In a 2022-23 season packed with highs and lows, West Ham United ended on a monumental high after winning the Europa Conference League – the club's first European silverware for 58 years.
David Moyes successfully steered his Hammers side to a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the final after enduring his fair share of adversity during a below-par domestic campaign.
Indeed, West Ham's European glory has somewhat papered over the cracks of their tepid efforts in the Premier League in which they narrowly avoided relegation following a significant summer spending spree, with several fresh faces failing to make the desired impact in their first year at the London Stadium.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look back at West Ham United's eventful 2022-23 campaign.
SEASON OVERVIEW
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Final league position: 14th
EFL Cup: Third round
FA Cup: Fifth round
Europa Conference League: Winners
Top scorer: Michail Antonio (14)
Most assists: Jarrod Bowen (7)
Following an enjoyable journey to the Europa League semi-finals and securing a second successive top-seven finish in the Premier League last season, West Ham's ambitions to cement their status as a club regularly competing for the European places was evident as David Moyes was heavily backed in the summer transfer market with £160m spent on eight new signings.
The club-record acquisition of Lucas Paqueta for a fee in excess of £50m was the most notable addition, while Gianluca Scamacca and Nayef Aguerd were also signed for fees above £30m. Meanwhile, club legend Mark Noble waved goodbye to his beloved Hammers after hanging up his boots in the summer, with star man Declan Rice the obvious replacement to don the captain's armband on a permanent basis.
West Ham endured a difficult start to their Premier League campaign and quickly found themselves languishing inside the relegation zone after winning just one of their opening seven matches, scoring just three goals during this period. However, the Hammers faithful had plenty to smile about in the Europa Conference League as Moyes's men were the only team to complete the group stage with a perfect record across their six matches, beating Anderlecht, Silkeborg and FCSB both home and away to top Group B.
Those smiles were soon turned upside down as Moyes and co endured a disappointing autumnal period, with a penalty-shootout defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup third round taking place amidst a three-game losing streak in the Premier League, including back-to-back home losses against Crystal Palace and Leicester City, leaving the Hammers in a precarious position near the foot of the table.
Top-flight fortunes failed to improve after the World Cup break as two more defeats followed, piling more pressure on Moyes's shoulders, before a 2-2 draw at Leeds United in their first game of 2023 was played out on the same day that West Ham mourned the passing of joint-chairman and lifelong Hammers fan David Gold.
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Three days later, West Ham battled their way to a narrow 1-0 win at Brentford in the FA Cup third round, a result that sparked a much-needed mini revival in January to save Moyes's bacon. Indeed, the Scotsman's job was on the line as they entered a relegation battle with fellow strugglers Everton, but he successfully steered his side to an important 2-0 home win, with his opposite number Frank Lampard receiving the boot from the Toffees instead, before victory by the same scoreline at Derby County helped the East Londoners progress from the FA Cup fourth round.
Only Wolves (12) scored fewer league goals than West Ham (15) in the opening 20 games of the campaign, and with summer signing Scamacca failing to deliver as well as Michail Antonio being linked with a surprise exit, Moyes brought in experienced striker Danny Ings – a proven goalscorer in the top flight – for £15m to bolster his attacking options. Meanwhile, experienced defender Craig Dawson expressed his desire to move closer to his family up north and was allowed to join Wolves on a permanent deal.
West Ham quickly reaped the reward of Ings's arrival as he scored a quickfire brace in an impressive 4-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest in February, although they proved to be the only two goals that the 30-year-old scored for the Hammers in 17 league appearances.
Such a positive result was followed by two disappointing results at the beginning of March, with a 3-1 FA Cup fifth-round capitulation at Man United – a game they were winning with just 13 minutes remaining – followed by a dreadful 4-0 league defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, arguably the club's worst result and performance of the season that provided a stark reality check for Moyes following a spell of just one defeat in their previous five matches.
The travelling Hammers supporters vented their frustration with cries for the Scotsman to be sacked at their peak. However, in a Premier League campaign like no other which saw a record 12 managerial dismissals, West Ham stayed loyal to Moyes, who responded by guiding his side to a four-game unbeaten run, including a comfortable 6-0 aggregate win over AEK Larnaca in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.
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West Ham experienced plenty of highs and lows in a hectic April schedule of nine fixtures. A heavy 5-1 home defeat against Newcastle and a 4-3 loss at Crystal Palace were certainly moments to forget, but the Hammers managed to pick up 10 points in seven league games to boost their hopes of survival including three wins without reply against Southampton, Fulham and Bournemouth – a surprise 4-0 victory over the latter was just one of three away wins for Moyes's men in 19 away league matches.
Amidst their fluctuating top-flight form, the Hammers secured a 5-2 aggregate win over Gent in the ECL quarter-finals, with a 4-1 second-leg victory making amends for a lacklustre 1-1 first-leg showing to set up a semi-final clash with Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.
