Julen Lopetegui has been appointed as West Ham manager on an initial two-year contract.
Lopetegui will replace David Moyes at the helm of the East London club after the Scottish manager decided to part company with the Hammers, just a year after he led West Ham to the UEFA Europa Conference League title.
The 57 year-old Spaniard has signed an initial two-year contract at the club until June 2026 with an option for a third year, which will be activated if he guides the club to European qualification in any of his first two seasons in charge.
Speaking to West Ham TV, Lopetegui has iterated that he has a “fantastic platform” inherited from Moyes but he intends to impose his own “stamp on the club.”
“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 proceeded to reveal that he “had other opportunities” from other clubs but clarified that his “commitment is 100 per cent to be here.”
Having finished ninth in the Premier League and missed out on European qualification, West Ham face a tough task next season to try and gain re-entry into Europe for 2025-26 season which Lopetegui is relishing.
“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. 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.”
West Ham’s joint-Chair, David Sullivan extended his welcome to Lopetegui and explained that the Spaniard’ appointment marks “… 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.”
Lopetegui has previously managed Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid B, Porto, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Wolves at club level, plus Spain between July 2016 – June 2018 but was sacked just days before 2018 FIFA World Cup after he had been confirmed as Real Madrid manager.
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