Manchester United sack David Moyes

The Scot oversaw the club's worst campaign in the Premier League era and missed out on Champions League qualification, and leaves Old Trafford just a season into his six-year deal

Manchester United have sacked manager David Moyes with immediate effect after owners the Glazer family finally lost patience with the Scot.

The 50-year-old, who created a host of unwanted records during his brief stint at Old Trafford, becomes the first United manager to be dismissed since Ron Atkinson in 1986.

Announcing Moyes' departure on their official Twitter account, United added: "The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role."

Moyes had endured a torrid campaign in charge of the reigning Premier League champions, with Sunday's abject 2-0 loss to former club Everton guaranteeing that the Red Devils will miss out on a place in the Champions League next season.

Defeat at Goodison Park was their 11th of the season - just one fewer than relegation battling West Brom - and left the club languishing in seventh place in the table.

Sunday's result marked the first time both the Toffees and Liverpool have completed a league double over United, while local rivals Manchester City managed that feat for the first time since the Premier League's inception.

Moyes had been handpicked by Sir Alex Ferguson to take over upon his retirement, urging those in attendance of his final match at Old Trafford to "stand by our new manager".

But with United having struggled so much under Moyes, the club's hierarchy were increasingly worried that he was no longer the right man to entrust this summer's £200 million warchest to.