When he moved from Championship side Preston he was given a four-year contract but the Scot did not know whether he would see that out or not. And, in a situation similar to that faced by Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea before he was sacked at the weekend, Moyes said he had to win over the players who were only a few years younger than him.
"When I came to Everton did I think I'd be here 10 years? I don't think you ever think that," he said. "So, yes, 10 years is a big achievement - but the club deserves a lot of credit as well."
He added: "You sign a four-year contract but it's difficult to know how long you're going to get.
"This job, because of the demands put on you, the public scrutiny and the results world that means there's a demand to win regularly, makes it hard to stay at any one club for 10 years.
"Bill Kenwright (chairman) had the foresight to look for someone he felt could help Everton and they've not been in a business where they've been unstable."
Moyes took over at Everton a month before his 39th birthday and felt he had to win over the squad.
"I took the Everton job when I was 38 years old, so it was relatively young," he told the Liverpool Echo.
"Some of the players weren't that much younger than me, and you have to earn respect.
"The players want to see how you work but I think I've been lucky because I've had good players around me and things have gone well - from the very first game."
Source: PA
Source: PA