After a day's worth of rumor and anticipation, Manchester United confirmed Moyes' exit on Tuesday after just 10 months at the helm.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role," United said in a statement released on their website.

Current player Ryan Giggs, who is also on the team's coaching staff, has been named interim manager for the final four matches of the season.

Reports about Moyes' sacking surfaced on Monday, a day after United's 2-0 defeat Everton. The loss eliminated the club's already slim hopes of qualifying for next year's Champions League.

The 50-year-old Moyes had been appointed on the personal recommendation of Alex Ferguson, who stepped down at the end of last season after 26 years in charge. Ferguson had finished the campaign by securing his 13th title for United, and 20th for the club overall.

Moyes signed a six-year deal at Old Trafford after spending 11 seasons in charge of Everton without winning a major trophy.

Former club seals exit

Sunday's loss to Moyes' former club was the final nail in the coffin for the United owners, the Glazer family. The seventh-placed Red Devils are on track for their worst league finish since 1990, and will miss out on Champions League qualification for the first time since 1995-96.

United currently sit 13 points below a Champions League place and 23 points behind leaders and archrivals Liverpool. Moyes' side have suffered a club-record 11 Premier League defeats, and have lost 10 times in 22 matches in all competitions in 2014. United were defeated by Germans Bayern Munich in this year's Champions League quarterfinals.

British newspapers reported that Moyes was informed of his sacking during an early-morning meeting with chief executive Ed Woodward at the club's Carrington training facility.

Media reports have linked Dutchman Louis van Gaal and Borussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp with the United job. Van Gaal is currently in charge of the Netherlands, but will step down following Brazil World Cup in June and July.

dr/hc (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa, SID)