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HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH
David Moyes is the best manager I have worked with in my 30-plus year career and he will be missed at West Ham
Only the third boss in Hammers' history to win major silverware will always be welcomed back
IF a week is a long time in politics, then the same can be said of football.
And in the modern-day, pressure-cooker environment of the Premier League, where the thunderous pace on the field is matched only by the extreme scrutiny off it, a 4½-year stint as a manager is nothing short of an ultra-marathon.
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David Moyes will depart his role at West Ham next week as the fourth longest-serving manager in the top flight behind only Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
And he leaves with everyone’s utmost respect, gratitude and admiration, having devoted every ounce of his energy to improving and growing our club since the minute he walked through the door.
He also leaves as only the third manager in our 129-YEAR history to have secured a major piece of silverware.
David was the architect of that magical night in Prague last June that gave an entire generation of Hammers fans their first taste of European glory and a memory that will last a lifetime.
In the annals of claret and blue, the name David Moyes will rightly sit alongside the great Ron Greenwood and John Lyall. And like those two legendary bosses, his tenure has been laid on a foundation of hard work, honesty and integrity.
When he returned to London Stadium in December 2019, he was tasked with galvanising an expensively-assembled but under-performing squad.
The task appeared to become even harder when Covid struck just two months later.
That threw the football calendar into chaos, depriving clubs like West Ham of the elements needed to climb the table — a close-knit squad and a packed stadium full of passionate fans.
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However, with true East London ‘never give up’ grit and determination, the West Ham family came together and there’s no doubt that even deeper bonds were forged in those unprecedented, unique months.
David threw himself into the challenge and left no stone unturned in creating a belief and spirit at our Rush Green training ground that ensured our Premier League status.
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Not only that, but he found time to do his bit supporting the community in need.
This is something that means so much to our club — doing everything from calling isolated and elderly supporters during lockdown, to working as a volunteer driver to deliver fruit and vegetables to residents in his hometown of Preston.
A measure of the man behind the manager.
Since then, he has been responsible for a period of stability and positive growth on the pitch.
Two top-seven Prem finishes, three consecutive seasons of European competition and some unforgettable victories.
Those came both at home and on our travels — not least June 7, 2023, in the Fortuna Arena and Jarrod Bowen’s last-gasp winner against Fiorentina, leading to immortality and parties on the streets of east London.
On Saturday afternoon, David will lead his team into battle at the London Stadium for the final time against Luton.
MOYES RECORD AS HAMMERS' BOSS
DAVID MOYES' two reigns at London Stadium includes a rare Premier League milestone and a treasured piece of club history.
Here's a rundown of the 61-year-old, ex-Everton and Manchester United chief's West Ham record.
November 2017 - Appointed Hammers' boss for the first time, with the club in the drop zone.
January 2018 - Became only the fourth manager - behind Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp - to clock up 200 Prem wins.
May 2018 - Left after the end of his six-month deal, having kept West Ham up.
December 2019 - Re-appointed boss, with the Hammers 17th.
May 2020 - Finished 16th with 39 points, the club's lowest Prem tally since 2011.
2020-21 - Came sixth with West Ham's highest-ever Prem tally of 65 points.
2021-22 - Back-to-back top-seven finishes for first time in club history. Came seventh and made the Europa League semi-finals.
2022-23 - Became only the third Hammers' manager to win a major trophy, beating Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
Unbeaten in that tournament with 12 wins and a draw.
But ended up 14th in the Prem - the lowest position any team winning silverware in Europe has finished.
2023-24 - Mutually agreed with West Mam in May to leave at the end of the season.
Currently ninth with two games left.
He will approach the fixture with exactly the same diligent preparation, intense focus and honest determination he has shown for each and every one of the previous 229.
David deserves a magnificent send-off from our supporters and I have no doubt that is what he will get.
Often in life — and certainly in sport — one of the toughest challenges is knowing when to change something that has been good, something that has been stable, something that has been successful.
Both David and us at West Ham believed that it is the right time to make a change as we look to continue that pursuit in line with our ambition for an even brighter future.
A future that David Moyes has helped to make possible, thanks to the building blocks of stability and consistency that he has put in place.
He leaves through the front door at West Ham United, with his head held high.
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And he will always be welcomed back, with affection, warmth and appreciation.
I can safely say he has been the best manager I have worked with in my 30-plus year career and he will be missed.
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