Moyes to depart West Ham at end of season, Lopetegui set for EPL return

May 7 – David Moyes will leave West Ham United at the end of the season by mutual consent.

The 61-year-old’s departure comes as the club endure a wasteful end to the season, suffering heavy defeats in the Premier League which have seen them drop out of a European place and into ninth position.

Spaniard Julen Lopetegui looks set to succeed Moyes as manager. While a deal has still to be signed, Lopetegui has reportedly agreed terms with the club. Lopetegui has spent the last season managing in Saudi Arabia, having previously managed at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Moyes replaced Slavan Bilic at the club in November 2017 for the first stint at the club on a six-month contract, before returning to the club on a long-term deal in December 2019 with the club left in 17th position by Manuel Pellegrini.

Since his appointment, Moyes has steered the club back to the top half of the Premier League, with his best finish coming in 2020/21 as the Hammers earned sixth place, tallying a record 65 points in the process.

The Scotsman also guided the Hammers to their first major trophy in 43 years last season, becoming the first English team to lift the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy in the process.

He helped the team to the Europa League quarter finals this season where they were knocked out by newly-crowned Bundesliga Champions Bayer Leverkusen, who remain unbeaten across all competitions this season with just a handful of matches left to play.

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1716122689labto1716122689ofdlr1716122689owedi1716122689sni@g1716122689niwe.1716122689yrrah1716122689