Thursday morning at the elegant hotel Maria Cristina, overlooking the river Uruma as it meets the Atlantic in San Sebastián, and the phone rings. On the other end is Carlo Ancelotti, manager of the European champions, Real Madrid. “It’s great to see you back in football, David,” he says. “And it’s great to see you in Spain.”

David Moyes returned to management with Real Sociedad last night and insisted that he was undertaking the biggest challenge of his career in the “best league in the world”, one he said he would have “hated” not to take on. It was also one, he revealed, that he was encouraged to take by Sir Alex Ferguson. “I asked him what he thought,” Moyes admitted, “and he said: ‘It’s a great opportunity’.”

The last time Ferguson encouraged him to take a job, things did not exactly work out. But adversity will bring greater satisfaction and there was a determination about the 51-year-old here. And although he talked of looking forward, it was inevitable that this job would be seen through the context of his last one.

“I stand by what I said at the time, that I was not given enough time to succeed or fail,” Moyes said. “I think there was nothing wrong with how we worked and everyone can see that whoever is in charge at Manchester United it is quite a long job to do things. Nine months would never be enough time for any manager. Most real football people understood that there would be a period of transition at Manchester United when you take over from Sir Alex. I always believed I was the right person for the job and I still believe that is the case.”

Real Sociedad’s president, Jokin Aperribay, did not need convincing that Moyes was the right man for this job. The Scot admitted that Aperribay’s persistence was key; he kept on pushing. The Everton experience is one that they consider applicable to La Real and Moyes talked about his desire to get back “out on to the grass”, to coach rather than manage. Asked how he would define himself, whether he was more José Mourinho or Pep Guardiola, there was a long pause before he replied: “Probably more Mourinho.”

“I am tough on players,” he continued. “I like to work hard and there is a lot of work ahead. I want to lead the team and I think I am capable of that. I spent 11 great years at Everton and I took over a club similar to this, in a similar situation, and I think we got better and better. I don’t see any reasons why I can’t do that.”

It helps that, as Moyes insisted, Real Sociedad have more talent than they have shown so far. That much was in evidence on Sunday night when they defeated Atlético Madrid; they have won only twice all season – against the league champions and the European champions.

If Moyes’ insistence that there were “never” any doubts disguised the care with which he considered this move and the fact that he took a lot of convincing, this is chance for redemption.

All the more so because he has not taken the easy route; this club has more of a British tradition than most and the Scot follows Harry Lowe, John Toshack and Chris Coleman as manager here, but few British players or managers venture abroad. Too few, said Moyes. Fewer still have succeeded.

Coming here already sets Moyes apart. He has done so alone, too. He will initially work with a backroom staff provided by the club. He did not want to create a British-Spanish division, insisting on maintaining a core of his staff that know the club, but he will make appointments of his own in the coming weeks. Should he be successful that would go a long way to rehabilitating a reputation built over 11 years at Everton and damaged over 10 months at United.

“I believe this is the biggest challenge of my career,” Moyes said. “It is an opportunity to show that British managers can go abroad. There is not an abundance of [those that have] and I have always beaten the drum [about going abroad]. Hopefully I am the first of many. If I can succeed, maybe it will make it easier for others to do as well.

“I think at the present time you could say it [La Liga] is the best league in the world. It’s overtaken the Premiership because of the quality of the players and the teams. La Liga has some of the finest players, some really good coaches and I wanted to test myself against the best. I think you have to look at the Champions League finals, which in the past has [involved] English teams, and the Europa League finals, and even some of the very recent European ties, and it makes you realise the quality of the teams here.

“I spoke to [Real Madrid’s assistant coach] Paul Clement last week – and Carlo Ancelotti phoned me today. Paul told me how strong he felt the Spanish league was. All the games are difficult, everywhere you go. Obviously it’s a change of style. And a change of lifestyle, which I’m looking forward to embracing. But I hope it all makes me better.

“La Real have a great history of British coaches, like John Toshack, Chris Coleman. And some of the greatest managers Britain have produced, like Bobby Robson and Terry Venables, saw fit to come and manage in La Liga. I would not for a minute put myself at their level but I hope that at the end of my time here [I will be] and prove that I can [do so].

“I hope when the time comes for me to go back home I’ll be more ready, with more knowledge.”

There is just one problem: the language. “I think a lot of my style comes with my body language and my conversation. I don’t want to lose that so to begin with the translation will be important. It’s important it’s well translated,” Moyes said. “I’ll start lessons on Monday. I’ll be looking to do an hour every day. Let’s hope a Scottish boy can grasp it ... but I’m already worried I’m speaking English in a Spanish accent.”