Sir Alex Ferguson branded ‘the definition of aura’ as David Moyes reveals incredible inside story of his Man Utd move
DAVID MOYES has opened up about the incredible way he found out he was replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Back in 2013, Fergie retired after 26 years in charge at Old Trafford.
Moyes was managing Everton at the time and received a phone call from his fellow Scot out of the blue.
He was summoned to Ferguson‘s house for a meeting, where he broke the news of him quitting United and told Moyes that he must take over.
Moyes told the Rest is Football podcast: “I cannot go to the house with jeans on, I had to pop up to Marks and Spencers. I can’t go up to Alex’s house looking like this.
“I got to the house, he made me a cup of tea and took me to his lounge upstairs.
“He says: ‘I’m retiring and you’re the next manager of Manchester United.’
“He said that to me, nobody else. It was Sir Alex’s trust in me.
“And at that point I can feel myself sliding down the leather sofa.
“The biggest thing he said to me was: ‘You can’t tell your family, can’t tell your wife.'”
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Moyes still told his partner but listened to Ferguson as the bombshell news remained under wraps.
The ex-West Ham boss said: “I couldn’t tell my kids, I couldn’t tell my dad. It was terrible.
“But I was more in shock that Alex was retiring.”
Fans loved Moyes’ story, with one saying: “Ferguson is the definition of aura.”
Others commented “quality” and “brilliant”.
Moyes went on to last just ten months at Man Utd before he was sacked with the club seventh in the table.
Ryan Giggs then took over until the end of the season before Louis van Gaal came in on a permanent basis.
Moyes is now working as a pundit for Euro 2024 after leaving West Ham in May after a successful five years at the helm.
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