Manager David Moyes will leave West Ham at the end of the Premier League season, the club has confirmed.
This comes after BBC Sport’s Guillem Balague reported on Monday that former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui had agreed a deal to replace Moyes.
Moyes, 61, was under increasing pressure after a string of poor results, including Sunday’s 5-0 defeat to Chelsea.
“I have enjoyed a brilliant four and a half years at West Ham and the club is in a stronger position than when I returned in 2019,” said Moyes.
The Scot took up his second spell at the club in December 2019 and led the Hammers to success in the Europa Conference League last season – their first major trophy in 43 years.
But his side have won just one of their last 10 games in all competitions, losing five, and, sitting ninth in the Premier League, are set to miss their fourth successive season in Europe.
“When I joined West Ham for the second time, the club were one place above the relegation zone and it has been an incredible journey to have won three successive seasons in Europe,” Moyes added.
“I would like to thank all the players for their support and for all the success they have achieved over the last four and a half years.
Although nothing has been signed yet, former Spain and Real Madrid manager Lopetegui is close to returning to management at the Hammers following his departure from Wolves in August last year.
Although West Ham have confirmed that the search for Moyes’ successor has begun, they said they will not comment until an appointment is made.
The club’s joint chairman, David Sullivan, said Moyes was “responsible for a period of great progress and success” in West Ham’s history.
“David has been an absolute professional to work with and will leave with our utmost respect and good wishes – he deserves to be held in the highest esteem for the service he has given to West Ham United, and we wish him every success in the future,” added Sullivan .
“By making this announcement now, it allows David to get the send-off he deserves from West Ham fans and for us all to show our thanks to him in our final home game of the season against Luton Town on Saturday.”
Moyes had his first spell at West Ham when he took over following Slaven Bilic’s dismissal in November 2017.
The Hammers were in the relegation zone at the time, but despite guiding the club to Premier League safety, he left in May 2018, ahead of Manuel Pellegrini’s appointment.
Moyes succeeded Pellegrini at the end of 2019, with the club just one point above the relegation zone.
The Hammers secured European football through their league position in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history, finishing sixth in 2020-21 and seventh the following season.
He then achieved European success with victory in the Conference League final against Fiorentina in June 2023, on a memorable night in Prague, followed by a trophy parade through east London.
However, the Hammers’ heavy defeat to Chelsea means they have conceded 70 Premier League goals this season, the most in a single campaign in the competition.
Only the bottom three clubs Burnley (74), Luton (78) and Sheffield United (100) have worse defensive records.
After hosting Luton on Saturday, West Ham travel to Manchester City for the final game of the season on May 19.
West Ham considering change for ‘two years’
Analysis: Guillem Balague, Spanish football writer for BBC Sport
There was success under Moyes. There’s no doubt about that. But for two years now, as far as I know, West Ham bosses have been thinking: ‘Should we change direction or not, should we give the fans a bit more of a spectacle?’ – more possession and the kind of thing you get with Lopetegui.
One thing clear in the Spaniard’s mind was that he wanted to stay in the Premier League if possible, having left his role at Wolves on the eve of this season. When West Ham approached him – and it wasn’t the first conversation he’d had with him – it was clear this was the type of club he was looking for.
