As Julen Lopetegui kicks-off his first match in charge at London Stadium on Saturday, former Hammers winger Matt Jarvis and highly-respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balagué are excited by the changing of the guard down West Ham way...
One-time Club record-signing and present Matchday Ambassador Matt Jarvis reckons that Spanish eyes will be smiling following the recent arrival of Julen Lopetegui in the Hammers hot-seat.
“It’s a very good appointment,” insists the ex-West Ham United wide-boy, who made 90 appearances during his four years in Claret and Blue. “While you’ve got to give David Moyes praise and admiration for everything he achieved, I’m also really looking forward to this next chapter and the different style of football that the new coach seems determined to bring to the Football Club.
“Julen Lopetegui comes with an excellent CV and, having cut short his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, he’s champing at the bit to get going again in the Premier League.”
Starting out as a goalkeeper with Real Sociedad, Lopetegui later found himself donning the gloves for the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Rayo Vallecano and Spain.
But it was as a coach where he excelled at both club and international level.
After guiding Spain’s U19 and U21 teams to European Championship glory, he later stepped-up to senior level, steering his unbeaten La Roja side to the finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Lopetegui also took charge at Portuguese heavyweights Porto, while undertaking domestic stints back home with Real Madrid and Sevilla, where he lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy in 2020.
In November 2022, he finally brought his coaching skills to England, taking over at basement boys Wolves, who were in bottom-spot with ten paltry points from their opening 15 games.
Likened to a Spanish headmaster, the 57-year-old is remembered at Molineux for commanding instant respect and - alongside his tightly-knit, inner circle of equally professional backroom staff - instilling a culture and desire to do things ‘properly’.
Carrying his giant, six-foot-plus goalkeeping frame into the Compton Park training complex, the once-capped Spain international brought an aura of self-assurance that, quite literally, signalled a big manager was now in the building.
Lopetegui’s long-awaited arrival in the Midlands had ended a seemingly eternal six-year courtship and, for what initially looked to be a match made in heaven, he duly galvanised the Old Gold into action, gilding a shiny new glitter that saw them climb out of the dreaded drop-zone to end 2022/23 in 13th-spot.
A highly-principled individual, who does not suffer fools gladly, the passionate incoming coach was equally quick to put a reassuring, fatherly arm around the shoulders of his younger charges.
Rewarding clean sheets with lavish team dinners - having worked in the media, too - Lopetegui’s charm offensive also extended to the distribution of post-match, press conference pizza slices for any Wanderers shut-outs.
Family at his side and with an appreciation for history, art and cuisine, Lopetegui integrated himself into local life, and, indeed, when the moment came to make an untimely, yet dignified, exit as 2023/24 fast approached, he remained in the Midlands, hoping another door would soon open.
“Things didn’t quite materialise for him at Molineux, where they’d all been so excited by what he’d achieved within a short space of time, and everyone was sad to see him go,” reveals Matt, who coincidentally joined the Hammers from Wanderers for a Club-record fee of £10.75 million in August 2012. “It was a disappointing ending, but Wolves’ loss is now West Ham’s gain.
“Having been at some of the biggest clubs in Europe, Julen’s got another opportunity with a top team, who lifted a major European trophy just over a year ago. With all West Ham’s progression, it’s an ideal platform for him to kick-on, once more, and he’ll certainly connect with the players and the fans.
“I was a Matchday Ambassador for the UEFA Europa League last 16 tie against Sevilla back in March 2022 and, sitting in the opposition dug-out, Julen would’ve experienced, arguably, the best atmosphere we’ve ever witnessed at London Stadium. That night would’ve certainly shown him the passion of the Hammers supporters.
“And just like those fans, I’m also excited by the quality transfer business this time around, too. The Club made some top signings last summer, and already we’ve seen the arrival of the likes of Maximilian Kilman, who’s an excellent acquisition.
“I messaged Max to congratulate him on his move and - having worked under Lopetegui at Wolves - it’s a huge compliment that he now wants him at West Ham, too. An established Premier League player, Max is a leader who’s both good on the ball and strong in the air. Left-footed, too, he’s filled a key central-defensive position.
