Emotions are running high as the Conference League final brings back amazing memories for West Ham but now David Moyes has revealed something new about that game.
There has been no shortage of West Ham links as Chelsea took on Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final.
Betis are managed by former Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini and his assistant coach from that spell was Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.
West Ham fan favourite and cult hero Pablo Fornals is in the Real Betis side.
And his old Hammers teammate Michail Antonio joined former West Ham Academy graduate Joe Cole presenting the game on TNT Sports.
It all brought memories of that unforgettable night in Prague flooding back for the Irons.
West Ham ended a 43-year wait for a major trophy as they beat Fiorentina 2-1.
Conference League final has West Ham emotions running high
Said Benrahma put the Hammers 1-0 up before the Italians equalised.
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A tense match ensued with chances at a premium.
But what happened as the clock struck 90 minutes will be forever etched in the memory of everyone connected with West Ham.
Tomas Soucek won the ball in midfield and it squirted out to Lucas Paqueta.
The Brazilian magnifico would try a through-ball in a phone box.
But Paqueta would be the first to admit the vast majority don’t come off.
That night in Prague, though, he rolled his studs over the top of the ball before delivering a through pass worth every penny of his £51m record fee.
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
West Ham fans the world over collectively held their breath as they saw Jarrod Bowen race on to the perfectly weighted pass.
Holding off the Fiorentina defence, Bowen advanced and bobbled the ball over the goalkeeper to send the Hammers into a frenzy.
The image of David Moyes sprinting down the touchline to celebrate brings a smile to the face just writing it.
Videos from the game and that fateful day have been doing the rounds in the lead up to the 2025 final.
Hammers supporters probably thought they had seen it all and knew everything there was to know about their unbeaten trophy triumph.
Moyes opens up on call that won West Ham the Conference League
But think again.
Because now an emotional Moyes has opened up for first time on the risky call that won West Ham the Conference League.
“It’s what I do, I win” were Moyes’ famous words when he returned to West Ham for a second spell in 2020.
Less than three years later that’s exactly what he did.
The Scot masterminded runs to the Europa League semi and quarter-finals either side of lifting the Conference League.
Now Moyes has lifted the lid on the bold move that proved decisive in West Ham’s memorable last gasp victory.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Moyes reveals crucial in-game switch led to West Ham winner
As he prepared to watch the 2025 final, the 62-year-old has revealed the key mid-game change that won the Hammers the trophy.
And he says he ‘couldn’t have asked for a better combination’ when the winning moment came.
“As the game was going on, we were trying to find a way of getting Paqueta in more creative positions,” Moyes told UEFA.
“And it was Paqueta who got the opportunity to make the pass that got Bowen through. Quite often as well, fatigue plays a part and some players by that time were not able to do quite as much work.
“And Paqueta was finding himself in that role where we needed him to try to come up with something.
“I do believe that the big players are the ones who are expected to show up in the big games – at least from the manager’s perspective. And for Paqueta to make a pass, and for Bowen to be on the end of it, I probably couldn’t have asked for a better combination at that moment in the game.
“You hope that you get the players in the right place at the right time. People who can make a pass, people who can score, people who can cross it – whatever it is you need – and at that moment, the pass, run and finish were what we needed.”
Just listening to West Ham’s former manager describe the legendary moment in such detail gives goosebumps.
So why not re-live it again and remember when Moyes’ West Ham showed the world they were massive.