Manchester United have confirmed David Moyes as their new manager.
The 50-year-old has signed a six-year-contract with the Old Trafford outfit and will join officially on July 1 after completing the season with Everton.
Moyes has the backing of Sir Alex Ferguson, who confirmed his retirement on Wednesday, and his first official game will be the Community Shield against either Manchester City or Wigan at Wembley on August 11.
The Scot said: “It’s a great honour to be asked to be the next manager of Manchester United. I am delighted that Sir Alex saw fit to recommend me for the job. I have great respect for everything he has done and for the football club.
“I know how hard it will be to follow the best manager ever, but the opportunity to manage Manchester United isn’t something that comes around very often and I’m really looking forward to taking up the post next season.”
With Moyes committed to concluding the season at Everton, he will not be introduced as United manager until after the campaign is over.
“I have had a terrific job at Everton, with a tremendous chairman and board of directors and a great set of players,” he added.
“Between now and the end of the season, I will do everything in my power to make sure we finish as high as possible in the table.
“Everton’s fantastic fans have played a big part in making my years at Goodison so enjoyable and I thank them wholeheartedly for the support they have given me and the players.
“Everton will be close to me for the rest of my life.”
Moyes can build a “master and apprentice” relationship with predecessor Ferguson, according to former England boss Steve McClaren.
McClaren knows plenty about working closely with Ferguson, having served as assistant boss at Old Trafford for two-and-a-half years and he believes Moyes is an inspired choice by the Red Devils.
Ferguson will not sever his 26-year association with the club completely, instead operating as both director and ambassador, and McClaren thinks the relationship between the two men will be key to success of the transition.
“I think it’s a fantastic appointment,” he said. “He has a near identical work ethic, character, competitiveness to that of Sir Alex but he’s got that longevity at Everton – to build a club and sustain that success year in, year out, at their level.
“The key thing is he will have Sir Alex at the side of him and if they get on, as I know they do, it’s the master and the apprentice. He has to be open to that help. The experience Sir Alex has got will be invaluable.”