Lopetegui ‘AGREES’ to replace Moyes at West Ham

Robin Bairner

• 6 May 2024 10:23 BST
• 3 min read

West Ham are poised to appoint Julen Lopetegui as their manager for next season, with the Spaniard having agreed to take over from David Moyes at the London Stadium.

Fabrizio Romano reports that there is a deal in place that will see Lopetegui, who was last in charge of Wolves during the 2022/23 campaign, take command of the Hammers in the summer.

There have long been reports of Moyes’ position at West Ham being unstable, with the Scotsman’s relationship with the sporting director Tim Steidten thought to be strained.

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Recent results have not helped Moyes’ cause, with the former Everton and Manchester United boss forced to apologise on Sunday after his side crumbled to a 5-0 defeat against Chelsea.

He has, therefore, come under pressure from fans, and in the summer former Real Madrid head coach Lopetegui is poised to replace him.

Romano reports: “Julen Lopetegui has agreed terms with West Ham to become new head coach replacing David Moyes, who won the UEFA Europa Conference League last term, from next season.

“Lopetegui has accepted West Ham’s proposal, which is ready to proceed to the formal stages.

“Details being finalised then contracts will be signed but agreement in place.”

Lopetegui's career so far

Lopetegui has had a strange managerial career, which has been stop-start in the main.

He enjoyed a successful stint at Porto before becoming Spain head coach following Euro 2016. He surprisingly left that job nearly two years later on the eve of the 2018 World Cup when it was announced that he had agreed to join Real Madrid.

His time at the Bernabeu was brief and disastrous. He oversaw 14 matches but suffered six defeats and was sacked by the end of October.

A more successful stint followed in Sevilla, where he won the 2019/20 Europa League, but a poor start to the 2022/23 season saw him sacked.

Lopetegui subsequently took charge of Wolves for the second half of the campaign and led them to 13th in the Premier League. He left mere days before the new season was due to begin because of the club’s financial position.

Now he will hope for better luck at West Ham, a club that Moyes is on course to guide to a top-10 finish for the third time in four years.