Julen Lopetegui, the ex-manager of Spain and Real Madrid, has reached an agreement to become the next head coach of West Ham.

In an exciting development for West Ham United, it has been reported that former Spain and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui has agreed to become their next head coach at the end of this season. The 57-year-old is set to take over from David Moyes, who will be departing the club after his second spell in charge of the Hammers.

Moyes leaves behind a successful legacy, having led West Ham to UEFA Europa Conference League glory last season, ending the club’s 43-year wait for a major trophy. However, their hopes of securing European qualification for a third consecutive season have been dampened by a recent poor run of form.

Initially, the highly-rated Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim was in talks with the West Ham hierarchy. However, concerns over his hefty release clause, rumored to be over £10 million, led the club to turn their attention to Lopetegui.

Although Lopetegui has yet to sign a contract with West Ham, he brings with him a wealth of experience and success. He led Sevilla to UEFA Europa League glory in the 2019/20 season and has achieved success at the international level with Spain’s under-19 and under-21 teams. Under his guidance, La Roja won the UEFA under-19 and under-21 European Championships in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Lopetegui’s coaching career has seen him spend time with FC Porto and Rayo Vallecano, in addition to his role as the Spanish senior team head coach. However, his time with the national team was cut short when he was dismissed just before the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This came after the announcement that he would take over as Real Madrid head coach after the tournament, a decision that did not sit well with the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

As Lopetegui prepares to take the reins at West Ham, fans will be eagerly anticipating the impact he can make at the London Stadium. With his European pedigree and vast experience, there is hope that he can lead the Hammers to even greater success in the future.