Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/706995
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 JULY 2016 47 THE former Everton and Man- chester United boss succeeds Sam Allardyce at the Stadium of Light, Allardyce having left to become England manager on Friday. Moyes, who won the LMA manager of the year award three times during his time at Ever- ton, said: "I am delighted to have joined Sunderland. I am relishing the challenge and excited by the opportunity. "I have taken over a big British club, with a great support and I'm looking forward to working in the Premier League again. "I look forward to continuing the good work done by Sam." Moyes' stock fell after he left Everton for Manchester United in 2013. He was axed after less than a year in charge at Old Traf- ford, while a bid to revive his ca- reer in Spain also failed when he was sacked by Real Sociedad dur- ing last season. However, Sunderland chairman Ellis Short says Moyes is the right man for the job - and revealed he had targeted him many times in the past. "We are absolutely delighted to welcome David Moyes to Sun- derland, who was by far and away our first choice," he said. "He is a man whose football pedigree speaks for itself and is someone I have long admired. I have spoken with him on many occasions and I have always been hugely impressed. He was my number one managerial target for the last five appointments, but his desire to honour exist- ing contracts meant we were not able to bring him to Sunderland previously. To be able to finally welcome him as our manager is fantastic news for the club. "The fact that David has com- mitted to a four-year deal is a clear demonstration of his be- lief in what he can achieve here. It is our aim to become a better, stronger and more stable foot- ball club and with a manager of David's calibre and experience at the helm, we have a fantastic opportunity to begin looking up- wards, rather than downwards every season." Moyes, 53, will have to get to work quickly with little transfer activity having occurred at the club during the summer follow- ing a campaign which saw Sun- derland narrowly avoid relega- tion from the Premier League. Moyes watched the Black Cats defeat Sky Bet Championship side Rotherham 2-1 in a friendly at the New York Stadium. He decided to leave Robbie Stockdale and Paul Bracewell in charge of team affairs, looking on from the stands instead, but posed for pictures before kick- off, and waved when invited by a travelling contingent of over 2,000 as they chanted 'David Moyes' red and white army'. At the end of the game the Scot joined his new players on the pitch and raised a clenched fist towards the away end as they ac- knowledged him. Moyes saw Charles N'Zogbia, the former Newcastle winger who was taken on trial by Al- lardyce, turn in an eye-catching display. The 30-year-old Frenchman may have thought his hopes of winning a contract were slim after the FA came calling for Al- lardyce but he set up Fabio Borini for the opening goal and made it 2-1 in the closing minutes to make his case to the former Everton and Manchester United manager. Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Higuain has Juventus medical Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain has undergone a medical with officials from Juventus and has agreed a deal to join the club NAPOLI and Juventus remain in negotiations about a potential deal for the 28-year-old Argen- tina international but the buyout clause is almost £79m. Higuain, who joined Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013, has two years remaining on his contract in Na- ples. He ended the 2015/16 season as the top scorer in Serie A with 36 goals. Both Arsenal and Atletico Ma- drid have been credited with an interest in Higuain's services this summer but it would appear Se- rie A champions Juventus are now poised to win the race for his sig- nature. Gonzalo Higuain is set for Juventus move Moyes takes over at Sunderland David Moyes has been appointed Sunderland's new manager on a four-year deal "I have taken over a big British club, with a great support and I'm looking forward to working in the Premier League again" David Moyes Juve suffer shoot-out loss ITALIAN champions Juventus were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Melbourne Victory in their International Champions Cup game in Melbourne yesterday. Young Spanish defender Carlos Blanco Moreno put Juve ahead in the 58th minute with a spec- tacular long-range strike before Jai Ingham equalised for Victory seven minutes from time. The game went to a penalty shoot-out with the scores level at full-time. Emil Audero saved from Carl Valeri to give Juventus the early advantage in the shootout be- fore home goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas saved attempts from Roman Macek and Stefano Pa- dovan to give Victory the win. Moreno, the 20-year-old cen- tral defender, looked to have given Juve victory with his stun- ning goal from near halfway af- ter finding goalkeeper Thomas off his goal-line. But Ingham equalised after a series of intricate passes in the build-up gave him space to fire across Audero into the far corner of the net. Juventus, who won a fifth con- secutive Serie A crown last sea- son, will face Tottenham in their second and final ICC match in Melbourne on Tuesday. Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid will play Spurs in the final game of the tourna- ment on Friday.