JULEN LOPETEGUI has “agreed terms” to become West Ham’s new manager, according to reports.
The 57-year-old former Wolves manager is set to replace David Moyes in the summer after accepting the Hammers’ offer.
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Who is Julen Lopetegui?
Julen Lopetegui had a 17-year career as a goalkeeper for teams such as Real Madrid and Barcelona.
He won the LaLiga title with Real Madrid in 1990 and two Spanish Super Cups with Barcelona before taking over management in 2003.
He began training as an assistant for Spain’s under-17 team, before spells at Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid’s B team.
Lopetegui then returned to the Spanish team to manage teams of various age groups, leaving in 2014 for Porto.
He achieved Spain’s top job in 2016 and spent two years in charge of the national team, but was sacked before the 2018 World Cup after it was announced he would become Real Madrid coach after the tournament.
The Spaniard was sacked after just two months at the Bernabéu following a dismal spell.
He joined Sevilla in 2019 and won the Europa League with them the following year.
Lopetegui left Sevilla in 2022 and joined Wolves in November, leading them to 13th place.
He left in August last year, just before the start of the season, before Gary O’Neil replaced him.
Both parties are now finalizing contracts.
Transfer Specialist Fabricio Romano broke the news, tweeting: “Julen Lopetegui has agreed terms with West Ham to become the new manager, replacing David Moyes next season.
“Lopetegui accepted #WHUFC’s proposal, ready to move on to the formal stages.
“Details are being finalized and contracts will be signed, but the agreement will be in effect.”
The news comes after West Ham were beaten 5-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Moyes, whose second spell in east London began in December 2019, has seen his side slip to ninth in the Premier League table.
They have not won any of their last six games in all competitions.
But Moyes’ time at West Ham was a successful one as he led them to Europa Conference League glory as well as a fifth-place finish in a row.
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His contract with the Hammers expires in the summer.
Spaniard Lopetegui left Wolves last summer due to spending concerns after finishing 13th in his first Premier League season last year.
But fans are not happy with the prospect of the former Real Madrid coach taking over and would prefer the club to bet on the other main candidate – Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim.
One supporter even launched a petition on Change.org asking for 500 signatures, claiming that Lopetegui is “not good enough, not ambitious enough” – suggesting that his appointment would show a lack of care on the board’s part.
However, Amorim has already confirmed that he will remain in Portugal.
He said: “I’m staying at Sporting. I have a contract and it is a special moment for me, for the club.
“Now let’s try to win a third title together. Let’s try to make it happen.”
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