Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has backed "winner" David Moyes to achieve success at Old Trafford.
Great honour
Moyes himself is honoured to have been given the chance to fill Ferguson's mighty shoes.
Although he will officially take up his post at the beginning of July, Moyes' work will start before then, with meetings planned with chief executive elect Ed Woodward to discuss their joint strategy going forward, having been given the strongest possible backing Ferguson.
"It is a great honour to be asked to be the next manager of Manchester United," said Moyes.
"I am delighted Sir Alex saw fit to recommend me for the job. I have great respect for everything he has done.
"I know how hard it will be to follow the best manager ever, but the opportunity to manage Manchester United isn't something that comes around very often.
"I am really looking forward to taking up the post next season."
Vidic's United team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick were the first to welcome the appointment of Moyes and paid tribute to his success at Everton.
Honest man
Ferdinand, who has played under Ferguson for over a decade at Old Trafford, said: "It was important the club made a decision quickly and got it all sorted before people could start making rumours.
"The club have acted impeccably in that respect.
"It's great to see the new manager coming in, we've never had a problem with him here at United, he's a very honest man from the players you speak to and he's done a fantastic job at his previous club Everton.
"I'm sure he'll be very, very open and sympathetic to the traditions of the club and try and continue that and not come in and try and make crazy changes in terms of the whole characteristics of the club."
United and England midfielder Carrick has also been impressed by Moyes' work at Everton and is eagerly awaiting the start of a new era.
"He's done a terrific job at Everton," he said.
"He's been there a long time and has had great success with the resources he's had. It's obviously a big change because this club's been run for so long by one person.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting him and getting good training in pre-season and looking forward to a good future.
"He's honest and fair to his players as far as I'm aware. He sets high standards just as he expects high standards of ourselves."
