David Moyes's West Ham legacy, and future, hinges on European glory
West Ham boss David Moyes was the bookies’ favourite to be sacked in January but he can rewrite the narrative after guiding the Hammers to a historic European final… his legacy, and future, hinges on victory in Prague
- It’s been a rollercoaster campaign for David Moyes’ side in the 2022-23 season
- They battled with relegation earlier in the season before a stunning resurgence
- They now face a clash with Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final
Between the end of 2022 and the start of 2023, David Moyes’ future at West Ham had been cast into serious doubt amid their struggling run of form.
Five Premier League defeats in a row – separated by the winter World Cup – left the Hammers hanging precariously above the relegation zone and worried about the future.
It got so bad that bookmakers listed Moyes as the most likely managerial candidate to get dismissed from the Premier League in January, as things turned bleak.
Domestically, it did little to improve. As recently as April, according to the Guardian, the Scot was one defeat away from the sack. A loss at Fulham would have sealed his fate and seen Slaven Bilic installed as interim head coach.
Fortunately for Moyes, a 1-0 victory and subsequent climb away from trouble quelled the concern in the boardroom. Now, with another season in the top-flight confirmed and a Europa Conference League final tonight, he has the chance to rewrite the narrative of a turbulent campaign.
No matter what happens in Prague, the former Manchester United boss’s future very much hangs in the balance.
David Moyes has managed to turn his fortunes around at West Ham in a matter of months
The Hammers are looking to make history and win their first European title in 47 years
To understand how West Ham fell short of expectations before clawing back some modicum of respect, you have to look to the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Hammers had spent over £150million in the transfer window on the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet.
Having finished seventh the season prior, and with a the plethora of new talent that had bolstered the squad, there were high hopes for the Hammers.
However, three defeats to kick-start the campaign dampened their moods before a five-match winless streak in the New Year caused serious concern.
In March, Mail Sport reported that Moyes and his West Ham coaches feared the sack if they lost their relegation showdown with bottom side Southampton.
The Hammers ended up winning the match 1-0, coinciding with their blsitering run in the Europa Conference League kicking into gear.
A 6-0 aggregate win over AEK Larnaca in the competition’s Round of 16 gave the Hammers the confidence to kick on in the latter stages.
Triumphs over Gent and AZ Alkmaar saw the Hammers book their place in the Wednesday night’s final, where they will face Serie A side Fiorentina.
The Hammers endured five-match losing streak at the start of the calendar year
Since West Ham booked their place in the final, it seems that the club’s owners have softened on their stance in terms of Moyes’ future at the club.
Mail Sport revealed, last month, that Moyes will be allowed to decide his fate in the case that the club win the Europa Conference League.
The Scot’s deal at the London Stadium, however, expires this summer and puts serious doubt as to whether he’ll continue at the club. Defeat would almost certainly result in him departing for a second time.
This means that, while the ideal outcome for the club would be one where Moyes stays, the club have profiled potential candidates for a new boss this summer, in the anticipation of the Scot leaving.
Marco Silva, Graham Potter, Brendan Rodgers and Paulo Fonseca are among the managers West Ham have considered, but no official bids have been launched.
Moyes watches on as his side begin training ahead of the Europa Conference League final
Potter has admirers at West Ham and is available after his sacking at Chelsea earlier this season, but there are doubts over whether the ex-Brighton boss would consider joining.
Hammers chiefs have also been alerted to the work of Reims boss Will Still, 30, while Fonseca has also impressed in France’s Ligue 1 since joining Lille last summer.
Rodgers is available following his departure at Leicester last month, but sources have indicated a deal for him to join West Ham would be difficult to conclude.
A number of those candidates – namely Potter and Rodgers – have also been linked with a number of other jobs in Britain, such as the Celtic position.
All of the options would present apt replacements for the Scot, however the hopes coming from east London should be for the head coach to stay.
Former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has emerged as a potential successor for Moyes
Throughout his time at the club, the Hammers have secured Premier League finishes in 16th, 6th, 7th and, most recently, 14th.
Though their performances in the domestic campaign left a lot to be desired, their performances in Europe will stay in fans’ memories for years.
Their terrific Europa League run last season, which saw them reach the semi-finals before losing to Eintracht Frankfurt, had been the pinnacle for many supporters.
A European trophy would top that. And if Moyes delivers it, he will ensure he gets the final say on a rollercoaster of a season.
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