David Moyes will leave West Ham at the end of the season; Julen Lopetegui expected to succeed him

David Moyes will leave West Ham at the end of the season, the club has announced. Julen Lopetegui is expected to be appointed in his place for the 2024/25 season. Moyes’ contract expires at the end of the season and he has long been expected to leave, with West Ham struggling for league form since the turn of the year.

Moyes will still leave East London with an improved reputation after the Scot guided West Ham to two seventh-place finishes in the Premier League, as well as deep runs to the quarter- and semi-finals of the Europa League. His outstanding performance with the Hammers will forever be remembered in the 2023 Europa Conference League, where his side secured the club’s first major trophy since 1980 with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina.

After guiding West Ham to safety during an interim spell at the club in 2017, the Scot repeated the trick two years later before taking the club away from what seemed to be an annual battle against the drop. It says a lot about the standards he has set that the club’s ninth-place finish this season is proving to be a disappointing return.

“I’ve had four and a half brilliant years at West Ham, and the club is in a stronger position than when I returned in 2019,” Moyes said. “When I joined West Ham for the second time the club was one place above the relegation zone and it has been an amazing journey to have achieved three consecutive seasons in Europe.

“After getting the club to safety, we guided the team to sixth and seventh places in the Premier League, and I was delighted when we won the Europa Conference League title last June – the club’s first major trophy in 43 years. I would like to thank all the players for their support and all the success they have achieved over the past four and a half years.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone at West Ham and I would like to thank the board for the opportunity they have given me to lead this great club. I wish my eventual successor, the directors, the players, the staff , the fans and everyone at West Ham all the best for the future.”

CBS Sports understands that Lopetegui will be appointed in his place, although no deal between the former Spain, Real Madrid and Wolverhampton Wanderers boss had been finalized as of Monday morning. The 57-year-old, who won the Europa League with Sevilla, has also been linked with a possible vacancy at AC Milan and was expected to attract further interest in the coming weeks, including from Bayern Munich, which could prompt West Ham to continue appointing him. The club had also held talks with Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, but without results.

West Ham also noted that the decision to part ways with Moyes early will allow supporters to celebrate his tenure in the final home game of the season against Luton Town on Saturday. The 61-year-old’s last game in charge will be away to Manchester City.

“On behalf of everyone at West Ham United, I would like to sincerely thank David for the contribution he has made to the football club during his time as manager,” said co-chairman David Sullivan. “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, dedication and commitment to the role.

“David has been an absolute professional to work with and he will leave with our utmost respect and good wishes. He deserves to be held in the highest regard for the services he has provided to West Ham United, and we wish him the best of luck in the competition.” “By making this announcement now, David can get the farewell he deserves from the West Ham supporters and we can all show our appreciation for him in our final home game of the season against Luton Town on Saturday.”