David Moyes is set to step down from his position as West Ham’s manager when his contract comes to an end with the closing of the season, a decision reached on common ground between him and the football club. The club passed on the information on a Monday evening, amidst chatter about ex-head coach of Spain, Real Madrid and Wolves, Julen Lopetegui, coming to an agreement to seize control come summer.
Having spent an exhilarating four and a half years at West Ham, Moyes expressed that he’s leaving the club in a far more stable condition than when he rejoined in 2019. The club was at the brink of relegation when he took over for the second time. However, under his guidance, the club enjoyed three successive seasons in Europe signifying an inspiring journey. Not only was the club’s safety ensured, but they also secured the sixth and seventh positions in the Premier League during his tenure. He also saw joy in clinching the Europa Conference League trophy, the club’s first major win in over four decades.
He expressed his gratitude towards the players for their cooperation and their accomplishments over his stay. West Ham’s weak prospects for a fourth consequent European qualification reduced further when they had a shocking 5-0 defeat against Chelsea. The preceding matches had seen draws and losses against Liverpool and Crystal Palace respectively, placing them at the ninth in the Premier League standings with a mere two games left.
Former Sevilla and Porto manager Lopetegui, who is rumoured to be taking over from Moyes, led Wolves to a secure spot last season. However, he departed from the club just short of a year, right before the commencement of the new Premier League season in August. Despite this, he successfully lifted the Wolves from the bottom rungs of the table to a respectable 13th spot during his stint.