MOYES - MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Tuesday 18 November 2008, 00:50
by Craig Davies @YourEverton

David Moyes has been named North West manager of the year for 2008.

The prestigious accolade was presented to the Everton boss at a black-tie event held at Manchester's Midland Hotel on November 17.

It is a great achievement for Moyes, who beat the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafael Benitez and Mark Hughes to the prize.

David Moyes with his award

The event was attended by many notable names, including Sir Tom Finney, Sir Bobby Charlton, Alan Irvine and Phil Brown.

Upon receiving his award, Moyes said: "It is a great honour and I am pleased to be here. Being a manager, you have to have a thick skin at times, but I am fortunate that the clubs I have been at have given me time and a chance.

"I've been at Everton nearly seven years and we have been able to change. We now have much younger players and I am fortunate to have the people I have got."

The decision was made by a prestigious panel of sporting experts, including Gordon Taylor, Maurice Watkins and Paul Thorogood who assembled to pick the cream of the footballing crop.

It's not the first time the Everton boss has received recognition for his successes on Merseyside, having been honoured by the League Managers' Association in 2003 and 2005.

The award has come at a welcome time for the Goodison chief, who guided the Toffees to an impressive fifth place finish in the Premier League last season - along the way masterminding impressive wins including a 6-1 demolition of SK Brann in the Uefa Cup.

Not only that, the Blues reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, only to be knocked out at the hands of Chelsea.

More recently, it was announced that Moyes had penned a new five-year deal with the Club. The decision ended months of speculation over his future and is set to keep him on Merseyside until the end of the 2012/13 season.

The Blues boss has endured a difficult start to the 2008/09 Premier League campaign, but having captured top-class talent in the shape of Louis Saha and record signing Marouane Fellaini, things are starting to look good for Everton as they head into 2009.

Also on the night, Everton and England Ladies star Jill Scott won North West Female Player of the Year for her midfield performances for Club and country.