West Ham United sound out decorated coach to replace Julen Lopetegui, he’s available now
West Ham are currently sounding out Sergio Conceicao over the possibility of replacing Julen Lopetegui, according to TBR Football.
The outlet reported via their website on 25 October that internal work is being done to see if the former Porto boss could be brought in if necessary.
Lopetegui has made a poor start to life at the London Stadium since replacing David Moyes but retains the backing of David Sullivan.
However, Conceicao, 49, is in the Irons’ sights if the decision to sack the Spaniard becomes unavoidable, although the Portuguese is likely to be in demand across Europe.
He is currently available after leaving Porto in the summer where he won 11 trophies over seven years, while being named manager of the year three times.
West Ham eye Sergio Conceicao move
Conceicao was reportedly on Tim Steidten’s shortlist of potential replacements for Moyes this summer along with Lopetegui, according to The Sun on 5 October.
The technical director was said to be upset that he had been overruled on the manager decision, having supposedly preferred now-Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, although West Ham Zone understands that is not the case and the German is happy at the London Stadium.
Lopetegui wasn’t the most exciting appointment but he has a solid track record with Porto and Sevilla, and Premier League experience with Wolves, even if his most high-profile jobs with Spain and Real Madrid both ended in ignominy.
Few would have expected his tenure with the Hammers to start as badly as it has, and while there is not believed to be an imminent sack threat that stance could be reviewed if matters don’t improve before Christmas [The Guardian, 21 October].
Whether Conceicao is still available then is up for debate since he is currently free to take any job offered to him, and after three league titles and three manager of the year awards in Portugal he is unlikely to be out of work for long.
After spending well over £100million in the summer it would be in everyone at West Ham’s best interests for the Lopetegui project to come good, considering how much it would cost to pull the plug and start again.
But there will need to be signs of recovery sooner rather than later, with the season already in danger of becoming a write-off as it is.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have sent a delegation to watch one of the best young talents in France.
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