Former Everton star Tim Cahill has thrown his support behind Manchester United's hiring of his former boss David Moyes.
The New York Red Bulls player was a standout for the Toffees from 2004-2012 under Moyes' guidance, developing a tight bond with the coach, who he said is a perfect candidate to take the reins at Old Trafford.
"I'm so happy for him and his family," Cahill said. "I think for the whole of what he's done in football in general, he deserves it.
"He's done so much in the game, and to be rewarded to have the opportunity at the start of his journey to go to one of the biggest clubs in the world...it's the mark of the stature of a man he is and how much they respect him as a football manager."
Cahill thrived under Moyes at Goodison Park, appearing 278 times and scoring 68 goals, and still maintains a strong passion for the club.
He grew close with the Scot, and conceded it is a sad time for Everton to lose a manager of Moyes' stature.
"I think to (Everton) players, to the fans, everything really, he epitomises the club," Cahill said.
"I don't think there's a time that he never treated any player like his son and the fans like his friends.
"He was so approachable, had time for everyone, made time for anyone and it cared so much to him.
"It basically took over his life, and that's what it means to you when you join a club like Everton.
"My experiences when he signed me and my relationship, he was like a father figure.
"He wasn't someone that always needed to praise you, but got the best out of you on and off the park. (He was) always concerned for the welfare of my family, the welfare of my livelihood and also my football."
As for how Moyes will fare with United, Cahill has no doubt about the future success the Scot will have in filling Sir Alex Ferguson's shoes, and the Australian international feels the Red Devils went about their hire the right way instead of going after bigger names.
"I think you look at two different elements of the management of Manchester United," Cahill said.
"Do you want that manager that's been at the top level and bounced around the European clubs, bringing all his own staff in changing the footprint of what Manchester United is all about and maybe the calibre of players breaking wage structures even more, signing the big superstars?
"Or maintaining somebody that respects the club, respects the production of what they're doing, understanding the budget, coming the way David Moyes did having his 10-11 years experience at Everton, proving and outweighing any manager in finishing in the top six nearly every other year, fourth in the first year, always knocking at the door but not really having the budget to take him to the next level?"
Cahill said, however, that United fans will need to paitent as Moyes finds his feet with the club.
"It's the biggest job in the world, and they're going to demand things straightaway," Cahill said.
"The class of the players is already there, and the class of what they have and what they're probably going to bring in, you look at any other manager in the world who's suited for the job.
" I think other than Pep Guardiola there's only one man on the list, and that's David Moyes, that would suit a club like Manchester United."
