LONDON: David Moyes faces the daunting task of following in the footsteps of Alex Ferguson after being officially confirmed as the manager of Manchester United on a six-year contract yesterday.
Ferguson’s shock retirement announcement the day before left United looking for a new manager for the first time since the legendary Scot succeeded Ron Atkinson in November 1986, but the Premier League champions moved quickly to appoint Moyes.
The 50-year-old, who has been at Everton since 2002, will take over from Ferguson on July 1.
Ferguson, who has won 38 trophies during a record-breaking 26-year spell at Old Trafford, revealed that he had personally recommended his fellow Glaswegian as his successor.
“When we discussed the candidates that we felt had the right attributes, we unanimously agreed on David Moyes,” said Ferguson in a statement.
“David is a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic. I’ve admired his work for a long time and approached him as far back as 1998 to discuss the position of assistant manager here.
“He was a young man then at the start of his career and has since gone on to do a magnificent job at Everton. There is no question he has all the qualities we expect of a manager at this club.” Moyes has only presided over two matches in the Champions League and has failed to win a trophy in his 11-year tenure at Goodison Park, but he is widely admired for having led Everton to six consecutive top-eight finishes in the Premier League despite operating on a shoestring budget.
“It’s a great honor to be asked to be the next manager of Manchester United,” he said in a statement released by his new employers.
“I am delighted that Sir Alex saw fit to recommend me for the job. I have great respect for everything he has done for the football club.
“I know how hard it will be to follow the best manager ever, but the opportunity to manage Manchester United isn’t something that comes around very often and I’m really looking forward to taking up the post next season.” United director Bobby Charlton, captain of the club’s 1968 European Cup-winning team, hailed Moyes as “a genuine Manchester United man.”
