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David Moyes sacked: Five crushing lows for the Manchester United manager this season

As United owners finally lose patience, what were his worst defeats?

David Moyes looks for answers during Manchester United's 2-0 loss at Everton on Sunday GETTY IMAGES

Manchester City 4, Manchester United 1

Premier League, 22 Sept, 2013

Both Manchester clubs were under new management, but only Manuel Pellegrini seemed to have moved seamlessly into the hot seat as City took a 4-0 derby day lead inside 50 minutes. “I've made the players aware of how I expect them to respond,” said Moyes. “I would expect that from Manchester United players. It is the way they have been brought up.” United lost their next league match at home to West Brom.

Manchester United 2 Sunderland 1

(agg 3-3, Sunderland win 2-1 on penalties)

Capital One Cup, 22 Jan 2014

A win, but a pyrrhic one. United should have been boosted by a last-minute injury-time equaliser after a David De Gea error gave Sunderland a 3-2 aggregate lead. But, paralysed by a fear of failure, four of United’s penalty-takers failed to convert and another trophy chance had gone.

Manchester United 0, Liverpool 3

Premier League, 16 Mar, 2014

A humiliating defeat against United’s most bitter rivals notable for the way Liverpool were able to pass the ball leisurely amongst themselves when two-up with United seeming content to keep the score down. It could have been worse, Steven Gerrard scored two penalties but hit the post with a third.

The next Manchester United manager: Those linked with the Old Trafford hot seat

The next Manchester United manager: Those linked with the Old Trafford hot seat

  • 1/10 Jurgen Klopp

    Currently the manager of Borussia Dortmund, Klopp coached his team to the Champions League final in 2013. He also delivered back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010/11 and 2011/12, despite Dortmund being in the financial shadow of Bayern Munich. All of that was achieved while playing a distinctive attractive style of football. After six years at the club, it could be time for the 46-year-old German to move on, however he has already said he is happy to stay.

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  • 2/10 Fabio Capello

    The former England manager has coached the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Roma. He now resides over the Russian national team who topped their group in qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil to ensure they are at the biggest tournament of them all for the first time since 2002.

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  • 3/10 Louis van Gaal

    Dutchman Van Gaal will be leading his national side at this year's World Cup in Brazil. He has taken charge of both Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the past and won the Champions League in 1995 with Ajax. In total, he has won over 60 per cent of his 780 games in management and he's made it very clear he covets a position in the Premier League. Heavily linked with Tottenham prior to David Moyes' sacking.

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  • 4/10 Sir Alex Ferguson

    Considering he's at every game anyway, a switch from the stands back to the dug-out doesn't seem inconceivable for Sir Alex Ferguson. It'd certainly be a popular choice among fans having achieved so much success in his long time in charge. The winner of 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League titles, if there's anyone who can succeed Ferguson, it's Ferguson.

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  • 5/10 Frank De Boer

    Although his managerial experience is relatively small in comparison to other potentials, he has already shown he can win domestically. Since taking over at Ajax in 2010, in his first job as manager, De Boer has won the Eredivisie in three consecutive attempts, with his team currently well clear at the top of the league this season. Has been regularly linked with the biggest vacancies in Europe.

  • 6/10 Antonio Conte

    Winner of the Serie A manager of the year in 2011-12 and 2012-13 after leading Juventus to the title in those seasons, as well as a Champions League winners medal to his name as a player, Conte has pedigree. Since taking charge in Turin three years ago, the Italian has returned Juventus to the dominant force in Italy, with the club destined to win their third title in a row this term. That kind of dominance is exactly what United crave.

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  • 7/10 Diego Simeone

    Simeone has been enjoying much success since taking over at Atletico Madrid. His excellent win rate has seen the club win the Europa League and Super Cup, and against all odds challenge Real Madrid and Barcelona for La Liga title this season. He'd have to hope his history with David Beckham didn't count against him if Manchester United came calling.

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  • 8/10 Michael Laudrup

    Despite a rather sudden and messy divorce from Swansea City earlier this year, Laudrup did show he was capable of managing at the highest level. He won the League Cup with the Welsh club, the first major trophy in the club's history, and he did it with a brand of football that won many plaudits. A legend as a player, the Dane has the gravitas for such a huge position as Manchester United manager.

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  • 9/10 Harry Redknapp

    Currently manager of QPR, Redknapp has often been a fan favourite across English football, winning manager of the year in 2009/10 as well as the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008. At one stage he looked a certainty to be the next England manager, only to lose out to Roy Hodgson.

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  • 10/10 Ex-United players

    If Manchester United were to choose from one of their own, they would have plenty of ex-players to pick from. Ryan Giggs is the most obvious choice after being installed on a temporary basis after Moyes' departure. Others in management who served as a player under Sir Alex Ferguson include Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, both Neville brothers and Steve Bruce. Mark Hughes played for United along with Gordon Strachan and Laurent Blanc. While none of them have particularly overachieved in any of their positions, a former player tends to be popular with fans, and can be rewarded with success.

    AP

 

Manchester United 0, Manchester City 3

Premier League, 25 March, 2014

 

Another drubbing. The watching Paul Scholes criticised the team’s lack of pace, Mata’s position, the defence and the team’s mentality stating in Ferguson’s time, “we could be two or three down but we never felt we were beaten”, while in this match “I never felt United were going to get back into the game.”

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Everton 2, Manchester United 0

Premier League, 20 April, 2014

The score flattered United who had lots of possession but had little goal threat. Most damning of all they, noted watching Dwight Yorke, they “lacked desire, you expect players to be up for the game for the manager's sake because they know how important it was for him, but they look ready to go on holiday.” Moyes’ verdict: “We passed the ball well’. Yorke: ‘The pace and power, the things that Manchester United used to do to other teams, other teams are now doing to them.“

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