Moyes heads for Sociedad

– New Real Sociedad coach David Moyes (above) faces a tough challenge to get the Basque club back on La Liga track but it is also a chance for the Scot to restore his reputation after a failed stint at Manchester United.

Sociedad announced late on Monday that Moyes, who has been without a club since he left United in April after less than a season in charge, had agreed to take over from the sacked Jagoba Arrasate on a contract until June 2016.

He inherits a Sociedad side languishing in 15th place in La Liga after 11 matches and Sunday’s 2-1 win at home to champions Atletico Madrid, their fi rst outing since Arrasate’s exit, was only their second victory of the campaign.

Based in the seaside city of San Sebastian, Sociedad finished fourth in 2012/13 and qualified for the Champions League group stage, where they finished bottom of their pool.

Last term they were seventh and secured a place in Europa League qualifying but were eliminated by Russians FK Krasnodar.

Sociedad, whose glory period came in the early Eighties, are typical of the group of second-rank Spanish top-fl ight sides attempting to compete with wealthy Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Like many of their peers, they struggle to prevent their top players being lured away and the latest to depart were French forward Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid and Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to Barca.

However, Sociedad have a squad that is a mixture of experience and youthful promise and it would be no surprise if they secured a European berth again this term.

Forward Carlos Vela is their standout performer and the Mexico netted the equaliser against Atletico on Sunday. –

Madrid