Moyes "Happy" To Lead West Ham Past AZ Alkmaar Into First European Final In 43 Years

West Ham United's manager, David Moyes, expressed his excitement after leading the club to their first European final in his 25-year managerial career.

The team secured their spot in the Europa Conference League title decider with a 3-1 aggregate victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.

This achievement marks a significant milestone for West Ham, as they haven't reached a European final since their memorable triumph in the 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup. The upcoming clash against Fiorentina in Prague presents the London side with a golden opportunity to clinch their first major trophy in 43 years since winning the FA Cup.

IRONS! ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/vagEWzGJco

— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 18, 2023

The road to the final has been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season for West Ham. Earlier this year, the team faced uncertainty and relegation concerns as they plummeted into the relegation zone. However, they managed to turn their fortunes around and now find themselves on the brink of safety in the Premier League.

Reflecting on the team's journey, Moyes commented, "We've all but stayed up, and we're also in a final with a chance of winning a trophy, so there are a lot of positives that have come from it."

The experienced manager acknowledged the rarity of such opportunities and expressed his delight at reaching his first European final. "To actually get to a final is something which doesn't happen in many managers' lifetimes. I'm thrilled that I've had one or two, and this being my first European one is something I'm really pleased with."

While West Ham faced struggles in the Premier League this season, their European campaign has been nothing short of impressive. The team remains unbeaten with 13 wins and a draw in European competitions.

A night to live long in the memory ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9yXHRsjvhH

— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 18, 2023

For Moyes, this final represents another shot at European glory after leading the team to last season's Europa League semifinals, where they narrowly lost to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

Reflecting on the journey, Moyes added, "Let's be fair, maybe if you saw us in the Europa League last year, you might have said, 'They've got a chance of winning or getting to a final.' The lows are incredibly low in football, the highs are high, but I've won a semifinal, and now I have to go and win a final."