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When Sir Alex Ferguson finally stepped aside at Manchester United, it ushered in a new era for the club under the man he had chosen to be his successor.
“We unanimously agreed to David Moyes,” Ferguson had told the BBC.
In his place came Moyes, fresh from a 10-year season with Everton, who stated that it was a “great honor” to be in charge of Old Trafford in the summer of 2013.
The Scotsman signed a six-year contract in what was seen as the start of a new chapter at United.
Ferguson addressed United fans in an emotional speech after his last home game last May, in which he said: “I would also like to remind you that when I had bad times here, the club was by my side.”
(Image: PA)
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“All my staff supported me, the players supported me, you supported me and your job now is to support our new manager. That is important.”
However, just 10 months later, six years ago, and exactly a year after Robin van Persie’s stunt sealed the last Red Devils title under Fergie, Moyes was fired as head of United.
This is where it all went wrong.
‘The chosen one’
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After 26 years and 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, Ferguson announced his retirement for the second and last time in May 2013.
Staying at the club as director and ambassador, Ferguson chose Moyes as his successor, seeing something of himself in his Scottish partner.
For more than a decade at Everton, Moyes had performed well on an often limited budget, securing European qualification multiple times while raising a number of young men.
Ferguson said that he had once tried to name Moyes as his assistant and said “there is no doubt that he has all the qualities we expect from a manager at this club.”
Teething problems
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Moyes was able to enjoy the first two weeks of the season when United beat Wigan to lift the FA Community Shield before defeating Swansea 4-1 on the opening day of the Premier League season, but things quickly went downhill.
After a 4-1 loss to local rivals Manchester City and a 2-1 loss at home to West Brom, pressure increased when United endured their worst start to the season since 1989.
Growing discontent
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United suffered consecutive home league defeats for the first time since 2001-02 when Everton and Newcastle had victories at Old Trafford in December, while Swansea eliminated them from the FA Cup in the first hurdle in January.
After 3-0 home defeats against Manchester City and Liverpool, fans staged an aerial takeoff like a banner saying “Wrong One – Moyes Out”
The last straw
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With a spectator dressed as the Grim Reaper taunting him next to the shelter, Moyes watched his United team limp and defeat 2-0 against former club Everton on April 20, a loss that ensured United would miss a place in the Champions League for the first time since 1995-96.
To avoid a prolonged period of speculation about his future, United announced his departure on the morning of the 22nd, with Ryan Giggs taking office on an interim basis.
Moyes left after winning 27 of his 51 games in charge, but with United’s worst home record since 1978.
What came next
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Giggs remained in charge for the remainder of the season, with a brief return from the feel-good factor at United, before Louis Van Gaal took office in the summer.
The Dutchman would lift the FA Cup, but with a 52.43 win percentage just higher than Moyes, he left after two seasons to be replaced by José Mourinho.
‘Special One’ fared better than ‘Chosen One’, winning the Europa League and League Cup while finishing second in the Premier League in 2018, but started early in the 2018-19 season after winning just seven of its first 17 games.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived, initially on a provisional basis, but won the job permanently with some good results.
Moyes moved abroad with Real Sociedad, but survived only one season in Spain before heading to Sunderland and then West Ham.
Having seen a short-term deal with the Hammers in 2018, he returned permanently in December last year.
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