David Moyes

Coaching Sessions

Attacking patterns

Attacking

I often use this type of practice to work on our team shape and attacking patterns in preparation for matches. The patterns and movements we rehearse will vary greatly, depending on the system we intend to use for the game and the system we expect our opponents to use.

The switch: changing attacking angles

Attacking

Use this session to encourage and develop quick and incisive football. Players should be looking to quickly switch the point of attack, utilising forward and angled passing, one-twos, plus intelligent off-the-ball movement.

Improving defending

Defending

This session is all about establishing and improving defensive principles. It is essential that players know how to defend in all situations: in 1v1s, as a defensive unit, and as a team.

Defending against a switch of play

Defending

This session is designed to work on a team’s defensive balance, shape and its covering positions when defending against switches of play.

Biography

One of the leading coaches in the British game, David Moyes was the first three-time winner of the LMA Manager of the Year award, and only Sir Alex Ferguson has picked up the trophy on more occasions. He was appointed assistant manager of Preston North End while still a player and he was given the top job at Deepdale just four months short of his 35th birthday. Preston reached the Division Two play-offs in his first full season in charge and achieved promotion as champions at the end of the following campaign. Having become one of the hottest properties in management, in March 2002 he was appointed manager at Everton. He led the club to a seventh place finish in the Premier League, an achievement that saw him voted LMA Manager of the Year. He picked up the award again two years later, after taking Everton to a fourth place finish and qualification for the Champions League. He picked up his third LMA Manager of the Year award in 2009, after leading the Toffees to fifth in the Premier League and to the FA Cup final. In July 2013 he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United. He subsequently managed in Spain with Real Sociedad, before returning to the Premier League in 2016 as manager of Sunderland. Moyes is currently in his second stint as manager of West Ham and in the 2020–21 season he guided West Ham to a club record Premier League points total, finishing in sixth place and qualifying for the Europa League.

Since 2010 Elite Soccer has given subscribers exclusive insight into the training ground practices of the world’s best coaches. Published in partnership with the League Managers Association we have unparalleled access to the leading lights in the English leagues, as well as a host of international managers.

Elite Soccer exclusively features sessions written by the coaches themselves. There are no observed sessions and no sessions “in the style of”, just first-hand advice delivered direct to you from the coach.

Login