Sunderland hires Moyes to replace Allardyce as manager

SUNDERLAND, England (AP) - David Moyes was hired to take charge of Sunderland as Sam Allardyce's successor on Saturday, returning to Premier League management two years after being fired by Manchester United.

Moyes signed a four-year contract less than 24 hours after Sunderland announced Allardyce's departure to become England manager. Allardyce secured Sunderland's Premier League status after inheriting a struggling team last October but the northeast club doesn't want to be in regular relegation battles.

"It is our aim to become a better, stronger and more stable football club," Sunderland chairman Ellis Short said. "With a manager of David's caliber and experience at the helm, we have a fantastic opportunity to begin looking upwards, rather than downwards every season."

The 53-year-old Moyes has a managerial career to rebuild at Sunderland after three disappointing years.

The Scot's relative success at Everton from 2002-13 earned him the high-profile job at United after Alex Ferguson's retirement. But Moyes was fired 10 months into a six-year contract after missing out on Champions League qualification.

Moyes next headed to Spain but he was dismissed by Real Sociedad last November after a poor start to the season. Now Moyes is hoping for another period of stability in his dugout at Sunderland.

"I have taken over a big British club, with a great support and I'm looking forward to working in the Premier League again," Moyes said. "I look forward to continuing the good work done by Sam."

Sunderland said it had been pursuing Moyes for almost five years.

"I have spoken with him on many occasions and I have always been hugely impressed," Short said. "He was my number one managerial target for the last five appointments, but his desire to honor existing contracts meant we were not able to bring him to Sunderland previously."