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West Ham have finally confirmed Julen Lopetegui as their new manager after parting ways with David Moyes.
The Spaniard, who has been out of work since leaving Wolves last summer, has signed a two-year contract with the option of one more.
Mail Sport revealed earlier this month that Lopetegui was in advanced talks to replace Moyes, who left the club following the expiry of his contract last week.
“I feel very happy, above all, to be able to be part of the future of this great club,” said Lopetegui after his hiring. ‘We will try to put our stamp on the club.
‘I feel like we have a fantastic platform. I think the last few years have been very good to have this foundation, of course, but my ambition as a coach is always to be better and better, to achieve more and bigger goals and to encourage and improve the players, the team, and to compete because football That’s what it’s about: competing. We are very ambitious in this.
Julen Lopetegui has been announced as West Ham’s new manager on an initial two-year contract.
The 59-year-old Spaniard is understood to have always been West Ham’s first choice.
Lopetegui replaces David Moyes at the Hammers, who played his last game on Sunday
‘I am where I want to be. I am here because I want to be here and for us it was a fantastic day when we closed our agreement here because our commitment is 100 percent to be here. We had other opportunities but I am very happy that West Ham chose me because I also chose West Ham so we are very happy with this.
‘We came here with the idea and thought of making a big noise. That’s why we came here and we’re excited about this challenge. Of course, we will do everything possible to help the club and the team reach the best level and achieve our goals. I assure the fans that they will be key to all our achievements.”
It is understood that Lopetegui, who has played for Sevilla, Real Madrid, Porto and the Spanish national team, has always been West Ham’s first choice, despite the club holding talks with Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim.
The recruitment process was led by chief executive Tim Steidten, with both coaches having initial discussions with the club before the move for Lopetegui was accelerated at the start of the month.
Amorim’s £12.8m release clause is understood to have been a potential obstacle and he has since decided to remain at Sporting.
Steidten said: “We are very pleased to welcome Julen and his staff to our club. He was an outstanding candidate to become our head coach and I am personally delighted that we have chosen to work together. His career shows that, wherever he has trained, he has improved players and teams, and we are looking forward to seeing him work with our team.
‘Julen lives and breathes football. He thinks deeply about the game, he is tactically astute and has shown that he can adapt to work in different leagues, in different countries, with national teams, and in each situation he has demonstrated the outstanding qualities of him. “Julen has a lot of experience in the way we will now work at West Ham United and I look forward to working with him to grow a successful future for the club.”
West Ham chief executive Tim Steidten (right) has expressed his “personal delight” at the signing.
Lopetegui has been open about his desire to return to work in the Premier League after leaving Wolves over a dispute over the club’s budget.
The Spaniard and his team will go on a pre-season tour of the United States in July and August, where they will play friendlies against Lopetegui’s former Wolves and Crystal Palace.
