Embarking on the daunting task of replacing Alex Ferguson in the Manchester United dugout, David Moyes said he won't be intimidated by the presence of his illustrious predecessor at Old Trafford.
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Far from dreading replacing Ferguson, Moyes is starting out at United knowing he will never be able to match the achievements of British football's most successful manager.
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"Impossible," Moyes said Friday. "To manage at this level for 26 years, and have his success, I don't think there will be any other manager that does for 26 years at a club like Manchester United at this level (again)."
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Between 1986 and 2013, Ferguson won 13 league titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, the Champions League twice, the European Cup Winners' Cup, the European Super Cup, the Club World Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.
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The 50-year-old Moyes arrives at United having never won a major trophy as a manager, although during 11 years at Everton he impressed on a comparatively meager budget.
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"I've come to a club where success is tattooed across badge - this club is about winning trophies and I've come to continue that," Moyes said as he faced reporters for the first time as United manager.
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"I'm determined to try to get the first one on the board. I am inexperienced in a lot of those things, some brilliant managers who could have taken this role."
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Rather than hiring a heavyweight like Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola, United replaced the 71-year-old Ferguson with a younger version cut from the same Glaswegian cloth.
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How Moyes replaced Ferguson is intriguing: there was no interview by the owning Glazer family, and the job was presented to him as a done deal in late April.
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"I knew nothing at all until Sir Alex gave me a call and asked me to come to his house," Moyes recalled.
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"I was expecting him to say he was going to take one of my players. I wasn't sure what he was going to say to me. I went in and the first thing he said to me was that he was retiring.
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"And I said, 'Yes, when?' ... and he says, 'Next week.'
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And his next words were, 'And you are the next Manchester United manager.' I didn't get a chance to say, 'Yes' or 'No.' I was told I was the next Manchester United manager by Sir Alex and for me that was enough."
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Sitting inside Ferguson's home, south of Manchester,
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Moyes remembers the "blood drained from my face."
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"I was really shocked, more shocked that Sir Alex had chosen to retire," Moyes said. "But inside I was incredibly thrilled that I was going to get the opportunity to manage Manchester United."
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Ferguson will remain at United as a director, and Moyes is happy for his fellow Scotsman to watch over him at matches.
Alex Ferguson's success is actually going to be very difficult because the man really did well. David Moyes has to just TRY...