Julen Lopetegui has reached an agreement to take over as manager of West Ham at the conclusion of the current season. While no formal contract has been signed yet, the 57-year-old is nearing a return to coaching after departing from Wolves in August last year.
The current West Ham manager, David Moyes, has faced mounting pressure due to a string of poor results, with the team winning just one of their last nine Premier League matches and being eliminated from the Europa League in the quarter-finals. West Ham’s recent 5-0 defeat to Chelsea further compounded their struggles, leaving them in ninth place in the league table.
Moyes, whose contract expires in the summer, has consistently deflected questions about his future at the club, stating that discussions will occur after their final match against Manchester City on May 19th.
Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Lopetegui has been linked with various managerial positions since leaving Wolves and reportedly has a strong interest in returning to the Premier League after guiding Wolves to safety last season when they were bottom of the table.
Lopetegui’s coaching achievements include winning the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020 before joining Wolves two years later. Despite leading Wolves to a 13th-place finish last season, Lopetegui became frustrated with the club’s financial situation and resigned.
In contrast, Moyes oversaw three consecutive European campaigns for West Ham, including a historic victory in the Europa Conference League final last June, ending the club’s 43-year trophy drought. However, some fans have criticized Moyes for what they perceive as overly defensive tactics.