“In moving to the model of Head Coach working alongside a Technical Director [Tim Steidten], Lopetegui won’t be dealing with everything that’s thrown at a traditional manager. Instead, he’s free to get the best out of every player on the training ground, where he’s got the technical nous to impose his style and tactics on the team.
“It’s going to be a season of focus for West Ham - sure, we’ll miss those European nights, but equally we’re off that conveyor belt of Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Now, there can be an entire week of uninterrupted preparation and hard work for Saturday.”
“Every club’s strengthening its squad in the quest for Europe,” concludes Matt, eagerly awaiting the start of this new era in Hammers history. “It’ll be difficult, but there’s no reason why West Ham, under their new coach, cannot be up there, too, chasing those qualifying spots.”
Acclaimed, award-winning football author, journalist and presenter Guillem Balagué is unequivocal in his verdict on the compatriot who has taken those Spanish steps into the Hammers hot-seat.
“Julen Lopetegui is one of the best managers in the world!” declares the unhesitating, Barcelona-born observer, whose views are respected across the globe. “The man belongs to football and West Ham United is the perfect match - we’re seeing an ambitious coach at an ambitious Club.
“The philosophy is to change the style of play, and Lopetegui will certainly try to please the Hammers fans.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for them to go on a journey together with a team that will play strong, dynamic, direct football.”
“There’s a certain culture about people from Basque country,” contends the respected Spanish scribe, who has witnessed the Asteasu-born coach up close and personal for over a decade now. “When you look at some of the other managers who have come from that region in northern Spain - the likes of Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta and Andoni Iraola - their priorities are the same. Effort’s at the forefront of everything they do and they show great respect to their institutions, always putting the club No1 ahead of themselves.
“Julen’s balanced in his approach and his teams are technical, adaptable and difficult to beat. A reader of the game, he provokes mistakes from opponents, while finding ways of attacking and getting the maximum energy out of his players.
“The magic lies in how hard he works to bring his ideas onto the football pitch, and he’s there from dawn ‘til dusk each and every day to achieve that. Lopetegui gives everything to his Club and, come the end of every season, he’s absolutely exhausted!”
“It's testament to West Ham United that Julen ignored offers from clubs around the world to wait for this opportunity,” continues Balagué. “Everyone wants to manage in the Premier League because it’s the best in the world, and it was always his priority to return to England and grow even more as a coach.
“Already, he’s proved himself across Europe and in the Premier League, where he did an excellent job at Wolverhampton Wanderers, showing a good eye for recognising what needed to be changed and performing miracles to avoid relegation.
“Contrary to perception, he didn’t jump ship at Wolves. Things just didn’t play out how he thought they would and now he wants the chance to do it all again.
“The Hammers are in the hands of someone who’ll mould players in his own unique style - he’ll now be asking them to think, act and use their playing instincts differently.”
Indeed, Lopetegui’s long-time ethos has been: ‘Be brave and make decisions, because there’s no greater error than to be afraid of errors.’
“It’ll take players time to appreciate his methods, but he won’t mind them taking calculated risks for the good of the team,” confirms Balagué. “At first, they’ll find it unusual, but they’ll gradually add more strings to their bows.
“He also accepts what the Head Coach role entails and, although his personal network always keeps him informed about players becoming available for transfer, he acknowledges he won’t now be making the final decisions.
“Instead, his strength will be on the training ground - put simply, Julen Lopetegui takes footballers and makes them better footballers.
“His biggest task is to give the Club its new identity and, although they’ve strengthened during this transfer window, he [will also] do that with the squad he’s inherited.
“Maybe, he would’ve preferred more minutes before coming into Saturday's final pre-season friendly, but Celta Vigo is a good test in his first match at London Stadium. They’ve got quality footballers, who’ll want to play a possession-based game.
“West Ham kick-off their new season against Aston Villa next Saturday, when the fans will be demanding and expectations high. But the Hammers face some difficult early fixtures and everyone needs to be patient, because it’s possible that there’ll be tough moments along the way.
“Remember, it always takes time for any new coach to transform a squad and put their own identity on a team, and it’s so important that everyone at West Ham United sticks together until things click into place.
“Believe me, under Julen Lopetegui, they will…”
