West Ham United manager David Moyes believes modern day football makes it tough for managers to be at one club for a long period of time.
The 59-year-old was in charge of Everton between 2002 and 2013 before taking charge of Manchester United following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Moyes has had two spells in charge of West Ham with the second stretch starting in December 2019 after the departure of Manuel Pellegrini.
“We get international breaks and it wouldn’t be wrong if a manager went and had a week off, you can understand it because it is the chance to get a break and you may not get many other opportunities,” Moyes said.
“At the end of the season when you hear us say we need to get away, you can imagine it, because when you sign up to the job, we come back on July 1, and we then don’t finish until May 28th.
“I hope personally our season doesn’t finish until June 7 because that means we are in the Europa Conference League final. If that was the case we have gone from July 1 to June 7 and you are asking a manager to go through that whole period without missing a day or not being in.
“Of course, we get a day off here and there but ultimately you are working every weekend, you are in a hotel every second weekend if you are away from home, so you do see the strains of modern management come through.
“I did 11 years at one club but I am not sure that managers will be able to do long, long stints at clubs because there are bigger stress and health issues.
“But the number of games and with the way the programmes are going, it isn’t getting any easier with European games, playing later on.
“If you look at it, we have had three years with nearly no break. I think this summer will be no different. I know here, we are preparing a tour, we have to come back on July 1.”
The Hammers make the short trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday before hosting Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium next weekend.
West Ham will find out their last last 16 Conference league opponents next Friday with the draw taking place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Mark Marston | Get Football