David Moyes has opened up on his impending West Ham departure for the first time since the announcement and it may shock fans.
It is the end of an era for West Ham and David Moyes. The Hammers play their final home game under the Scot after four-and-a-half years of his second spell with the club.
Moyes has insisted for the last four months that he has been the one stalling on signing a new West Ham deal.
Results have been so bad, though, that his future has had a large Julen Lopetegui shaped shadow cast over it.
Moyes opens up on West Ham departure
Just last week, amid intense media speculation he will be replaced, Moyes continued to insist no decision would be made until the end of the season. And, perhaps more interestingly, that he wanted to remain West Ham’s manager beyond the summer.
On Monday all that was put to bed as West Ham officially announced Moyes would be leaving the club. Generic statements were put out by the club in the statement.
But now Moyes has opened up on his West Ham departure and it may shock fans. The departing Hammers manager has faced the press in his pre-Luton conference.
Many may have expected the Scot to state West Ham were making a mistake or that he feels hard done by.
Right decision for all concerned says Moyes
Instead he has conceded it is the ‘right decision for all concerned’.
“I’m really comfortable with the situation,” Moyes said.
“I’ve talked about it with my family, and I think it’s the right decision for all parties.
“We’ll go our separate ways after a really successful period.
“First, I’ll have a break. Last year there wasn’t much of a break after the UEFA Europa Conference League final. I strive to work my hardest, and I’ve done that here, so I’m going to have a break.
“I’m going to work during the Euros and I’ll continue to look forward to working in football.
“Stopping the Club getting relegated the second time was difficult, and the progress we’ve made since then has been brilliant.
“I think we’ve done a really good job, we’ve built the Club, and there’s stability there now.”
Moyes earned the moniker the Moyesiah so good was the job he has done at West Ham.
Thank you David Moyes
No matter what your stance on the Hammers boss and some of the football over the last couple of seasons, nobody could dispute that.
The manager has poured his heart and soul into West Ham over the last four-and-a-half years.
Living hundreds of miles away from his wife and working long hours every day, he brought some much-needed pride back to this football club.
West Ham were a laughing stock when he returned to take over from Manuel Pellegrini.
Moyes dragged the entire club up by its bootstraps, got the team fighting for the badge and fans again – and duly saved West Ham from potential relegation for a second time.
Three years of European football followed after sixth and seventh placed finishes crowned with a first major trophy for 43 years.
All good things come to an end, though.
And on Saturday, West Ham’s fans will get to bid him the farewell he deserves.
Here’s what the club has planned at the London Stadium for the big day.
