Sir Alex Ferguson signed off his legendary Manchester United career by delivering a 13th Premier League crown, and hand-picked fellow Scot David Moyes as his successor. Moyes, who had done a fine job across the previous 11 years at Everton, was handed a six-year contract at Old Trafford, which reflected how much weight Ferguson's opinion held.
But it quickly became apparent that Moyes wasn't equipped for the pressures of life at one of the biggest clubs in world football. He lacked the charisma and strength of personality that brought Ferguson so much success in the transfer market, as evidenced by his failed negotiations for Gareth Bale, Cesc Fabregas and Sami Khedira. United only made one major signing in the 2013 summer window: Moyes' trusted former Everton lieutenant Marouane Fellaini, which only went through on deadline day and led to suggestions the club had no proper recruitment plan.
It also seemed that Moyes had no clear plan on the pitch. West Brom, Everton and Newcastle all ran out winners at Old Trafford in the first half of the season, while the Red Devils were pulverised 4-1 at the Etihad in the Manchester derby.
Home defeats to Tottenham, Liverpool and City followed after the turn of the year, and the writing was on the wall by the time Moyes returned to Everton on April 20. He was dismissed after a dismal 2-0 loss at Goodison Park, which left United seventh in the Premier League and guaranteed to post their worst-ever points total. Ferguson, by contrast, had never finished lower than third.z
Rio Ferdinand would later admit in his autobiography that Moyes created a "negative vibe" in the dressing room by "setting us up not to lose". Some 16 years on, United are still waiting to taste Premier League glory again. Perhaps that wouldn't have been the case if they'd gone for another serial winner to fill Ferguson's shoes.