Exclusive: As the Hammers consider parting ways with out-of-contract Moyes, they have narrowed their list down to include attack-minded Lille manager Paulo Fonseca.
Exclusive: The Hammers have reduced their list of options to include attack-minded Lille boss Paulo Fonseca as they contemplate parting ways with out-of-contract Moyes.
Even though West Ham is seventh in the Premier League standings and getting up for a Europa League quarterfinal matchup with Bayer Leverkusen, Moyes is polarizing in east London as some fans criticize his style of play.
Only Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain have scored more goals than Fonseca’s c, who are currently ranked fourth in Ligue 1 and among the most visually appealing teams in France. They will play Aston Villa on Thursday night in their first-ever European quarterfinal in the Europa Conference League.
Fonseca’s preference for an aggressive style is thought to be the primary factor in his continued popularity at West Ham. After Moyes’ contract expires at the end of June, a manager with a different philosophy will probably be brought in.
Fonseca stated in a conversation with me in 2022 that he has long had hopes of managing in England. Although Lille still has a lot of games left this season, he is reportedly content with his current situation. However, his contract ends in the summer, and there is no indication that an extension will be agreed to.
According to French reports, Marseille and Lyon are among the many suitors that are reportedly interested in signing the 51-year-old before the 2019–20 campaign begins.
Moyes will soon be heading into his fifth season as manager of the Hammers, but if Fonseca becomes available, they may soon speak with his agents once more.
Over the course of his nearly 20-year managerial tenure, Fonseca guided Pacos Ferreira to a club record.
Fonseca brought Braga its first Portuguese cup in fifty years in 2016. That season, they advanced to the Europa League quarterfinals—a stage they haven’t surpassed—but were defeated by Shakhtar Donetsk, whom Fonseca joined at the end of the campaign.
Fonseca achieved a triple-double with Shakhtar in his first overseas position, winning the Ukrainian Premier League and Ukrainian Cup in three straight seasons from 2016–17 to 2018–19.
After embarrassing spells at Porto and Roma, he has rebuilt his name in France by leading Lille to fifth place in the previous season despite inheriting a side that had placed tenth the year before. This season, he is poised to surpass himself and lead Lille back to the Champions League.
