On 6 May, it was announced that David Moyes would be leaving his role as West Ham manager at the end of the 2023-24 season. Despite Moyes leading the club to notable successes, including two top-seven finishes, a Europa League semi-final, and a Europa Conference League title, there has been frustration among fans regarding the style of play and a perceived lack of excitement.
Embed from Getty ImagesFast forward to today and Julen Lopetegui has just been announced as the new manager of West Ham. The Spaniard has a proven track record of developing winning sides and is expected to do the same at the London Stadium, bringing a new sense of purpose and structure to West Ham.
Since leaving Wolves on the eve of the 2023-24 season, Lopetegui has held discussions with several clubs, with the Premier League being a top preference. He had discussions with Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace but did not reach agreements. He also turned down Villarreal in Spain and Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia before signing a two year deal with West Ham.
Embed from Getty ImagesEarly Life and Playing Career
Lopetegui, born in the Basque region of Spain, began his football journey as a goalkeeper. Despite starting at Real Madrid and later moving to Barcelona, his playing career was more notable at smaller clubs like UD Logrones and Rayo Vallecano. Although his stats and trophies do not highlight his elite talent, his exposure to top-tier teammates and coaches like Ronaldo Nazario, Pep Guardiola, Johan Cruyff, and Jose Mourinho provided invaluable experience.
Managerial Career So Far
Lopetegui achieved significant success as a coach for Spain’s Under-19 and Under-21 teams, leading them to European titles. Notably, he worked with talents like David de Gea, Thiago Alcantara, and Isco. His tenure as the senior national team coach saw an unbeaten streak, and his influence ‘brought pride and ambition back to Spanish football’, according to Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez.
His club management record is mixed but includes successful stints at Porto and Sevilla. At Sevilla, he maintained an impressive unbeaten rate in 79% of his 170 matches, winning a Europa League title and consistently finishing in the top four of La Liga. Lopetegui’s time at Real Madrid was short-lived, marked by a challenging environment and pressure that led to his departure after just a few months.
Embed from Getty ImagesAt Wolves, Lopetegui managed to stabilise the team, earning 22 points from 11 matches at Molineux. However, his relationship with the club deteriorated over summer transfer plans, leading to his departure. Despite short, less impactful periods at Real Madrid and Wolverhampton Wanderers, his overall coaching record reflect his competence and tactical acumen.
Coaching Philosophy
Lopetegui is known for his disciplined approach to coaching. He emphasises clear principles and is dedicated to both team success and individual player development. His style ensures that players are both motivated and continuously improving.
West Ham fans can expect a disciplined, resilient team under Lopetegui’s leadership. His approach is likely to instil a strong work ethic and robust playing style. Given his track record, Lopetegui is poised to develop individual talents while ensuring collective success.
Playing Style
Lopetegui’s teams are characterised by their intensity and structured play. He prefers a 4-3-3 formation with attack-minded full-backs providing width, three hard-working midfielders, and two inverted wide forwards adding a numerical advantage in central areas in front of goal.
Lopetegui is a methodical, detailed head coach known for producing high-level training sessions and liking his teams to dominate matches. His structured approach has sometimes led to criticism regarding a lack of attacking style, but his results have often kept fans content.
At Sevilla, Lopetegui had a balanced approach, placing importance on possession while maintaining defensive solidity. His teams recorded high possession stats and a significant number of clean sheets, ranking among the top in La Liga for these metrics. He also likes aerially proficient strikers due to his preference of using the wings and getting lots of crosses into the box.
Final Thoughts
While his teams may not always play the most exhilarating football, Lopetegui’s focus on possession and defensive discipline should improve West Ham’s overall performance. Success and excitement don’t always go hand-in-hand in football, but West Ham fans can feel confident that Lopetegui is a progressive coach that has the potential to lead the club to new heights.
Written by Isabelle Newnham
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