For English football, it has long seemed unthinkable: a league season starting without the finger-jabbing, combative colossus of management on the touchlines.
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Alex Ferguson will be a bystander for the first time since 1986, watching from afar as Manchester United starts its pursuit of a record-extending 21st English title.
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David Moyes now carries that responsibility.
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Widely admired during 11 years at Everton despite failing to collect a major honour, Moyes was hand- picked by Ferguson in the biggest decision -gamble, perhaps - taken by the owning Glazer family.
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"People are asking whether we can win the trophy again. Can we still be champions?" captain Nemanja Vidic acknowledged.
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Although he openly flirted with United in the months before Ferguson's retirement was publicly disclosed, Jose Mourinho - one of the most talented but temperamental managers of his generation - wasn't approached for the job.
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The charismatic Portuguese is back in the Premier League, though, after six years collecting trophies with Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
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Claiming to have mellowed since leaving Chelsea after a fall-out, Mourinho is widely expected to return to his combustible self once the season begins and produce the touchline tantrums Ferguson can no longer provide.
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Just a week into the season, the 50-year-old managers will get a chance to size each other up in a match that could set the tone for the opening weeks, with United hosting Chelsea.
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"That game will not decide who is going to be champions," Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic said. "But it will decide a lot of things about the confidence."
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By then, the Blues may have gained an edge by having played an extra game. United will only have played once - its title defense begins Saturday at Swansea, following last weekend's 2-0 win over Wigan in the Community Shield. Ill-feeling between the sides has been inflamed by Chelsea's hostile pursuit of United striker Wayne Rooney.
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Mourinho insists he's not engaging in "mind games" with Moyes, but has still offered a few pointed words of advice.
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"One of the most difficult things in the club is to create a victory culture, where you walk through the door and you smell the success, you smell confidence, you smell self-esteem," said Mourinho, who has won league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Portugal. "David is in a big club and that is a big help - everybody knows how to win. Of course, it is up to him now."
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And he knows just how daunting the task is.
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"There has to be an element of fear that comes with managing a club like Manchester United," Moyes said.
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With the spotlight on Mourinho and Moyes, Manuel Pellegrini has been able to make a quiet start to his first job in English management.
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The 59-year-old Chilean left Malaga for Manchester City after Roberto Mancini was fired for failing to follow up the 2011-12 Premier League title with a single trophy last season, finishing 11 points behind United in second.
Alex Ferguson is history for Manchester United...Let's focus on David Moyes' making of his won history!