Earlier this week, it was confirmed that David Moyes will leave West Ham in the summer and will be replaced by former Wolves manager, Julen Lopetegui.
Moyes' tenure at the London Stadium has been a very successful one, with the Scotsman helping the club survive relegation twice before moving the club up the table and turning them into European football regulars.
The Hammers famously won the Europa Conference League under Moyes' guidance in 2023 and they reached the quarter-finals of this season's Europa League.
However, despite the success, large sections of the West Ham fanbase never took to Moyes and believed that his style of football was too negative and risk-averse.
West Ham fans finally show their appreciation for David Moyes
On Saturday, Moyes took charge of West Ham for the final time at the London Stadium and oversaw a 3-1 victory over Luton Town. The Hammers had to come from a goal down but produced a fantastic second-half performance to turn the game on its head.
The result means that West Ham will finish inside the top half of the Premier League table, a fine achievement for a club who were once again juggling European football until April.
After the final whistle, the players and staff embarked on a lap of honour around the stadium where Moyes received a warm round of applause from the West Ham fans as he waved goodbye for the final time. The majority of the stadium stayed behind to show their appreciation for the manager and what he achieved during his two stints at the club.
David Moyes waves goodbye to West Ham fans for the last time. 💜
Twice he swept into a club in peril, twice saved them from drop, imbued team with spirit to become European regulars & won first major trophy in 43 years. West Ham's best modern manager. ⚒️pic.twitter.com/YKRQjl5hoJ
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) May 11, 2024
Moyes thanks West Ham fans for warm send-off
Speaking to reporters after the match, Moyes seemed genuinely touched that so many West Ham fans had stayed behind after the final whistle to clap him and his team off. The former Man Utd manager said:
“I was certainly emotional because I've been here four-and-a-half years. I was a bit subdued because I knew what the other manager was going through.
“But it was good to see. Sometimes all you hear is negative stuff, but it looked like the best part of 50,000 supporters stayed behind in appreciation, which was good. I am really pleased about that.
“To join any football club and do something with them is not easy for any manager. Hopefully, I will walk away with people saying something has been done here. Expectations have increased like you can't believe.”
“From a team which avoided relegation, now this is a club saying we want to be in Europe every year. It is a big turnaround in a few years.”