West Ham United News

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Today will be David Moyes' 261st game in charge of West Ham - and most notably it's his final one. Unless he comes back for a third spell of course.
The club confirmed earlier this month that the Scot would leave at the end of his contract. Julen Lopetegui is expected to replace him.
Moyes was in charge for the second half of the 2017-18 season, keeping them up before leaving at the end of the season.
He returned in December 2019 and led them into Europe, including several runs to the latters stages and most memorably the Europa Conference League trophy last season - their first silverware for 43 years.

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West Ham boss David Moyes: "I hope that the people here have enjoyed my company over the period, and I'll keep in touch with them. I've enjoyed my time here, and I'll always look at it fondly. I'm very proud to be able to say I helped deliver European football to West Ham.
"The amount of games we've played has been huge, and there are lots of things that show our success. I'm pleased to be leaving West Ham in a strong position, and we'll see what happens in the future.
"We can't finish lower than ninth which is a really good league position for West Ham in lots of ways. The players and ourselves are really pleased that no matter what the situation, we're in a really strong position."
West Ham boss David Moyes has played down any suggestion that his side will try to win this match for Declan Rice.
A Hammers win (or draw) would open the door for former West Ham captain Rice to win the title with Arsenal.
"No, no," said Moyes. "Everybody here loves Declan. Everybody will remember him but we're not doing it for Declan.
"We're doing it for ourselves and we need to try and do the best that we can and we concentrate and focus on what we're doing and hopefully it works."

West Ham boss David Moyes, speaking to Sky Sports: "My emotions are fine, every game is important for a manager.
"I have enjoyed my time at West Ham. I had a great send off last week, we had a good result too and hopefully we can do that again today.
"Today is a big game for the Premier League."
On Jarrod Bowen not being named in the squad: "It is difficult when you don't have Jarrod. He has tonsillitis and it wasn't well enough to travel. He is a big miss for us, to be without him is a blow."
On Man City: "I watched Real Madrid play deep against Man City. I have seen some teams play five at the back and some have played four, whatever you do City make it really difficult as they find a way to outdo you."

Man City 3-1 West Ham: What David Moyes said:

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David Moyes speaking to the media for the final time as West Ham boss: "Today was all about Manchester City, Pep Guardiola and how well they have done. We had to come here and attempt to put on the best show that we could.

"You would not have thought we would be behind so soon but it was a wonder goal by Phil Foden. It was something special so you can see why he is getting the accolades he is.

"We stuck it out and we kept ourselves in the game as much as we could. The third goal was a killer and then took a comeback away from us.

"If you want to come here and get a result then you are going to have to play really, really well. They are the best team in the world. The manager has done so, so good and it is beyond belief that he has won four Premier League titles in a row.

"It used to be when someone won one year, it was very hard to win it again the next year because all the others were preparing and getting stronger. For him to come here and knock that myth over is an incredible job."

On how he is feeling: "It is my last game here, but I have not processed yet what exactly it is that I want to do. But what I do know is that I leave West Ham in a better place than when I started.

"If you asked other supporters about what we have done then I would imagine they would say it is pretty good for West Ham!

"I will miss it but it will not stop me from watching it."

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Cesc Fabregas believes Julen Lopetegui could be a good coach for West Ham despite playing a "different style" to what fans have grown used to in recent years.

The Spaniard has agreed a deal to replace David Moyes as manager at the end of the season and speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Planet Premier League podcast, Fabregas rates him highly.

"I think he's a good coach - I shouldn't say that because he kicked me out of the Spanish national team. He's the one that stopped taking me - so that hurts," Fabregas said.

"He's had success, obviously. All that mess that happened in the Spanish national team when he signed for Real Madrid - they kicked him out before the World Cup but when Real Madrid signs obviously something is good around you.

"His Sevilla team for example played quite well - they won the Europa League playing some good football.

"At Wolves I think he did a good job - especially in the first year. Creating a good dynamic, a very good brand of football and getting them away from the relegation zone."

Lopetegui left Wolves three days before the start of the Premier League season and the club said both parties had "accepted their differences of opinion on certain issues and agreed an amicable end to his contract was the best solution".

Fabregas added: "He's definitely a coach that has very clear ideas of what he wants to do - he's had success a couple of times where he's been.

"I think he could be good - but again, he plays a different style than what West Ham have done for the last couple of years."

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West Ham are set to appoint Julen Lopetegui as their new manager later this week.

The former Spain and Real Madrid coach was identified as the Hammers’ first choice to replace outgoing boss David Moyes and, earlier this month, agreed to take up the role.

Now the Premier League season is over, Lopetegui’s contract will be signed, allowing him to take over for the start of pre-season, which includes a two-week trip to the United States for matches against Crystal Palace and Wolves.

