, although he did win the 2019-20 La Liga title and one Spanish Super Cup in his two full seasons.He resigned again in May 2021 - and was replaced by Ancelotti.League statsSpell 1: Games 96; Win ratio 70.8%; Points per game 2.31Spell 2: Games 87; Win ratio 64.4%; Points per game 2.16Verdict: Success(ish)
Claudio Ranieri - Roma
Spell 1: September 2009 - February 2011. Spell 2: March 2019 - May 2019. Spell 3: November 2024 - presentRanieri is Roma through and through - a boyhood fan who started his playing career at his home-city club. His first spell as manager began in September 2009 - and only Treble winners Inter Milan denied him a dream first campaign. They finished second in the Italian league, two points behind Inter - and lost 1-0 to them in the Coppa Italia final. In February of the following season, with the club eighth in Serie A and takeover uncertainty dominating, Ranieri resigned. He returned in March 2019 on a short-term deal to replace Eusebio di Francesco, eight days after being sacked by Fulham.His objective was to qualify for the Champions League but they finished fifth and he was replaced by Paulo Fonseca. In November 2024, he came out of retirement to manage Roma for a third time, replacing Ivan Juric, and has a contract until the end of the season. They currently sit 10th.League statsSpell 1: Games 61; Win ratio 57.4%; Points per game 1.95Spell 2: Games 12; Win ratio 50%; Points per game 1.83Spell 3: Games 7; Win ratio 42.9%; Points per game 1.43 (ongoing)Verdict: We'll see
Max Allegri - Juventus
Spell 1: July 2014 - June 2019. Spell 2: May 2021 - May 2024Allegri took over as Juventus manager from Antonio Conte in July 2014, joining a team who had won three consecutive Serie A titles.While he had taken over the dominant force in Italian football, what followed was a record spell of success.Allegri won the Serie A title in each of his five seasons in charge - and became the first person to ever win four consecutive doubles (2015-2018).They lost the 2015 and 2017 Champions League finals and the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo failed to get them over the line in Europe.Allegri lost his job in May 2019. But two years later he was back, replacing Andrea Pirlo - who had overseen their first season without a title since 2012.The returning boss failed to get that magic back for the second spell - never finishing above fourth. His stint ended in a trophy... and disgrace at the same time.Two days after their 1-0 Coppa Italia final win over Atalanta, he was sacked - following a late red card.Allegri had been expected to leave at the end of the season anyway but was sacked immediately after that show of ill-discipline.League statsSpell 1: Games 190; Win ratio 74.7%; Points per game 2.39Spell 2: Games 112; Win ratio 53.6%; Points per game 1.87Verdict: Failure
Honourable mentions: Darren Ferguson - Peterborough & Jim Smith - Oxford
FergusonSpell 1: January 2007 â November 2009. Spell 2: January 2011 â February 2015, Spell 3: January 2019 â February 2022. Spell 4: January 2023 â presentThe prime example of flying in the face of the old saying "never go back", Ferguson is now in his fourth spell at Peterborough, winning two successive promotions to take them into the second tier for the first time in 17 years in his first stint.Ferguson - son of legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex - has overseen two EFL Trophy victories, two further promotions from League One to the Championship, plus one relegation - and remains at London Road.Verdict: MixedSmithSpell 1: March 1982 - June 1985. Spell 2: March 2006 - November 2007. Spell 3: November - December 2008The late Jim Smith is considered Oxford United's greatest manager.He led the U's to back-to-back promotions (winning the title both times) from the Third Division in 1984 to the First Division in 1985 - but left before their top-flight debut after a contract dispute.Over 20 years after leaving the club, Smith returned in March 2006, but took them out of the Football League that season.Smith stepped down in November 2007 - staying on the board and briefly having a spell as caretaker in 2008.It did little to harm his legacy at Oxford though and he is still considered as one of the club's all-time legends.Verdict: Failure