Steve Bruce believes David Moyes should be crowned Manager of the Year ‘no matter what happens’

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has saluted old foe David Moyes for the way he has bounced back from his Manchester United misery.

Moyes landed the dream job in 2013 when he was appointed as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford.

But he lasted less than a year in the post as reigning champions United slumped to their only finish outside the top six in the Premier League era.

Steve Bruce has saluted David Moyes for bouncing back from Manchester United misery 

A testing first spell at West Ham, which followed difficult stints at Real Sociedad and Sunderland, further tarnished the reputation Moyes had built during an 11-year stint at Everton.

But he has emphatically reversed his trajectory since returning to the Hammers in December 2019 and heads to St James’ Park today with his side sitting in fourth, within touching distance of shock qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Newcastle boss Bruce said: ‘For his achievements at Everton, he got the top job and he didn’t get long enough at it. 

Moyes got the Man United job in 2013 when he was named as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor

But he lasted less than a year in the post after the Red Devils finished outside the top six 

‘He’s shown his resilience, his toughness and the man he is. That is why he’s been so successful and managed in the Premier League for so long. 

‘For the last 20 years, it seems I’ve always been against Moyesy. He has always been there and he always works hard at what he does and is passionate about what he does.

‘He’s proved again what a top-class manager he is and he’s already got my vote for manager of the year.

‘To get West Ham in the top four… and it’s not just that, it’s the recruitment, who he has brought in and how they have managed.

‘They’ve done very, very well. I’m really pleased for Moyesy, of course I am.’

Bruce got the better of Moyes with a 2-0 victory when the sides met at the London Stadium on the opening weekend of the season.

Bruce praised David Moyes (left) and tipped the West Ham boss to be manager of the season

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West Ham have a had a magnificent season so far and are chasing Champions League football

However, the two men have moved in very different circles since, with Newcastle finding themselves engaged in a tooth-and-nail fight for survival amid a seemingly never-ending takeover saga which made headlines again this week.

Before the Scot’s renaissance in east London, both Moyes and Bruce had been branded footballing dinosaurs and had their methods questioned in certain quarters, but Bruce knows that goes with the territory.

‘Look, I suppose when you get a bit older, you have to deal with all those things,’ he added. ‘But Moyes got to the top because of his ability to work hard, to have a certain resilience.

‘It just goes to show, in my opinion, what a top-class manager he is — he’s relentless in his work ethic.’