LONDON: West Ham named former Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as their new manager on Thursday after David Moyes’ departure from the London Stadium.
The 57-year-old Spaniard had been out of work since leaving Wolves on the eve of the just-concluded Premier League season.
Lopetegui will officially begin work with the Hammers on July 1, replacing Moyes after the Scot’s exit at the end of this season.
“We came here with the idea and the thought to make a big, big noise,” he said. “That’s why we came here, and we are excited by this challenge.
“Of course, we are going to do our best to help the club and the team to achieve the best level and to achieve our aims.
“I assure the fans that they are going to be key in all our achievements.”
West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan said Lopetegui’s appointment would “ensure a strong opportunity to build on the positive progress made in recent seasons.”
The Hammers finished ninth in the Premier League in the 2023/24 season.
West Ham name Julen Lopetegui as new boss
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West Ham name Julen Lopetegui as new boss
Forest face Fenerbahce, Celtic draw Stuttgart in Europa League play-offs
- Fenerbahce promise to be a tough test as they are unbeaten in the Turkish Super Lig
- The winner of that tie will play either Real Betis or Midtjylland in the last 16
PARIS: Nottingham Forest face a daunting trip to Istanbul after being drawn Friday to play Fenerbahce in the knockout phase play-offs of the Europa League, while Celtic must take on German giants VfB Stuttgart.
Forest, who sit just above the relegation zone in the Premier League, finished 13th out of 36 teams in the Europa League and so were seeded for the play-off draw.
However, Fenerbahce promise to be a tough test as they are unbeaten in the Turkish Super Lig this season, even if they sit three points behind leaders Galatasaray in the table.
Their squad includes former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, Spain star Marco Asensio and France midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.
Forest, who will be hoping to return to the Turkish city for the final in May, will nevertheless draw encouragement from the fact Aston Villa beat Fenerbahce 1-0 at their Sukru Saracoglu stadium just last week.
The winner of that tie will play either Real Betis or Midtjylland in the last 16 — Forest lost at home to the Danes in the league phase in October.
Celtic secured qualification for the play-offs after beating Dutch side Utrecht 4-2 on Thursday to finish 21st. They will host Stuttgart, currently fifth in the Bundesliga, in the first leg on February 19 before the return in Germany on February 26.
The winners will play Portuguese opposition in the last 16, with either Porto or Braga waiting for them.
Other ties in the play-offs include Bologna of Serie A playing Brann Bergen of Norway and Lille taking on Red Star Belgrade.
Aston Villa are among the eight teams straight through to the last 16, and will play one of Lille, Red Star Belgrade, PAOK or Celta Vigo in that round.
Europa League knockout phase play-offs draw
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Genk (BEL)
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v Ferencvaros (HUN)
Celtic (SCO) v VfB Stuttgart (GER)
Brann (NOR) v Bologna (ITA)
Panathinaikos (GRE) v Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
PAOK (GRE) v Celta Vigo (ESP)
Fenerbahce (TUR) v Nottingham Forest (ENG)
Lille (FRA) v Red Star Belgrade (SRB)
