Julen Lopetegui has replaced David Moyes as West Ham manager (Picture: Getty)
Julen Lopetegui says he intends to make a ‘big, big noise’ at West Ham after he was confirmed as David Moyes’ replacement.
The 57-year-old, whose last managerial role was with West Ham’s Premier League rivals Wolves, has signed a two-year deal at the London Stadium, with the option for a third.
Lopetegui takes over from Moyes, who had a mixed five-and-a-half year spell with the Hammers after taking over for his second spell at the club in December 2019.
West Ham lifted their first major trophy in 43 years under Moyes – winning the Europa Conference League last year – but the Scot was under increasing pressure following a poor run of form.
In Moyes’ final season in east London, West Ham finished ninth in the Premier League, missing out on a fourth successive season in Europe.
‘I feel very happy, first of all, to be able to be part of the future of this big club,’ said Lopetegui. ‘We will try to put our stamp on the club.
‘I feel that we have a fantastic platform. I think the last few years have been very good years to have this base, of course, but my ambition as a coach is always to be better and better, to achieve more and bigger aims and to encourage and improve the players, the team, and to compete because football is about this – to compete. We are very ambitious about this.
Lopetegui takes over from ex-West Ham boss David Moyes (Picture: Getty)
‘I am where I want to be. I am here because I want to be here and for us it was a fantastic day when we closed our agreement here because we our commitment is 100 per cent to be here.
‘We had other opportunities but I am very happy that West Ham chose me because I chose West Ham too, so we are really happy about this.
‘We came here with the idea and the thought to make a big, big noise. That’s why we came here, and we are excited by this challenge.
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‘Of course, we are going to do our best to help the club and the team to achieve to achieve the best level and to achieve our aims. I assure the fans that they are going to be key in all our achievements.’
Lopetegui has managed Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla as well as Wolves, who he left last August following a 13th-place finish in the Premier League the previous season.
The Spaniard, who made over 300 appearances in La Liga as a player, won the Europa League during his three-year spell at Sevilla and has also lifted trophies with Spain’s youth teams.
The Spaniard has signed an initial two-year deal with West Ham (Picture: Getty)
On Lopetegui’s appointment, West Ham United Joint-Chair David Sullivan said: ‘I would like to welcome Julen to the club and wish him every success in his new role.
‘We believe this appointment will ensure a strong opportunity to build on the positive progress made in recent seasons, helping the club to move forward in the direction that aligns with our ambitions.
‘We have been working hard behind the scenes to continue shaping the right strategy for West Ham United’s future, and we are looking forward to bringing Julen’s coaching ability, experience and personality to the club.’
Lopetegui officially takes over at West Ham on June 1 and will be joined at the club by coaches Pablo Sanz, Oscar Caro, Juan Vicente Peinado, Borja De Alba and Edu Rubio.
Lopetegui takes over a side that finished ninth this season (Picture: Getty)
Reflecting on his time at West Ham, Moyes said: ‘I have enjoyed four and a half brilliant years at West Ham, and the club is in a stronger position than when I returned back in 2019.
‘When I joined West Ham for a second time, the club was one place above the relegation zone, and it has been a terrific journey to have achieved three consecutive seasons in Europe.
‘I would like to thank all the players for their support, and all the success they have achieved, over the last four and a half years.’
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