One United legend who would have cast an approving eye over the appointment of David Moyes is David Beckham who played alongside the incoming Reds manager back in the 90s.
Beckham was loaned out to Preston in 1994 as United attempted to ‘toughen’ him up a bit in the school of hard knocks that was the then English third tier. Shy southerner Beckham, admits he found it hard at first to fit in with is team mates, but life was made much easier by the club captain.
In his autobiography Beckham reveals:
“Amongst the players, David Moyes, who’s now the Everton manager, was the top man,”
“He was club captain and he talked to me, got me involved, right from the off.
“It’s not just hindsight; you could tell then that David was going to make a manager.
“He knew straight away what I was about, that I’d be quiet, keep myself to myself and just talk when I needed to.
“He put himself out to bring me into the group, to look after me and I really appreciated that.”
Beckham said: “He was a centre half, the kind of player who’d throw himself into any tackle possible. Even into some that weren’t possible. He’d be shouting, geeing people up, and was passionate about winning games.”
United fans are beginning to warm to the idea of Moyes taking over from Sir Alex as the realisation that a long-serving Premier League experienced manager is exactly what the Reds need sinks in.
Check out a video of Beckham’s time at Preston: