Sunderland chairman Ellis Short has suggested that he has been trying to bring David Moyes to the Stadium of Light since 2011.
On Saturday, the North-East club announced that they had replaced Sam Allardyce with former Everton and Manchester United boss Moyes, who has signed a four-year contract with the Black Cats.
Sunderland have struggled for stability in recent years with a number of appointments proving unsuccessful, but Short has indicated that he is delighted to have finally secured someone who he says has also been his first-choice target.
He told the club's official website: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome David Moyes to Sunderland, who was by far and away our first choice.
"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 existing 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."
Moyes's first Premier League game in charge of Sunderland will be at Manchester City on August 13.
Darren Plant
