West Ham United appoint Mark Warburton as first-team assistant coach
West Ham United have confirmed the appointment of experienced manager Mark Warburton as assistant to David Moyes.
Warburton, who left Queens Park Rangers at the end of the 2021/22 season, replaces Stuart Pearce who stepped down in May.
The news was announced via the club’s website on Friday evening (24 June).
“It is a huge privilege to be joining West Ham as part of David Moyes’ backroom staff,” he said.
“West Ham have made incredible progress in recent seasons, continually making forward strides to move the Club in a positive direction.
“I am excited about coming in and adding my own experience and know-how to what is already an incredibly strong coaching team”.
A surprise move
Warburton’s appointment, much like when Neil Critchley left Blackpool to become an assistant at Aston Villa, comes as a shock.
The 59-year-old is a highly experienced manager in his own right, following positive spells at Brentford, Rangers and QPR.
He was very highly rated at QPR, with the club saying he “helped the club establish a style of play and a DNA for which we are highly grateful.”
Warburton was not expected to step away from management, with the Birmingham Mail reporting back in May that he could be heading to Birmingham City.
Nevertheless, it is a stunning appointment by West Ham and David Moyes, who will be gaining a wealth of experience from Warburton’s long coaching career.
He has worked as an assistant before, after joining Brentford as first team coach to Nicky Forster in 2011.
He also assisted Uwe Rosler at Griffin Park before being given the manager position in 2013, where he guided the side to the Championship play-offs.
Bringing in someone with Warburton’s profile as an assistant can only be a positive for West Ham, showing the new pull the club has after its recent success.