David Moyes has sent a classy message to his West Ham successor Julen Lopetegui after his last home game as Hammers boss.
West Ham officially announced David Moyes would depart the club earlier this week.
The intention was that Hammers fans would be able to give him the send-off he deserved in his last ever home game against Luton.
West Ham’s players didn’t read the script in another terrible first half performance, though.
Luton took an early lead and looked like they might spoil Moyes’ leaving do.
But they rallied in the second half with goals from James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek and youngster George Earthy to send the Scot off with a fitting win.
It was only West Ham’s fifth in 24 games in 2024. And that tells some of the tale as to why the club are parting ways with Moyes after four-and-a-half memorable years.
It’s the worst kept secret in football that Julen Lopetegui will be replacing him in the Hammers hotseat.
Although the formal announcement is on hold until the end of season out of respect to Moyes.
It’s fair to say the incoming Spaniard has not been a unanimously popular choice.
But then Moyes didn’t necessarily fit that description when he was brought back for a second spell.
Moyes sends classy message to successor Lopetegui
Lopetegui will get the backing of West Ham’s fans, many of whom have started to warm to the idea.
But they will have to see signs of change in the way the team players and approaches games under the 57-year-old.
The Premier League’s smallest and second oldest squad must also be drastically improved this summer to give Lopetegui a chance of progress.
It would have been very easy for Moyes to be bitter about his West Ham exit.
But he has been nothing but a class act this week.
First he admitted a parting of the ways is right for all concerned and that he has no ill-feeling towards anyone at West Ham from the board to the terraces.
Then he was an unlikely ally to fans who keep being told to ‘be careful what you wish for’.
Now Moyes has sent a classy message to his West Ham successor Lopetegui.
‘New man can step it up again and I hope they do’
While the Scot did not name Lopetegui directly, his message was clear.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he said the next manager does have plenty of room to progress and grow a ‘brilliant club’. And he wished his successor well doing just that.
“I go away from here with great memories, the club is a brilliant club and has so much room for improvement,” Moyes said.
“It can step up again and I hope that they (the next manager and his players) do.
“The crowds here are huge, we had a great crowd today. I have lots of great memories here.
“We have beaten a lot of the bigger sides at home and the biggest thing is that West Ham are back on the map.”
We had super David Moyes, he knew exactly what we’d need.
A classy message from a classy man and one of West Ham’s best managers of the modern era.
Thank you Moyes. Over to you Lopetegui and Tim Steidten.
You can watch highlights of West Ham’s 3-1 win over Luton below.
