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Ferguson told Moyes to take Sociedad job

David Moyes was announced as Real Sociedad manager on Thursday © Getty Images

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David Moyes has revealed how he took the Real Sociedad job after advice from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Moyes was dubbed the Chosen One after Ferguson selected the then-Everton manager to take over at Manchester United when he retired last year.

That move failed in spectacular fashion after Moyes was sacked just 10 months into a six-year contract at Old Trafford, with United floundering in seventh in the Premier League table.

'I'm more Mourinho than Guardiola'

David Moyes sees himself in the Jose Mourinho mould of coaches © Getty Images

• New Real Sociedad manager David Moyes was asked by reporters whether his style of management was closer to that of ex-Real Madrid boss Mourinho or former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
• He responded by saying that his "tough" approach made him more similar to the current Chelsea manager.
• "Probably more like Mourinho," Moyes said with a smile. "I am tough with them [the players], I like to work hard. It is a great challenge but I have also had that in the past."

Moyes was announced as Sociedad manager on Thursday and revealed that Ferguson told him to take the opportunity to rebuild his reputation abroad.

"I phoned Sir Alex about coming out and he spoke about the job and the opportunity, which he thought was a great one for me," he told the Daily Mail. "He thought it would be a good chance and something very few British managers get the opportunity to do."

The revelation would suggest Moyes harbours no ill feeling towards Ferguson after his dismissal from United, even after an updated version of the latter's autobiography contained passage that were less than complimentary about his successor's time at Old Trafford.

Moyes however, still insists he was the right man for the job at United, claiming he was not given enough time to shape the squad in his image.

He called on club officials to offer that time to his replacement, Louis van Gaal, who has presided over United's worst start to a season since 1986.

"I still stand by what I said at the time that I was not given enough time at United to succeed or fail," Moyes said. "I think there was nothing wrong with how we worked and everyone can see that whoever is in charge at Manchester United, it is quite a long job to do things. Nine months would never be enough time for any manager.

"I do think that most real football people understood that there would be a period of transition at Manchester United when you take over from Sir Alex. I always believed I was the right person for the job and I still believe that is the case. But Van Gaal now has to be given the time to do the job."

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