Why I would choose Moyes

I was recently asked where I would choose to go if I could do a 1-2 year internship or be deputy-assistant manager at a football club. Now this is a tricky question, one that requires a lot of deliberate thought and analytical breakdown. A decision emerging from this deliberation would have to favor logic over emotion. 

There is no doubt that some of the world soccer's top managers are - Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Harry Redknapp, Roberto Mancini, Vincente del Bosque, etc in no particular ranking. The likes of David Moyes, Jurgen Klopp, Andre Villas Boas, Diego Simeone and Marcelo Bielsa are considered to be the next generation - some might suggest they are already there. 

Although I am a big fan of Manchester United, I would not take the decision to initiate my managerial career at Old Trafford. For starters, I don't really know how much access I will get to the wealth of knowledge that Sir Alex has. Secondly, United is a place one should consider with a few years of experience under their belt, perhaps before moving on to take complete charge of a club. 

I really like the managerial styles of Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp. The way Diego Simeone and Marcelo Bielsa get their teams to play is quite remarkable. But I would choose David Moyes simply he has almost mastered the man-management, tactical and financial aspects of soccer at such a young age. I also get a sense of integrity from him - it's not very often you see managers stick by clubs for so many years and vice-versa. It's like creating a dynasty, one that defies all odds and rules. And then ruling it for decades. 

Moyes' style is quite different from other managers too. He usually likes to do most of the coaching himself as he works on formations, team shape and tactical responses based on opposition research prepared for the next game. He has often been criticized for being too defensive. I would only partly agree that he is defensive. He has basically tried to inculcate habits of defensive jurisdiction into his players at all times. After that is achieved, he builds from there. Working with a club with the financial situation like Everton just makes the job harder. Imagine all the young players being brought to the club leaving because they have improved to a world-class level where millions of dollars are being paid to lure them away. A club like Everton cannot really reject such offers and it often results in the manager having to start from square one on the training ground. 

It has often been suggested that Moyes must move to truly fulfill his potential. I am not sure I agree with this notion. With instant results expected these days in exchange for a heavy bag of money, moving to a top 5 club is disappearing as the best option for successful managers. Even though Moyes must have already been offered a move by at least 5 clubs in his Everton tenure, the most famous of which was the interest from Tottenham when Harry Redknapp left, he has proved that his success at Everton is the product of sustained excellence of a vastly under-appreciated manager. 

With Everton being the best place to get maximum hands-on coaching and management opportunities combined with the sheer presence of a mentor like Moyes, it would be very hard to turn down an offer from the Merseyside club, if it ever came at such a juncture.