On this day six years ago, David Moyes was sacked less than ten months into his six-year contract as Manchester United manager.
The Scot was appointed to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013 and later was shown the door on April 22, 2014.
Replacing such a United legend was never going to be an easy job, but Moyes’s time at the helm saw failure in both the league and cup competitions.
Manchester United’s 2-0 loss to Everton was the final nail in the coffin for David Moyes
Moyes was was taunted by a man dressed as the Grim Reaper in the crowd during the match
UNITED VS EVERTON MATCH FACTS
Everton: Howard, Baines, Distin (Alcaraz 46), Stones, Coleman, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas (McGeady 90), Barkley (Osman 70), Naismith, Lukaku
Subs: Robles, Hibbert, McGeady, Deulofeu, Osman, Garbutt, Alcaraz
Booked: Barkley, McCarthy
Scorers: Baines 28 (PEN), Mirallas 43
Manchester United: De Gea, Jones, Evans (Hernandez 61), Smalling, Buttner, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani (Valencia 61), Mata, Kagawa (Welbeck 75), Rooney
Subs: Lindegaard, Giggs, Hernandez, Welbeck, Valencia, Fellaini, Januzaj
Booked: Jones, Smalling
Attendance: 39,436
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
United were eliminated by Swansea City in the third round of the FA Cup, by Sunderland in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup and by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The final straw was United’s miserable 2-0 defeat at Moyes’s old club, Everton. The result saw them lose their 11th game in the Premier League that season and slipp to 13 points off the Champions League places.
Moyes — who was taunted by a man dressed as the Grim Reaper in the crowd — claimed he was happy with the display.
He said: ‘We played well in the first half but conceded two on the counter-attack. We didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down. We had good control of the game and possession of the ball. We didn’t defend well for the goals, though. That was right rotten.’
But it was not enough. After the game, Moyes was dismissed, and Ryan Giggs took charge for the rest of the season – with a brief return of the feel-good factor at United – before Louis van Gaal took the job in the summer.
Sportsmail has taken a look at what each player that was involved in the game that ultimately ended Moyes’s time at Old Trafford is doing now…
UTD’S TOP EARNERS
David De Gea – £375k
Paul Pogba – £290k
Harry Maguire – £250k
Anthony Martial – £160k
Marcus Rashford – £160k
Marcos Rojo – £125k
Phil Jones – £120k
David de Gea
David de Gea still represents Manchester United and has become their highest-paid star after signing a new £375,000-a-week contract which will run until June 2023.
The deal guarantees the 28-year-old Spaniard £75million in salary and makes him the biggest earner at United ahead of Paul Pogba, who takes home £290,000.
However, since the start of last season, De Gea has made six mistakes directly leading to opposition goals and is only now finding his feet again under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after that difficult spell.
David De Gea still represents Manchester United but he has had a difficult run of form
Phil Jones
Phil Jones featured in defence against Everton and was responsible for giving away a penalty when he handed the ball.
He has been with the club since and recently signed a new contract, committing the defender to the Old Trafford club until 2023. The 26-year-old has featured regularly since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over at the club.
United have the option to extend the new deal by a further year if they wish.
Jones has played 208 times for United and scored five goals since he arrived from Blackburn Rovers in 2011. That time has seen him win the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League.
Phil Jones was responsible for giving away a penalty when he handed the ball against Everton
Jones has played 208 times and scored five goals since he arrived from Blackburn Rovers
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney spent a few more seasons at Old Trafford before leaving to join boyhood side Everton. His spell there only lasted a single campaign before he joined DC United in MLS.
Rooney has now taken the position of a player-coach at Derby County in a bid to improve their fortunes.
The former England star made his debut on January 2 and won immediate admiration from the Rams squad for how he has played – and behaved – during his stint at the club.
In his 16 appearances at the start of his 18-month deal with Derby, Rooney has operated either in a deep midfield role or as a No 10, with four goals and two assists.
Rooney has now taken the position of a player-coach at Derby County and debuted in January
He has operated either in a deep midfield role or as a No 10, with four goals and two assists
Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans moved on to West Brom and after they were relegated made the switch to Leicester City in a £3.5million deal.
Evans has established himself as an essential part of Leicester’s defence, featuring 29 times this season, scoring once and providing an assist.
The former United man has been crucial to a side challenging for a place in the Champions League this season.
Leicester City completed a £3.5million signing of Northern Irish defender Jonny Evans in 2018
Chris Smalling
Chris Smalling has struggled to progress since Moyes’ time at Old Trafford and was farmed out in the summer.
The Manchester United centre back has enjoyed an impressive season out on loan at Roma and even played himself into a potential recall for England.
His stint at the Stadio Olimpico is set to come to an end in June, though Sky Sports Italia have reported that Smalling is keen to extend his stay at the club.
For the deal to go ahead, Roma will need to offer Manchester United £32m to sell the player. Arsenal, who are in desperate need of a new centre-back, are also keeping their eyes on the situation and might move for Smalling.
Chris Smalling has impressed on loan to Roma and could receive a potential recall for England
Smalling has enjoyed his time on loan to Roma and says he would like to stay at the club
Alexander Buttner
Not many will remember Alexander Buttner, who spent just two seasons at Old Trafford between 2012 and 2014.
The Dutch left-back played in Moyes’ last game before exiting at the end of that season.
He has recently signed a two-year contract with New England Revolution in MLS. Buttner joined the Revs on a free transfer following a stint with Vitesse.
