David Moyes out as Manchester United manager

Less than one season into a six-year, $40-million deal, David Moyes is out as manager of famed English Premier League soccer club Manchester United.

The team announced early Tuesday morning local time, that Moyes “has left the club” then went on to thank him for “the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role.”

What he didn’t bring was victories. Although Manchester United made it to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, the Red Devils stand seventh in the EPL standings with four matches to go. That leaves the team on pace for its worst league finish in 24 years.

What may have been worse for Moyes is he was following a legend in Sir Alex Ferguson, who led the team to 13 titles in the Premier League era, finishing with a title in his final season when United tied a franchise record with 28 victories.

Moyes was Ferguson’s hard-picked successor but he failed to live up to expectations, with the team falling to ninth in the league table by December. It never recovered and the team’s owners, the Florida-based Glazer family, which also owns the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, decided to cut its losses and push Moyes out after the team fell to Everton on Sunday.

According to media reports out of England, Moyes probably will receive just one year’s salary rather than the additional five years remaining on his deal because the team has fallen short of performance targets. Many of Moyes assistants are rumored to be on the way out as well.

Midfielder Ryan Giggs, who made his first appearance for Manchester United in the 1990-91 season, will manage the club for the final month of the season while the team begins the search for a permanent successor.

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