When David Moyes was the manager of Everton, he told a television interviewer that he would never criticize his players in public — "only in the dressing room."

As a successful Everton manager for 11 years Moyes had a certain standing in the game, a respect, with people nodding in approval when his name was mentioned. He kept the club competitive on a small budget playing pragmatic football. He was going a first-class job at Goodison Park.

When Real Madrid wanted a new coach they went for Carlo Ancelotti, who had won titles in Italy, England and France plus two Champions Leagues.