West Ham have confirmed the appointment of Julen Lopetegui following David Moyes’ departure at the end of the season.
The former Spain and Real Madrid manager was most recently in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers but left Molineux amidst tensions with the board over the club’s transfer budget and the club’s Financial Fair Play situation.
The 57-year-old will officially start at the London Stadium on 1 July.
In a statement, West Ham said: “Lopetegui has put together an impressive coaching CV over the past two decades, leading Sevilla to Uefa Europa League glory and Spain’s U21s and U19s to Uefa European Championship success.
“He is widely respected for his clear football philosophy, flexible tactical approach, competitive character and man-management skills.
“The appointment of the experienced Spaniard as head coach marks the next step in West Ham United’s new and growing football strategy, which gained pace in July 2023 with the arrival of Tim Steidten as the club’s technical director.”
Lopetegui’s arrival will kickstart a new era after many supporters believed the team had grown stale under Moyes.
West Ham finished ninth and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League in the Scotsman’s final season.
“I feel very happy, first of all, to be able to be part of the future of this big Club,” Lopetegui told West Ham TV.
“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 will be in charge for the Hammers’ pre-season trip to Florida in July, where they take on Wolves and Crystal Palace.
West Ham technical director Tim Steidten said: “We are very pleased to welcome Julen and his staff to our club.
“He was a stand-out candidate to become our head coach and I am personally delighted that we have chosen to work together.”
Lopetegui’s to-do-list
Reporting from the Press Association
Get Toney
The burden of leading West Ham’s attack is still falling on the 34-year-old shoulders of Michail Antonio, with Moyes having failed to settle on another striker despite the club’s large outlays on the likes of Sebastian Haller and Gianluca Scamacca.
England international Ivan Toney is expected to leave Brentford this summer and West Ham should be at the front of the queue.
Send Lucas packing
A move for Toney could easily be funded if Manchester City meet Lucas Paqueta’s £85million release clause.
The Brazilian is undoubtedly a class act but performances have dipped along with West Ham’s as the season wore on. The only sticking point is a Football Association investigation into alleged betting breaches which has yet to be resolved.
Style over substance?
The majority of West Ham fans would, however grudgingly, admit that Moyes’ second spell in charge was one of unprecedented success with three consecutive seasons in Europe and a first trophy in 43 years.
But there remains an appetite for a more progressive, attacking style of play and, with players such as Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and – if he stays – Paqueta at his disposal, Lopetegui’s pedigree would suggest he can provide it.
Technical issues
Lopetegui’s relationship with technical director Tim Steidten will be crucial. Tensions between Moyes and the German did not help his cause and culminated in the manager asking Steidten to stay away from the dressing room and training ground.
Steidten was heavily involved in the appointment of Lopetegui and will also have a big influence on a summer recruitment drive.
Reinforcements required
Moyes preferred a smaller squad. It was his decision to only bring in Kalvin Phillips – for what turned into a calamitous loan spell – in January despite letting three players leave, so West Ham are likely to want at least five or six new signings.
Players will be moved on as well – centre-half Angelo Ogbonna has looked every one of his 35 years of age in the run-in and is out of contract along with Aaron Cresswell. Ben Johnson and Danny Ings could also be leaving as Lopetegui reshapes the squad.
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