David Moyes has opened up on his time at West Ham with an emotional message to supporters and shared his true feelings on a controversial departure that’s still dividing opinion today.
The former Hammers boss says he’ll never forget what the fans did — and has now shared his honest feelings about the way his exit unfolded.
It says everything about the impact David Moyes made in east London that he is still a major topic of conversation and debate 17 months after his departure.
The Scot is without doubt West Ham’s most successful manager in generations.
Moyes saved the Hammers from relegation in his first stint at the club and did the same again when he returned for a second spell during the difficult circumstances presented by the pandemic.
West Ham then enjoyed a meteoric and unforgettable rise under Moyes.
Moyes says he’ll never forget what West Ham fans did
The Irons finished sixth – one win off the top four – with the club’s record Premier League points total.
Moyes then steered the club to the Europa League semi-finals while securing a seventh place finish – qualifying for Europe for a second consecutive season.
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Then came the club’s first major trophy for 43 years as West Ham won the Europa Conference League in 2023, earning them a third consecutive campaign of continental football for the first time in their history.
A run to the Europa League quarter-finals and a ninth-placed finish brought the curtain down on Moyes’ time at West Ham as the club decided to go in a different direction.
Ex Hammers assistant Kevin Nolan claims West Ham fell off a cliff the moment players got wind Moyes would not be signing a new deal in January of last year.
David Moyes celebrates by kissing the Europa Conference League trophy after West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in 2023
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Moyes had continued to insist publicly talks would continue over a new contract but privately West Ham chief David Sullivan had withdrawn his contract offer.
One of the big sticking points over the deal were Moyes having to cede final say on transfers to Tim Steidten, who has since been sacked after largely squandering £155m.
Moyes has since returned to Everton where he is making a good fist of proving those who told West Ham to be careful what they wish for correct.
Many Hammers fans point to the fact Moyes’ tenure had run its natural course.
Some turned on the Scot and felt a more modern manager was needed.
Moyes shares his true feelings on controversial West Ham exit
Supporters also point out neither Julen Lopetegui or Graham Potter would have been their choices as replacements.
In fact most supporters wanted the club to pay the release clause for a manager like Thomas Frank, Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva or Oliver Glasner.
Sullivan and the board baulked at the fees involved.
But West Ham’s owners have since forked out over £20m hiring and firing the cheap flops appointed instead.
Nuno Espirito Santo has got off to an encouraging start at West Ham with many remarking his arrival, approach and gritty passion has shades of Moyes.
Hammers fans still debate whether Moyes should have been retained to make a dynasty at West Ham.
How does he feel about the whole thing, though?
David Moyes holds the Europa Conference League trophy aloft at the town hall after West Ham's open top bus parade through east London
Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images
Moyes says he’ll never forget what West Ham fans did and shares his true feelings on his exit.
Discussing his time at the London Stadium and the way things ended, Moyes has admitted he really felt he would stay at West Ham and it would be his last job in football.
He says he will never forget the European triumph and what he witnessed from Hammers fans afterwards.
But in his biggest admission yet – which will settle any debate over whether he should have retained – Moyes states he was ready to leave the Hammers for family reasons when the time came.
“Look the moment itself for me personally was a huge moment to be a European trophy winner,” Moyes told PLZ Soccer’s Football Show.
“It’s hard enough to win any trophy let alone a European one and to do it at West Ham at the time was a big thing for the club…
Moyes loved West Ham and thought it would be his last job but admits time had come
“It was brilliant, to win late on (Lucas) Paqueta pass for (Jarrod) Bowen, it’s something sort of special about scoring a late goal…
“The east end of London on the open top bus was unbelievable, it really was. It was something which I’ll always remember because the amount of people who were on the streets, what it did for that part of London.
“And because there’s been a lot of success at other clubs in London; Arsenal, Tottenham more recently, more so Chelsea probably more.
“For West Ham especially not having any success for so long and then to get a moment. The open top bus was a joy and something I’ll always remember.”
Moyes says it felt ‘a little bit’ like he didn’t always get the recognition he deserved for the job he did at West Ham, but he insists he loved every minute and wanted to stay until ultimately feeling it was the right time to return north to be with his family.
“It felt a little bit like that (there was a lack of recognition and appreciation),” Moyes added.
“But I’ve got to say I had a brilliant time there. I loved it, I really did. And I had a really good relationship with everybody at the club.
“I got on really well with the board and I didn’t have a big problem with them at all.
“When I look back I think it was great years for me but it was also good for West Ham as well.
“We had four years and it was just beginning to get a little bit more solid (and consistent) at that time but everything moves on, I was probably maybe ready to end it at the time at West Ham anyway and come back up because I’d been living in London for a long time. It worked out fine for me in the end…
“I would probably say yes (Everton is my last job) but you never know how football goes because I actually thought West Ham was my last job and also because I won a trophy but I tell you what I got a bug for maybe doing it again.
“The thought that I could maybe put another medal round my dad’s neck would be something special so I’ve got to keep believing that’s a chance and hopefully somewhere down the line that will come around.”
What a lovely way to finally get some closure on the Moyes chapter.
And who better for it to come from than the man himself.