MADRID, 7 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Scottish coach David Moyes will leave his position as coach of West Ham by mutual agreement at the end of the season, the English club announced this Monday, which could trust the Spanish Julen Lopetegui for the next season.
“I have enjoyed four and a half brilliant years at West Ham and the club is in a stronger position than when I returned in 2019. When I joined West Ham for the second time, the club was one place above the relegation zone , and it has been an incredible journey to have achieved three consecutive seasons in Europe,” Moyes said on the website of the current Conference League champion.
“After leading the club to salvation, we guided the team to sixth and seventh position in the Premier League, and I was very happy when we won the Europa Conference League title last June, the club’s first major trophy in 43 years. I want to thank all the players for their support and all the successes achieved in the last four and a half years,” he added.
Moyes, 61, has been in charge of West Ham since 2019, but his contract expired at the end of the season. The team was beaten by Chelsea on Sunday (5-0) and ended their slim hopes of obtaining a ticket to European competition for the fourth consecutive season.
The ‘Hammers’, who drew with Liverpool (2-2) and lost to Crystal Palace (5-2) in recent days, now occupy ninth position in the Premier League table with two days remaining. This year, they were eliminated from the Europa League last month after losing in the quarterfinals to Bayer Leverkusen.
In a statement, West Ham said the recruitment process for Moyes’ successor had begun but they would make “no further comment until a new appointment is confirmed”.
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan offered his “sincere thanks and gratitude” for Moyes’ efforts in the role. “David has been responsible for a period of great progress and success in our history and we are extremely grateful for all his hard work, commitment and dedication to the role. David has been an absolute professional to work with and will leave with our utmost respect and best wishes. He deserves to be held in the highest esteem for the service he has given to West Ham United and we wish him every success in the future,” Sullivan said.
“By making this announcement now, David will be able to receive the farewell he deserves from West Ham fans and all of us will be able to show our gratitude to him in our final home game of the season against Luton Town on Saturday,” he explained.
The former Spanish national team coach and former coach of Real Madrid and Sevilla FC Julen Lopetegui has become one of the targets to take charge of the London team next season. The Basque led Wolves to safety last season, but he left the club after nine months on the eve of the new Premier League campaign in August.