Sir Alex Ferguson retires, David Moyes to be next United manager

Which raises an important question: Quis restituet ipsos restites?

Should Moyes leave for United, as now seems inevitable after years of being publicly courted as Ferguson’s successor, Everton have big shoes to fill. Who’ll take over for him? Happily, it looks as though a happy ending is in sight. If Everton pride themselves on overachieving with limited resources, there’s another team in the league who rather publicly fall into that category as well.

Martinez, in other words, is a specialist in getting the most out of very little. Wigan are Everton two notches down, a club who have to squeeze as much as they can out of the approximately nothing they possess. It’s exactly the sort of job Moyes has had to do, just ten places further down the table.

Ferguson confirmed his retirement after 26 years in charge at Old Trafford early on Wednesday morning, following reports that swirled around on Tuesday night that an announcement on his future was imminent. Stating that the backroom staff, first team and youth ranks “will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one,” Ferguson believed it to be the right time to step down.

Moyes has been rumored as Ferguson’s eventual successor for the better part of a decade now, with Ferguson regularly lavishing praise on the Everton manager. While on a very limited budget at Goodison Park, Moyes has regularly guided Everton to top-half finishes in the Premier League and has finished in the top four on one occasion. He was hired by Everton in 2002, but is just 50 years old, making him young enough to stick around at Old Trafford long term.

Gill had previously suggested the same criteria for a potential replacement two years ago, although it does seem pertinent that he has chosen to bring it up again after Ferguson’s retirement. It could be seen as an indication that José Mourinho is the likely replacement, although the suggestions remain that Moyes is the frontrunner.