David Moyes said Real Sociedad were the "only side that tugged at my heartstrings" after revealing he had turned down offers from a number of Premier League clubs before agreeing to take over at the Spanish club.
Moyes was confirmed as Sociedad's new manager on Monday night, seven months after he was sacked as Manchester United boss following a dismal first season in charge at Old Trafford.
Speaking at his official presentation in San Sebastian on Thursday, Moyes admitted he had chances to return to management in England as well as other countries - without revealing which clubs were involved - but said Sociedad were the only one that really captured his imagination.
He said he “never had any doubt [about joining Sociedad]. I'd had several offers to manage back in the Premier League, I've spoken to several clubs in different countries but the only place that has really tugged at the heartstrings and made me think this is the right club has been Sociedad."
The Scot, who has signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with the Spanish outfit, left United just 10 months into a six-year contract after being named as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013.
At the time of his departure, United, the defending champions, were seventh in the Barclays Premier League and 23 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Moyes also left United with a host of unwanted records broken during his tenure, including failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in almost two decades.
Despite that chastening experience, Moyes says he is now ready to return to management and looking forward to the challenge of leading Sociedad away from the Primera Division relegation zone.
Sociedad moved out of the bottom three with Sunday's 2-1 home win over defending champions Atletico Madrid but are still level on nine points with second-bottom Levante and three other clubs.
Moyes said: "I feel at this stage that I'm at just now, it's the right time. I'm well rested, I've had six months off and I've got to say I'm raring to go.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge, big challenge but one which I'm confident. The confidence the chairman has given me has been great and I'm really looking forward to showing him what we can do."
Moyes was quickly installed as one of the favourites to take over Sociedad following the sacking of Jagoba Arrasate at the start of the month, with former West Brom boss Pepe Mel the other front-runner.
According to reports, Moyes was expected to be confirmed as the new manager last weekend but, with no official announcement forthcoming, doubts began to emerge as to whether the former Everton boss would indeed be taking over at the Anoeta.
However, Moyes reiterated that he had not been having second thoughts about taking over at Sociedad, but that he wanted to make 100 per cent sure it was right for his family.
He said: "I never had any doubts but a family decision has to be taken. I had great support from my dad, my wife, my children, who thought it was the right move for me at this stage of my career.
"So there was never any doubt, just making sure the family were supportive and everybody was looking forward to coming to live in San Sebastian."
Although British coaches moving abroad is not a common occurrence, Moyes becomes the fourth manager from the United Kingdom to take the hotseat at Sociedad after Englishman Harry Lowe and Welsh duo John Toshack and Chris Coleman.
He also follows in the footsteps of managers such as Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Venables in moving to Spain, with both of those enjoying successful stints at Barcelona.
Moyes does not want to compare himself with those two former England managers at this stage, but is hoping to prove he is up to the challenge of managing abroad.
"La Real have a great history of having British coaches, John Toshack, Chris Coleman, so it's not too unusual," he said.
"Some of the greatest managers Britain have ever produced, Sir Bobby Robson, Terry Venables, they saw fit to come and manage in La Liga. Not for a minute would I be putting myself at their level, but I hope to.
"I hope at the end of my time here I can try and prove something and show I can come here and work in Spain.
"It's an opportunity to show British managers can go and work abroad.
"There isn't an abundance of them out there and I've always beaten the drum about making sure that there's British managers going to other countries, just like in the Premier League, we've got lots of (foreign) managers coming into our country.
"So hopefully, I'm the first of many and if I can come here and succeed then it'll maybe make it a lot easier for others to do so as well.
"I really feel that to come here gives me the opportunity to manage in La Liga, which I think at the present time you could say it's the best league in the world."
