West Ham calls on David Moyes to retain top-flight status

David Moyes was chosen as the man to pull West Ham United from the relegation mire on Tuesday.

The Scot, who last oversaw Sunderland's descent into the Championship, takes over a side positioned 18th in the top tier and with just two wins in all competitions this season. His initiation will be after the international break, when the Irons stay inside the M25 for a short trip to Watford on Nov. 11.

Moyes inked an initial six-month contract at the London Stadium, according to the Guardian's Jacob Steinberg.

Related: Why is antiquated Moyes still considered for Premier League jobs?

Considering the underwhelming stints in his last three gigs at Manchester United, Real Sociedad, and Sunderland, his appointment as Slaven Bilic's successor has been met with some surprise by the footballing community. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold will be hoping he can rekindle the passion and aptitude he showed when drastically improving the fortunes of Preston North End and Everton, his first two tenures in management.

"It feels great to be here," he said. "West Ham is a big club. Wherever you go they are known. I've been really fortunate in that I've managed some really great clubs, and I have been offered some other opportunities recently.

"But I wanted a job that would give me a real good chance (of success). I wanted a big fanbase, a big club, and West Ham fitted the bill."

Moyes' predecessor Bilic was regularly on the brink of losing his job at various points over the past two seasons. He fell short in his last audition to save his job, clinging on after a League Cup win at Tottenham Hotspur and draw at Crystal Palace, but then signing off with Saturday's harrowing 4-1 home defeat to Liverpool.

West Ham's predicament is salvageable. There are still a whopping 27 league matches left, and the club is only one point adrift of 17th-placed Bournemouth. There is greater pedigree in the squad than what Moyes inherited at Sunderland too, with Javier Hernandez, Michail Antonio, and Manuel Lanzini highlighting his stacked attack-minded options. There is also plenty of defensive experience, with Jose Fonte, Winston Reid, and Aaron Cresswell often starting in front of four-time Premier League Golden Glove winner Joe Hart.

There are currently no reports regarding the size of Moyes' transfer kitty when the January window rolls around.