Premier League side West Ham United have reportedly found their replacement for head coach David Moyes, and it’s none other than Julen Lopetegui. Moyes, who’s currently in his second stint as the club’s manager, is set to depart after the end of this season.
David Moyes, one of the most veteran managers in English soccer, returned to West Ham United in 2019. He was previously in charge of the club as its manager from 2017 to 2018. Despite struggling domestically under Moyes, West Ham United has been a force to reckon with under the 61-year-old coach. Under Moyes, West Ham won the UEFA Europa Conference League for the first time last year.
🚨⚒️ EXCL: Julen Lopetegui has agreed terms with West Ham to become new head coach replacing David Moyes from next season.
Lopetegui has accepted #WHUFC proposal, ready to proceed to formal stages.
Details being finalised then contracts will be signed but agreement in place. pic.twitter.com/guHfAj7PMv
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 6, 2024
While David Moyes’ exit from West Ham United hasn’t been confirmed by either the club or the manager, Italian soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that the club has already agreed terms with Julen Lopetegui. The former Real Madrid manager is expected to join the club after the end of this season. Over the last few weeks, Moyes has abstained from answering any questions regarding his future at the club.
Last season, Moyes’ West Ham finished 14th in the league but had a European trophy under their belt. This season, West Ham has improved but is only ninth in the Premier League table. The Hammers were also knocked out of the Europa League quarterfinals recently by the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
David Moyes issues an apology to West Ham fans after Chelsea defeat
Meanwhile, David Moyes issued a heartfelt apology to West Ham supporters after his side was humiliated by a 5-0 defeat against Chelsea. Moyes said, “The fans have been great but I feel bad for them.” He further added that West Ham’s current squad lacks the much-needed mental toughness and leadership. Lastly, Moyes lamented former West Ham star Declan Rice’s departure to Arsenal as the key behind his side’s failure this season.
Manager David Moyes told the BBC he feels “really sorry” for West Ham fans after watching his side fall to a 5-0 loss at the hands of Chelsea.
West Ham have conceded five goals in each of their last two away games, losing 5-2 against Crystal Palace on 21 April, and are now… pic.twitter.com/vKZVhtDYeg
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) May 5, 2024
Moyes’ West Ham have managed to secure just one win from their last five Premier League matches. While they did manage a 2-2 draw against Liverpool, West Ham have conceded five goals in their last two away matches against Crystal Palace and Chelsea. Moyes’ West Ham does have one more tough game remaining as they are set to face defending champions Manchester City in their final league clash of the 2023-24 season.
Julen Lopetegui’s stats and achievements
With David Moyes set to depart from West Ham United at the end of this season, let’s take a look at the achievements of the incoming manager Julen Lopetegui. Throughout his managerial career, Lopetegui has been in charge of some high-profile teams like Real Madrid, Sevilla, and the Spanish national team. He won the UEFA Europa League with Sevilla and the U-19 and U-21 European championships with Spain.
Lopetegui has also had the experience of managing a Premier League club when he was in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers between 2022 to 2023. To date, Lopetegui has been a part of 397 games as a manager. He has won 233 games, drawn 85, and lost 79. He has a 58.6% win percentage and has recorded 1.97 points per game (via Transfermarkt).