Alexander Buttner has signed a two-year contract with New England Revolution in MLS
Michael Carrick
CARRICK’S CAREER
Titles:
Premier League (5), League Cup (3), FA Cup (1), Champions League (1), Europa League (1)
Michael Carrick, who was a key player under Moyes’ predecessor Ferguson, confirmed his retirement from football in 2018 and took on a coaching role at Manchester United.
After 13 seasons as a Red – in which he registered 464 appearances, scored 24 goals and lifted 17 trophies – Carrick was invited to join former manager Jose Mourinho on the coaching staff.
After the Portuguese’s departure, Carrick has continued in the role, working alongside current Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his assistant.
Michael Carrick spent 13 seasons at United, making 464 appearances and scoring 24 goals
Michael Carrick confirmed his retirement in 2018 and took on a coaching role at Man United
Darren Fletcher
Former Red Devils midfielder Darren Fletcher won five league medals and the Champions League during his illustrious playing career at Old Trafford.
Fletcher, who retired from football last year, is set to return to United in a role in the near future.
But the 36-year-old will not be returning to the club in a coaching role, instead acting as an ambassador.
Darren Fletch will return to Manchester United in an ambassadorial role instead of a coach role
Juan Mata
Juan Mata is staying at Manchester United for at least another year after signing a new contract – last year – with the option to extend it by another 12 months.
The Spanish midfielder has won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League since joining United for £37.1million from Chelsea in January 2014.
He has established himself at the club after signing under Moyes during the January window that season.
Juan Mata is staying at Manchester United for at least another year after signing new contract
Shinji Kagawa
Shinji Kagawa was the first Japanese player to win the Premier League while with United.
He now plays for Besiktas in the Turkish league after moving from Borussia Dortmund on the last day of the winter transfer window.
The attacking midfielder has previously been called one of the best players in the world by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, although has struggled to hit his former heights.
Shinji Kagawa has previously been called one of the best players in the world by Jurgen Klopp
Shinji Kagawa, the Japanese star, left Borussia Dortmund for Besiktas in the Turkish league
SUBSTITUTES
Anders Lindegaard
On July 18, 2019, Anders Lindegaard signed for Allsvenskan side Helsingborgs until December 2021 after being released from Burnley as the club decided not to renew his contract.
In 2019 Lindegaard signed for Allsvenskan side Helsingborgs until December 2021
GIGGS’ CAREER
- 1990-2014: Manchester United
- 2014: Manchester United (interim manager)
- 2014-16: Manchester United (assistant coach)
- 2018-present: Wales (manager)
Ryan Giggs
Left on the bench by Moyes, Ryan Giggs has since taken to the dugout in as a manager.
Giggs took charge of the Wales senior side following the departure of Chris Coleman in 2018.
Some supporters struggled to warm to the appointment of Giggs due to his frequent withdrawal from friendlies as a player.
But after helping them qualify for the Euros, he has become a well-regarded figure. Prior to his position as head coach with Wales, Giggs worked as United assistant coach and briefly served as the club’s interim manager after Moyes’ exit.
Ryan Giggs started on the bench for Manchester United during their 2-0 loss to Everton
Giggs manages the Wales senior side after a spell working as a coach at Manchester United
Javier Hernandez
Javier Hernandez, who had a good spell at Seville, became the highest-paid player in the MLS when he completed his move to LA Galaxy.
Hernandez was given a three-year deal filled with incentives which take him past the former highest-paid players in the division, Carlos Vela and Jozy Altidore, who earned £4.8million a year.
Javier Hernandez is the highest-paid player in MLS after completing LA Galaxy transfer
He was given a three-year deal with incentives to take him past former highest-paid players
Danny Welbeck
Injury-prone Danny Welbeck signed for Watford after being released by Arsenal.
The 28-year-old has struggled for fitness over the years and has made just 88 Premier League appearances for Arsenal over five seasons.
Welbeck saw his time at Arsenal come to an end after breaking his ankle in a Europa League clash against Sporting Lisbon on November 8.
Injury-prone Danny Welbeck signed for Watford in 2019 after being released by Arsenal
His time at Arsenal ended after breaking his ankle in a Europa League clash against Sporting
Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia left Manchester United after a decade at the club, racking up 338 appearances in 10 years at Old Trafford.
The 33-year-old headed for pastures new in his native Ecuador by signing for Liga Deportiva Universitaria after winning six major titles with The Red Devils.
Luis Antonio Valencia made a total of 338 appearances in his 10 years at Old Trafford
Antonio Valencia returned to Ecuador and signed for Liga Deportiva Universitaria in 2019
FELLAINI’S UNITED CAREER
- Games: 177
- Goals: 22
- Assists: 12
- 1x FA Cup
- 1x EFL Cup
- 1x Europa League
- 1x Community Shield
Marouane Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini had a longer spell at Manchester United than most would have expected.
But the giant midfielder completed a £10.4million move from Manchester United to Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng Taishan last year.
The Belgium international earns £235,000-a-week at his new club.
He left United having made 177 appearances in the five-and-a-half season he spent with the club and helped them to win four trophies – the FA Cup, Community Shield, League Cup and UEFA Europa League.
Fellaini earns £235,000-a-week at Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng Taishan
Adnan Januzaj
Adnan Januzaj now plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Sociedad but has never hit the heights he did under Moyes while in Spain.
The Belgium international joined Sociedad from Manchester United in a £7.2 million deal back in 2017 after failing to make the grade at Old Trafford.
Adnan Januzaj now plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Sociedad but struggles to start
SIX years on from David Moyes" sacking from Manchester United - where are those players now? - Daily Mail
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