Julen Lopetegui was always the wrong choice. West Ham were warned against appointing him last May, but they pressed ahead and have paid the price. They are seven points above the bottom three after spending more than £100m last summer, the football has been drab, supporters are disengaged and the only surprise is that it has taken this long for West Ham to part with the Spaniard.
So much for a fresh start. West Ham were ready to move on from David Moyes, whose reign ran out of steam last season, but they have made a spectacular hash of the succession. Lopetegui was not the coach to oversee a style revolution.
West Ham were taken in by a deceptively strong CV. Lopetegui was fired by Spain on the eve of the 2018 World Cup, lasted 14 games at Real Madrid and is not remembered fondly at Sevilla despite winning the Europa League in 2020. They were told he had a history of falling out with people. It was not long before they realised their mistake.
It has been a disastrous appointment. West Ham have mustered few decent performances under Lopetegui, whose attempts to introduce an approach based around a high line, possession and inverted full-backs never convinced. They have been slow, incapable of pressing and vulnerable to transitions. Players have struggled to understand their head coach's messaging.
There was surprise at the start of the season with Lopetegui's emphasis on long switches of play. Sources wondered whether he was so different to Moyes, who was criticised for his counterpunching tactics, and the humiliations have piled up. Awful at the back, West Ham have conceded three goals or more on nine occasions this season.
Somehow, though, Lopetegui hung on after losing 3-1 to lowly Leicester last month. Sérgio Conceição was discussed and Graham Potter was close to taking over, only for West Ham to dither and waste more time.
Esta historia es de la edición January 09, 2025 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 09, 2025 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Chaos on two borders Migrants left in limbo after Trump kills key app
The train rumbled through the makeshift migrant camp in Mexico City, blaring its horn and sending people scattering to hug the wall. It passes through at 10am like clockwork, said the residents - almost all of whom have been planted there for months, waiting for the chance to request asylum in the US.
Ministers must hold the line on Thames Water. Administration would be better than a bailout
Make-your-mind-up time approaches for Thames Water. The directors may not have liked Ofwat's \"final determination\" last month - even though the regulator allowed bill increases of 35% over the next five years - but if they wish to dispute it, Thames is free to appeal to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The deadline to do so is 18 February.
Knight's Onslaught in Rain in Vain as Australia Clinch Series
Australia have won the Ashes outright after sealing victory in the second Twenty20 international in Canberra yesterday in a controversial finish as England fought to complete a tight rain-affected run chase.
'Narrowing the gap' WSL B teams could join lower leagues as part of FA shakeup
Allowing B teams from Women's Super League and Championship clubs to play in the Women's National League has been put forward as part of plans to restructure tiers three to six of the English women's pyramid from the 2026-27 season.
'I feel like I can't get away from it' Families tell of lives left shattered
After the terror, the heartache and the unending grief - they shared their pain.
Sabalenka Overpowers Good Friend Badosa to Reach Third Straight Final
An increasingly comfortable Aryna Sabalenka powered into the final of the Australian Open by seeing off her good friend and the 11th seed, Paula Badosa, under the roof on Rod Laver Arena, as she continued her pursuit of a third straight title here.
Sainsbury's cuts 3,000 jobs as it shuts pizza counters and cafes
Sainsbury's is to cut 3,000 jobs in the UK through the closure of its hot food counters and cafes and by reducing senior management roles by a fifth, amid rising labour costs.
Woman not 'at fault' in divorce for refusing sex, says ECHR
Women should not be considered \"at fault\" by courts in the event of divorce for refusing to have sex with their husband, Europe's highest human rights court said yesterday, condemning a ruling in France.
EU trade chief says PM must decide if UK joins European customs deal
The EU's new trade chief has said the bloc could consider including the UK in a pan-European trade agreement, but emphasised that \"the ball is in the UK's court\".
Dykes keeps Blues on course in 'Hollywood derby' draw
If Wrexham v Birmingham was the alternative Battle of Britain last night, it certainly lived up to its billing as the League One promotion chasers played out the scrappiest of draws.
