Moyes hails 'perfect chairman' Kenwright for taking chance on him at Everton
David Moyes claimed Bill Kenwright was the perfect chairman for a young coach as he remembered “some really great times” with the former Everton owner.
Kenwright took the Scot from Preston in 2002 and their partnership saw the Goodison Park side reach the FA Cup final and into Champions League qualifying during 11 seasons. Kenwright died this week aged 78.
And speaking before West Ham ’s Europa League tie in Athens, Moyes said: "It is incredibly sad news. He was a wonderful man. He gave me a big opportunity in my career.
"He took me when I was a young manager in the lower leagues and gave me a job in the Premier League. He was brilliantly supportive. I could not have had a better chairman as a young coach.
"When I look at modern football nowadays, how difficult it is for so many young managers to make their way, Bill Kenwright was great to work with. We had some really great times over the 11 years with him. We had some successful moments and he'll be sadly missed."
Everton chiefs face transfer backlash from fans after deadline day disaster
Moyes also urged fans of West Ham and Olympiacos to behave after the Greek club told their Ultras not to risk getting them banned from Europe. But the reception given to just the English press at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium last night gave warning this Europa League tie is a powderkeg encounter.
Olympiacos’ home game against Athens rivals Panathinaikos was abandoned on Sunday night when a firecracker hit an away player while warming up on the touchline. The Greek Super League will sit in judgement on the scenes tomorrow.
And last night the Greek league leaders took the extraordinary step of urging their sellout crowd not to commit any acts which "might hurt our side" in the clash against the Hammers. “Use of laser pointers, smoke flares, firecrackers and throwing objects, along with blocking staircases and entry points might lead to our stadium being banned,” said a club statement.
It did not stop home fans hurling insults and two rolls of sellotape hurled at the visiting media before the pre-match press conference at the barbwire-clad concrete arena last night. And Moyes, whose Manchester United side lost here in the Champions League in 2014, said: "'You want the passion.
David Moyes has paid tribute to Bill Kenwright ahead of West Ham's Europa League game against Olympiacos (David Rogers/Getty Images)"You want the atmosphere. But we also want good behaviour from our supporters and from Olympiacos supporters To be a passionate supporter, you have to be a good supporter. You are not helping your club - and that includes our supporters as well.
"You have to be passionate and enthusiastic but you’re not doing your club any favours if you’re getting bans or a stadium ban or your team gets thrown out of Europe. You have to be well behaved.
"Everybody knows (about the atmosphere), coming to Athens to play any of the teams here can be tough games. And Olympiacos is a really tough game. They are a serial team in European football for many years.
"Embrace it. Enjoy it. If you’re a football man, you want big atmospheres. What we’ve got to remember is football is a game. We’re seeing so many things happening throughout the world just now. Remember, we’re all here to enjoy a game of football. All we want is a good football game."
Travelling West Ham fans were banned from the first away game in Freiburg this season following trouble at the Europa Conference League final and the club was also given a two-year suspended sentence. West Ham are on an English record of 17 consecutive European matches unbeaten but arrived in Greece last night after the 4-1 drubbing at Aston Villa.
Athens-born Konstantinos Mavropanos said: "The Greek people are really passionate about football and the atmosphere will be amazing. In their last game, there were [missiles] but in European football they don’t do these things.
Premier League winners and losers of January transfer window as £700m+ spent
"It is a different game and they are more respectful of the opponent." Liverpool ’s Virgil van Dijk complained about Greek fans pointing lasers "at my eyes" when he took a penalty for Holland at AEK Athens’ stadium earlier this month.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
