Julen Lopetegui has been appointed as the new head coach of West Ham United, taking over from David Moyes, who departed after a four-and-a-half-year tenure. Moyes concluded his stint by winning West Ham’s first major trophy in 43 years, the Europa Conference League, in 2023. Lopetegui, a 57-year-old Spaniard, will officially start his role on July 1. This appointment marks his return to coaching after leaving Wolves just before the 2023/24 season commenced.
Lopetegui’s coaching career is notable, having previously managed Real Madrid briefly and Spain’s national team for two years, and achieving significant success with Sevilla by winning the UEFA Europa League in 2020. His primary objective at West Ham will be to guide the team back into European competitions following their ninth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Lopetegui emphasized his ambition to continuously improve and achieve greater goals, highlighting his dedication to competing and enhancing the team’s performance. He stated his happiness with the opportunity at West Ham, noting that both he and the club made a mutual choice to collaborate, reflecting their shared commitment.
Although the duration of Lopetegui’s contract has not been disclosed, significant changes in the coaching staff have been made. First-team coaches Billy McKinlay, Kevin Nolan, John Heitinga, and Henry Newman have departed, while Xavi Valero remains as the goalkeeper coach. Lopetegui’s new team includes Pablo Sanz as Assistant Head Coach, Oscar Caro as Head of Performance and Assistant Coach, Juan Vicente Peinado as Head of Analysis and Assistant Coach, Borja De Alba as Fitness Coach, and Edu Rubio as Technical Coach.
West Ham’s technical director, Tim Steidten, praised Lopetegui’s deep understanding of football, tactical acumen, and adaptability across various leagues and national teams. Lopetegui will meet his new squad at the beginning of July for pre-season training, which will include a tour in the United States where they will face Wolves and Crystal Palace.