Ally McCoist is backing his close friend David Moyes for a shock instant return to Premier League management after his West Ham exit.
David Moyes became something of an internet meme after clearing out his office at West Ham.
Moyes officially left West Ham last week and the club formally unveiled Julen Lopetegui as his replacement.
Hammers fans have been warned to ‘be careful what you wish for’ ad nauseum by the media after calling for Moyes to be replaced.
The response of some of those supporters has been to pose one very simple question: ‘If Moyes is so highly-regarded and coveted, what clubs would be queueing up to take him when he leaves?’
Moyes future questioned
After Moyes cleared out his office at West Ham, the Chelsea job became available.
And when the Scot was spotted at the Chelsea Flower Show, he soon became the butt of an easy joke about being Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement.
But could the former Hammers boss actually be returning to the Premier League sooner than anyone thought as a result of Chelsea’s change of manager?
Many believed the first chance Moyes will get at a return to club management will come this winter if and when a struggling side sacks their manager and wants to avoid relegation.
But Ally McCoist has backed Moyes for a shock instant return after his West Ham exit.
McCoist backs Moyes for shock instant return
McCoist and Moyes are good friends having been Scotland roommates.
Former West Ham assistant coach Enzo Maresca is on the verge of being named Chelsea’s new manager.
That will leave newly promoted Leicester City looking for a new boss.
And McCoist believes Moyes is the man to take it on.
“Big Moyesie is as safe a pair of hands as you will get in that league anywhere,” McCoist told a Leicester fan asking for Moyes to replace Maresca on talkSPORT.
“Honestly, I think the job he did at West Ham was excellent. It might have been the correct time for the parting of the ways. I genuinely believe sometimes the supporters can get a little bit tired of a manager who has been there for a good period of years.
“I think there was an element like that with the West Ham fans with David, and I think that relationship had probably run its course.
“In terms of getting the Leicester job, of course, David Moyes would handle that, absolutely no problem at all.”
Moyes and Maresca ball couldn’t be more different
If Moyes did take over at Leicester he may be fighting a losing battle.
Because the Foxes are in financial difficulty after allegedly breaching PSR rules and could face a points deduction on their return to the top flight.
Although he likes working with a small squad so that could suit Moyes if he does replace Maresca at the King Power.
In terms of football, though, Leicester fans should be warned they could not get any more polar opposite between Maresca and Moyes.
Maresca is all about completely dominating possession and attacking using very calculated patterns of play.
Moyes’ tactics on the other hand is risk averse, defensive and counter-attacking with the Scot regularly scoffing at possession stats, saying they don’t mean much to him.
Leicester is not the only job the ex West Ham boss has been touted for, though.
Another of Moyes’ old friends Mark Lawreson recently backed him to be the new Republic of Ireland manager too.