David Moyes has unpacked how he became Manchester United manager in 2013 following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, a year after the pair fell out.
Moyes succeeded the great man that summer after Ferguson’s final title lift at Old Trafford, but only lasted nine months amid United’s flailing defence of their crown. The pair had struck up a strong bond over the years, with Moyes consulting Sir Alex over several job opportunities.
However, the United icon had accused Everton of trying harder in their 4-4 draw with United in April 2012 than they had done in the FA Cup semi-final loss to Liverpool, a result that ultimately contributed to the Reds losing out on the title to Manchester City. Moyes, of course, denied the suggestion.
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A year later, Moyes had been approached by several teams regarding a move from Everton. The ex-West Ham manager told The Rest Is Football podcast this week that around 10 teams had been in touch at the time.
He outlined: “I had a decision whether to say I’d been 11 years at Everton and there was part of me saying ‘am I overstaying my welcome’ and actually every year we just couldn’t break in [to the top four] because we didn’t have enough money, really. And I didn’t want to stay and one of the years we finished way down at the bottom.”
Then came a call out of the blue during a day off in early April 2013, in which Sir Alex asked Moyes to pay him a visit at his house. Moyes humorously revealed how he immediately felt he “can’t go to Sir Alex’s with jeans on so I need to go to Marks and Spencers to buy something”.
He then added: “So I got the house, made me a cup of tea. Sat down on his leather sofa. And he says ‘I’m retiring and you’re the next manager of Manchester United’. He said it to me, nobody else.
“I could feel myself sliding down the leather seat! There was no formal interview… It was Sir Alex’s trust.”
Sir Alex asked Moyes not to tell anyone aside from his wife, something which he felt conflicted about given his strong relationship with Everton owner Bill Kenwright, but something he nevertheless agreed to. On May 9, 2013, Moyes’ appointment was made public.
Asked about how he felt after the conversation, Moyes said: “I was more in shock that Alex was retiring. But I think when you look back to the season before and there was a bit of talk that he may have done it then if he had won the league [in 2012].
“At that time there were so many of the big clubs that I’d spoken to quietly and asked what I was doing, and it was only the Man United one which – well I had no choice.”
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