West Ham United presented their new manager to the media with Julen Lopetegui getting down to work in his new role at the London Stadium.
The Hammers parted ways with David Moyes at the end of the season, just a year since winning the Europa Conference League title.
West Ham didn’t quite kick on as hoped and the feeling around the club was that change had to come.
Moyes has moved on and West Ham have gone with Julen Lopetegui as their new boss, bringing the Spaniard back to the Premier League.
Lopetegui did a fine job with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023 but left the club before the start of last season.
Now back for another shot at Premier League management, Lopetegui will be hoping to build on Moyes’ work and take West Ham forward.
Anton Ferdinand on Julen Lopetegui
Lopetegui was presented to the media on Monday, speaking alongside technical director Tim Steidten.
The Spaniard spoke on a number of topics, including the ‘bad news’ around Edson Alvarez and his injury during Copa America with Mexico.
Lopetegui noted that the Premier League is ‘unique’ in terms of its rhythm, adding that he couldn’t wait to get back into Premier League management after leaving Wolves.
“I always say that my first thought after my first experience in England was to come back to the Premier League,” said Lopetegui.
“I stayed a long time in England, learning a lot about the football. I have seen a lot of matches in the Premier League, because my aim was clear to stay here,” he added.
Former Hammers defender Anton Ferdinand was in attendance as Lopetegui offered his opening comments as West Ham boss.
Ferdinand took to social media and admitted that he would want to turn out for Lopetegui is he was still playing.
The former centre back noticed that Lopetegui made it clear that he views players as people too, adding that Lopetegui ‘sounds like he knows what he wants to do’.
Lopetegui will know what he faces a tricky job at West Ham.
Fans want to see attractive football alongside results; Moyes brought the latter but the former was somewhat lacking in his time at the London Stadium.
Lopetegui hasn’t exactly been known for free-flowing football in the past, but he has certainly got results.
The 57-year-old won a Europa League title with Sevilla in 2020, winning 53% of his games in charge of Sevilla.
A former Real Madrid and Spain boss, Lopetegui has seen it all in his managerial career but now heads to East London with fans expecting an improvement on a ninth-place finish with 52 points on the board.
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