West Ham boss David Moyes basks in glory of Europa Conference League success after Fiorentina victory
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Updated 08/06/2023 at 10:55 GMT
After 1,097 games in management, David Moyes finally has his hands on a major trophy as West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the Europa Conference League final. Jarrod Bowen was the match winner with a 90th-minute goal as The Hammers' got their first taste of silverware in 48 years. Moyes, 60, agreed that it was his best moment of his managerial career after sharing a hug with his 87-year-old father.
'I couldn't go full Mourinho!' - Moyes after West Ham end 43-year wait for major trophy
David Moyes basked in the glory of what he agreed was the best moment of his career as West Ham ended a 48-year wait for silverware by beating Fiorentina to the Europa Conference League trophy.
Jarrod Bowen sent the West Ham faithful into ecstasy with a 90th-minute winner to make it 2-1 at the Eden Arena in Prague after Said Benrahma’s penalty was cancelled out by a Giacomo Bonaventura strike.
Moyes had faced pressure in his role of West Ham manager after his side were dragged into a relegation battle in the Premier League, but this victory caps the finest moment in the club’s history in almost five decades.
Talking to BT Sport, Moyes – who finally got his hands on silverware after 1,097 games in management – said: "This is fantastic. I have had a long career in football and you don't get many moments like this.
"These sorts of moments as managers don't come around often. This is a great moment for us.
"It is a brilliant club in the East End of London that does wonderful work in the community. It is a great family club. It is getting better and stronger. This is another step on the road of continued progress."
Referencing West Ham's journey to the Europa League semi-final last year, in which they lost to eventual winners Frankfurt, Moyes continued: "We have gone unbeaten in Europe, which is incredible. We only lost last year in a semi-final, two incredible years and we get another one now."
Moyes shared a hug with his 87-year-old father on the pitch in the celebrations at full-time, and asked if winning this trophy was the best moment of his career, he responded: "I would have to say so.
“The moments you get to celebrate with your family and win in the last minute of the game, it doesn't happen often. It can go against you but tonight is a brilliant feeling.
"If somebody had said three years ago when I took the job that you'd avoid relegation and finish in Europe, I'd have said you were mad.
"This competition has been great for us, the players have been remarkable."
Bowen is the first Englishman to score the winning goal in a major European final since Arsenal's Alan Smith in the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup final against Parma, and the 26-year-old couldn't hide his emotions.
He said: "I obviously dreamed of scoring but to score the winner in the last minute, it's what you always say you want to do. To do it in front of these fans. I thought I was going to cry. I'm just happy.
"We had a dream, we haven't had the best season, myself included, but to give these fans this moment, I'm over the moon.
"I think in my position you make that run 10 times you might get that ball once. As soon as you get it you've got to put it away.
"Never [have I felt like this in my life]. This is the biggest game of my career. The emotion, there was time for one more chance. I'm just so happy. I'm over the moon."
BT Sport expert and former West Ham midfielder Joe Cole described the victory as "one of the most iconic scenes in this club's history."
Carlton Cole, who played for the club for over a decade, paid tribute to Moyes.
"You have got to understand what he has done for this club, he has brought joy to thousands of fans - they are always going to remember his name," he said.
"He'll go down in history. He deserves another year at least, whatever he wants to do."
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