Julen Lopetegui looks set for a return to English football as the new West Ham United head coach. The Spaniard spent the bulk of last season in charge at Wolverhampton Wanderers, before leaving the club in August 2023. Lopetegui is now expected to take over from David Moyes in the London Stadium hotseat, with the Scot set to depart the club this summer when his contract expires. Former Spain and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui has agreed a deal with West Ham to become their next head coach at the end of this season, according to reports.
The 57-year-old is in line to take over from David Moyes, who is set to depart the club following a second spell in charge of The Hammers.
Moyes leaves after returning to the club in December 2019 and leading The Irons to UEFA Europa Conference League glory last season, ending West Ham’s 43-year wait for a major trophy. The club were in the running to secure European qualification for a fourth consecutive season, but a poor run of form means this is now looking increasingly unlikely.
Highly-rated Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim held talks with the West Ham hierarchy, but reported concerns over his huge release clause – said to be more than £10million – meant attention was turned to Lopetegui.
Lopetegui, reportedly yet to sign any contract with The Hammers, has been out of work since leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer, and arrives at the London Stadium with plenty of European pedigree of his own. He led Sevilla to UEFA Europa League glory in the 2019/20 season, and has also achieved success at international level with Spain’s under-19 and under-21 teams.
Under Lopetegui’s guidance, La Roja won the UEFA under-19 and under-21 European Championships in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
After a two-year spell with FC Porto, Lopetegui was given the Spanish senior team head coach role in July 2016, before dramatically being dismissed from his position with the team in Russia preparing for the 2018 World Cup that summer. This was following the announcement that Lopetegui would take over as Real Madrid head coach following the conclusion of the tournament, a development which made the Royal Spanish Football Federation act.
Lopetegui has also spent time in charge of Rayo Vallecano in a coaching career spanning more than 20 years.
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