The cat is out of the bag as David Moyes is set to leave West Ham United at the end of the season.
Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui could be the man to replace the Europa Conference League winner in the dugout for next season.
For months and months now, fans have become disgruntled with Moyes and certain results have just made matters worse.
From getting thrashed 6-0 at home to Arsenal, conceding four away at Aston Villa, shipping five to Chelsea and playing sleep-walking football along the way.
Some would argue that West Ham should have made the call to let Moyes leave a lot sooner because the mood in the camp has been pretty low for a while now – even though the Scotsman is a defensive-minded coach, they have shipped 70 goals this season – and still counting, with a trip to Manchester City remaining.
Julen Lopetegui has a lot of expectations to live up to when he finally makes the anticipated move—sources tell HITC that David Sullivan is impressed with the former Real Madrid manager.
However, what is the genuine personality of the 57-year-old, who has also won the Europa League with Sevilla?
For a brief time throughout his career, Cesc Fabregas collaborated with Lopetegui, a relationship that he seems to wish to forget.
According to Planet Football, the renowned midfielder called his fellow countryman “a good coach,” but he later clarified, stating, “I shouldn’t say that because he kicked me out of the Spanish national team.”
Before the 2018 World Cup in Russia began, Lopetegui benched Fabregas from the team. He later accepted the position of Real Madrid manager while still in the Spain dugout. However, Lopetegui was fired by his country’s national team before the tournament began and only lasted a few months at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Fabregas responded to rumors that he might take over as West Ham’s manager after everything turned out to be a disaster. At the moment, he was relieved that he was gone.
Cesc Fabregas and Julen Lopetegui
“I think he is a good coach,” said Fabregas. “I shouldn’t say that because he kicked me out of the Spanish national team. He’s the one who stopped talking to me, so that hurts, still!
“I think he is a good coach. He has had success with the Spanish U21 team. Obviously, all that mess that happened in the Spanish national team when he signed for Real Madrid, then they kicked him out before the World Cup etc… When Real Madrid signs you. Obviously, something is good around you. You have done a good job somewhere and somehow. His Sevilla team, for example, played quite well. They won the Europa League playing good football. At Wolves, correct me if I am wrong, I think he did a good job. Creating a good atmosphere and a good brand of football. Getting them away from the relegation zone. I don’t know what happened and why he left Wolves.
“But he is definitely a coach who has clear ideas of what he wants to do. He has had success in a couple of teams. Why not? I think he could be good (for West Ham). He plays a different style than what West Ham has done for the last couple of years.”
Julen Lopetegui’s style of play
You get the impression that the play’s style is a major factor in Moyes’ departure and the reason some people find him so dislikeable.
In terms of on-field accomplishments, he contributed to the Hammers winning their first trophy in forty years and continuously helped them place in Europe; he may yet accomplish this before leaving.
However, the manner didn’t sit well with the fans, and Lopetegui will now look to put the club more in the lead.
The fans at the London Stadium will be delighted to see Lopetegui’s teams play more aggressively and higher up the pitch. Now it’s just a matter of handling the pressure.