Ironically, Lopetegui spent the second half of the 2022-23 season with Wolves, guiding the club to safety. However, he left on the eve of the new campaign after issues over transfer funding failed to be resolved.

Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Lopetegui won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020 before moving to Wolves two years later.

Julen Lopetegui's road to West Ham..

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Julen Lopetegui has crammed in plenty of experiences into his 10 years in club management.

After a brief stint with Rayo Vallecano following his retirement as a player in 2003, it wasn't until 2014 that the Spaniard moved back into club management with Porto.

The 57-year-old spent two years with the Portuguese club, leaving in 2016 to become the manager of Spain's national team. Lopetegui was with the national team for nearly two years but never managed in a tournament after he was sacked just days before the 2018 World Cup after Real Madrid announced him as their new manager for the upcoming season.

After a brief, unpleasant stint at the Bernabeu, Lopetegui really found his feet at Sevilla as he guided the club to Europa League success in 2020 during his first season in charge.

He joined Wolves in November 2022 and was a popular figure with supporters, but he stood down at the start of the 23-24 campaign due to a clash with the club's owners.

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Lopetegui statistically Wolves' best ever Premier League manager

Before returning to club management with Porto, Lopetegui was instrumental in bringing through Spain's next generation as coach of the U21s, U20s and U19s.

In 2012 he won the European U19 Championships, and he followed that up with success in the European U21 Championships a year later with a team that boasted the likes of David De Gea, Thiago Alcantara and Isco.

Lopetegui had to wait until 2020 to get his hands on silverware again, winning the Europa League with Sevilla and knocking Manchester United out along the way.

Wolves were bottom of the Premier League when Lopetegui took charge in November 2022 but he helped the club to a 13th placed finish before his departure.

Your West Ham United player of the season is...No surprises it's JARROD BOWEN.

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And here's what James Jones from We Are West Ham, external had to say about your winner when the vote opened on 15 May...

"His 20 goals and 10 assists in all competitions have ensured West Ham were in the fight for Europe for the majority of the season. An unbelievable campaign which should see him on the plane to Euro 2024 for England this summer."

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West Ham United are considering a summer move for 28-year-old Serhou Guirassy, after the Guinea striker scored 28 Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart this season.

Aston Villa are interested in 24-year-old Italy defender Raoul Bellanova, after he impressed during his first season with Torino, but the Hammers and Manchester United are also keen.

West Ham and Fulham have held talks with Corinthians over the possibility of signing 19-year-old Brazilian forward Wesley.

Lopetegui targets Kilman reunion - report..

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According to the Sun, external, new West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui could soon be reunited with Max Kilman at London Stadium.

The defender, who is celebrating his 27th birthday today, enjoyed a brief spell under Lopetegui as the Spaniard steered Wolves away from relegation during the 2022-23 season.

The Englishman has cemented himself as a mainstay in the Wolves defence, playing every single minute of the Premier League campaign just gone, as well as being installed as captain under Lopetegui's successor, Gary O'Neil.

Kilman, who extended his contract at the start of last season until 2028, has been touted as a replacement for Kurt Zouma in an expected summer reboot for the Hammers under the guidance of technical director Tim Steidten.

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We asked for your views on whether you were happy about Julen Lopetegui's appointment as head coach and what should be first on his to-do list?

Here are some of your responses:

Calpso: We should have stuck with Moyes. The new manager is not an upgrade in my opinion. We need to strengthen the central defence and get a good striker. Scamacca was good but Moyes wouldn't adapt his system to suit him.

Bob: I only hope the new manager brings in youngsters from the academy and plays attractive, attacking football. We also need better central defenders and a proven striker.

Barney: We got rid of a problem, now let's give the new guy a chance. I believe he is an improvement on Moyes and in my opinion we can breathe a sigh of relief that we will not be playing 'Moyesball' this season. Relegation is not on the cards.

Tony: Moyes deserves credit for what he did for the club and the view West Ham is now seen in by the wider football community. Lopetegui now must be given time to build on that base and implement his playing philosophy of possession based football. Fans, pundits and journalists aren't that patient though. I think he will move the club forward. #COYI

Mark: Personally I think whoever comes in will have a rebuild on their hands. The season after this one will be the acid test, but I hope the fans give him time because the squad he's inherited is no better than ninth or eighth place. His transfer dealings are the key to whether he succeeds or not.

Robert: I'm going to give the new manager a chance and not go against him before he's even started but he's got big shoes to fill as Moyes built us into a European football club and even won us our first silverware in a long time.

David: Good appointment and hopefully a more attacking approach than David Moyes. The board need to back Lopetegui with huge investment starting with a quality striker, two central defenders and two full-backs. Assuming Bowen stays, will we keep Lucas Paqueta and Kudus? They are both key to success next season.

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