Everton have been linked with plenty of high-profile managers ever since Farhad Moshiri took over, with his penchant for a big name often his downfall.
Desperate to attract the best players and the biggest coaches, regardless of style or their long-term plan, ill-advised acquisitions are wholly responsible for the financial mess the Toffees find themselves in today.
Appointments of Rafael Benitez and Carlo Ancelotti typify the era, and whilst the latter likely would have been a success eventually, the former was doomed from the start.
Even Jose Mourinho was once tipped for the role, but in the end, it was a less attractive name that came far closer to the post.
David Moyes reveals when he nearly re-joined Everton
Chatting with Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer on The Rest is Football podcast, the Scotsman was refreshingly open, having finished his tenure with West Ham United just recently.
Having enjoyed two spells with the Hammers, the second full of successes including a Europa Conference League title, he deserves great praise not only for swallowing his pride to return, but also for turning things around as dramatically as he did.
However, that could well have been Everton, as he has since revealed that he very nearly opted for the Toffees back in 2016.
Moyes claimed: ‘Well, actually, in that period when I came back, I was very close to getting back to Everton. It didn’t quite happen. I met Everton.
‘I had spoken with Celtic as well at the time. I’d gone to Celtic. And when both of them went away for different reasons, Sunderland were there.
‘I knew Martin Bain really well from his Scottish connections. And the Sunderland job was up big. Sam had done the job, just got the England job.
‘And I thought, well, why would I not go in and do the job? Sunderland is a great club, really good club. And I don’t know if you can attract all the players to the Northeast.’
Moyes also spoke about Wayne Rooney, and how he often struggled to find the right balance when it came to managing such a young yet talented player.
David Moyes would have been just what Everton needed
During that period in Everton’s history, they were still reeling from the influx of cash that Moshiri was pumping in.
The Iranian had promised plenty, and was certainly delivering on the financial front, backing the likes of Ronald Koeman and Marco Silva religiously.
However, whilst that reckless spending has since backfired spectacularly, perhaps the appointment of Moyes would have been perfect, to offer some grounded reality and to prevent the club from straying too far from what made it great in the first place.
Whilst the Scotsman would not have stolen headlines with his appointment, in hindsight he would have provided stability and security to guide them through such an unprecedented period.
Alas, it did not come to fruition, and only now under Sean Dyche are Everton showing signs of life once again, just as they did under Moyes’ rock-solid stewardship.