Everton midfielder Leon Osman says David Moyes was surprised to be handed the Manchester United job.
Moyes signed a six-year contract at Old Trafford after receiving a call from Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 - only to be sacked 10 months later as United limped to their lowest ever Premier League finish.
In extracts from his autobiography published in the Liverpool Echo, Osman revealed: "After it was confirmed, Moyes called six of the senior players to meet him in the Thistle Hotel in Haydock - myself, Nev, Jags, Hibbo, Bainesy and Tim Howard.
"We all congratulated him and told him he had earned a move like that for all his effort and what he'd done for the club. He sat us down and told us it wasn't planned but that he'd received a phone call from Sir Alex, who asked to meet him and then told him he wanted him to be the next manager of Man United.
"Moyesy looked us straight in the eyes and told us he hadn't expected the offer. I absolutely believe what he told us. For me, he ran his contract down so it was easier to get offers like that but I genuinely don't believe he had United on his mind."
