Ferdinand Sees Ferguson's Genius Within Moyes

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes new manager David Moyes brings a slice of Sir Alex Ferguson's unique brilliance with him to Old Trafford.

Moyes will officially start his tenure at United on 1 July after being confirmed as Ferguson's successor in May following 11 years at the helm at Everton.

The Scot is regarded as part of the legacy of Ferguson's enormously fruitful managerial career and is expected to introduce a number of the traits that made the 71-year old such a success with an onus on longevity while committing to promoting players via the club's academy.

And Ferdinand himself sees shades of Ferguson within Moyes, which also includes a winning pedigree.

"I think the appointment of David Moyes signals longevity," Ferdinand told the Daily Mirror. "More than anything, I think the club wanted a manager who was going to be here for a long period of time and try and emulate what Sir Alex did.

"The new boss will have his own ways and his own style of management, but there are elements of Sir Alex in him. He always produced competitive teams at Everton, with very little resources. Now he will have those resources, hopefully we'll see the fruits of that with our team.

"David Moyes is determined, he's winner and you can see that his teams have a real identity about them in terms of the way they play. There's also an intensity about the way he is as a person. Whenever I've met him I've been struck by that and I think he'll be a great addition to the club."

After 10 years at Old Trafford, Ferdinand knows all too well what it takes to make a winning team, having claimed six league titles during his spell with United.

Despite the departure of assistant manager Mike Phelan and goalkeeper Eric Steele - with first team coach Rene Meulensteen also understood to have left the club - Ferdinand doesn't expect wholesale changes in the early months following Moyes' arrival.

And in a warning to doubters of United's credentials to win the title in the 51 year old's first season in charge, the former England international expects continuity this season.

"Obviously we'll still be doing a lot of things we've done in the past that have brought us success," said Ferdinand. "It would be naïve to think the new manager will come in and everything will change dramatically in one fell swoop.

"He'll change things over the course of time and a club like United has a proven history of giving managers a chance to do that. I've not seen anyone in the past be successful at a club by coming in and changing everything completely on day one.

"There's nothing to suggest that will happen. The manager will come in with new ideas and will want to implement new things. I know that the players we've got within our changing room will embrace that completely and give everything for him.

"It will be different at first, but I can't wait to get back in again and start training under the new manager and his staff. I've spoken to the new boss a few times and what's pleasing is that he's a football man through and through.

"You could sit and talk to him for ages about the game, and he wants to know everything about the club. He's coming in with his eyes and ears wide open to learn everything there is about the club and hopefully continue the success we have had.

"You want to be a part of something new and exciting, and this is just that. It's a great opportunity to write another chapter in the club's amazing history."