Tears in prospect as Fergie and Moyes say farewell
As United legend bids goodbye, Everton boss who will be replacing him at Old Trafford will be in charge at Goodison Park for the last time
Alex Ferguson and David Moyes will find their reputations as two of the Premier League's tough guys put to the test today as the men at the centre of a remarkable week prepare to make tear-stained farewells to Manchester United and Everton.
Just seven days ago it was hard to imagine that United's apparently irrelevant final home game of the season against Swansea and Everton's mundane Goodison Park fixture against West Ham would captivate millions across the globe rather than just the clubs' supporters.
But Ferguson's sensational announcement on Wednesday that he would retire as United manager at the end of the season after 261/2 years in charge at Old Trafford and the subsequent appointment of Everton boss Moyes as his replacement on Thursday changed all that.
Now the world will be watching as Ferguson takes charge of United at Old Trafford for the last time, while Moyes will also be under the microscope ahead of his official move to Manchester on July 1.
Both matches promise to be emotional occasions despite the hard-nosed reputations of the managers who played the headline roles in this week's dramatic events.
Ferguson is one of the last true old-school managers capable of blistering the walls with his infamous "hairdryer" rants at under-performing players, but in the ferociously competitive Moyes he has a willing apprentice. How Ferguson and Moyes react to the tributes and praise sure to be directed their way by grateful fans today will be one of the fascinating sub-plots of what promises to be a memorable weekend.