West Ham all but guaranteed their Premier League survival with a slender 1-0 home win over Man United at the beginning of May, before Hammers fans revelled in one of the most famous European nights in their history courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate triumph over AZ. A last-gasp strike from Pablo Fornals's secured a 1-0 second-leg win in the Netherlands to end West Ham's 47-year wait to reach a European final, although their celebrations were marred by unsavoury scenes as AZ ultras attacked the away section where friends and family of the visiting players were seated.
A much-changed West Ham lineup lost 2-0 to Brentford either side of their ECL semi-final success, but Premier League safety was mathematically secured when Moyes led the East Londoners to a 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Leeds, with the Hammers reaching the much-desired 40-point mark in their penultimate league fixture.
Losing 2-1 at Leicester on the final weekend of the Premier League season was not ideal preparation for Moyes and co before travelling to Prague for the ECL final with Fiorentina. However, they managed to get the job done in arguably the club's biggest match this century, with Jarrod Bowen netting a dramatic 90th-minute winner to secure a historic 2-1 victory and the club's first major trophy for 43 years.
PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Wins: 14 (=11th)
Draws: 7 (=11th)
Losses: 20 (5th)
Goals scored: 42 (13th)
Goals conceded: 55 (9th)
Yellow cards: 44 (=19th)
Red cards: 0 (=15th)
Passes: 14,622 (16th)
Shots: 474 (9th)
Big chances missed: 33 (14th)
Saves: 117 (6th)
Tackles: 607 (15th)
Own goals: 1 (=12th)
Hit woodwork: 16 (=6th)
Clearances: 779 (7th)
HOW DID IT COMPARE TO LAST SEASON?
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Fluctuating form on the domestic front in 2022-23 certainly prevented West Ham from getting anywhere close to last season's seventh-placed finish in the Premier League, with Moyes's men picking up significantly fewer points, scoring fewer goals and conceding more across their 38-game campaign.
Indeed, the Hammers ended the season 14th in the top-flight table with 40 points, 16 points worse off than last year, while they scored just 42 league goals and conceded 55 compared with 60 netted and 51 shipped in the previous campaign.
West Ham's home form suffered a marginal decline as they won eight games and accumulated 28 points from 19 matches at the London Stadium after winning nine times and claiming 32 points in the previous season, while the less said about their away form the better as they won only three top-flight fixtures on the road – the fourth fewest in the division – and picked up half as many points compared to last year.
After losing 3-1 at Southampton in the fifth round of the 2021-22 FA Cup, West Ham lost by the same scoreline to Man United at the same stage of this year's competition. However, they were unable to match or better their efforts in the EFL Cup as they followed up last season's quarter-final loss at Tottenham with a disappointing penalty-shootout defeat at home to Championship club Blackburn Rovers in the third round after playing out a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
West Ham's first European campaign for 15 years saw Moyes's men reach the Europa League semi-finals last season, losing to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt, but they managed to go all the way in the Europa Conference League this term. Their showpiece success over Fiorentina was their 12th victory of the competition, remarkably one more than they managed in the 38-game Premier League campaign – no English club have ever previously won more games in Europe than in the top flight in a single season.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON: DECLAN RICE
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Taking the captaincy from club legend Mark Noble was no mean feat, but Declan Rice admirably led by example in his first – and potentially last – full season as West Ham skipper, and he was certainly a cut above the rest in the 2022-23 campaign.
At the age of 24, Rice has established himself as a true leader and central figure within David Moyes's squad both on and off the pitch, and he was the man that every Hammers player turned to during the difficult periods across domestic and continental duties.
Rice, who played for over 4,000 minutes across 50 games in all competitions, was given greater licence to roam further forward from midfield this term and he went on to score as many league goals (four) in 2022-23 as in his previous three campaigns combined.
The Englishman's most memorable goal came in the Europa Conference League, though, when he capped off a stunning solo run with a composed strike in the 4-1 quarter-final second-leg win at home against Gent in April.
Rice also chipped in with three assists, made more progressive passes (290), more tackles (95), more blocks (53) and more interceptions (74) than any other West Ham player, and his impressive individual efforts were recognised by the club's supporters who deservedly voted him their Hammer of the Year for the third time in the last four seasons; only Sir Trevor Brooking (five), Billy Bonds and Bobby Moore (both four) have received the club accolade on more occasions.
STANDOUT RESULT: FIORENTINA 1-2 WEST HAM UNITED
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An easy choice. While 4-0 Premier League wins over Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest deserve a mention, West Ham's triumph in the Europa Conference League final was undoubtedly the club's standout result, saving the best till last to end the campaign on a historic high.
Moyes's men were second best throughout a goalless first half that was marred by an unsavoury incident involving Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi, who was left with blood gushing down the back of his head after a small section of Hammers fans pelted the left-back with plastic cups before he could take a corner.
Nevertheless, for all their dominance in the final third, Fiorentina struggled to pose a real threat on Alphonse Areola's goal and West Ham gradually grew into the contest before breaking the deadlock on the hour mark courtesy of a powerful penalty kick from Said Benrahma after VAR deemed that Biraghi handled inside the area.
West Ham's lead was short-lived, though, as Giacomo Bonaventura restored parity for the Serie A outfit just seven minutes later with a smart finish that nestled into the far corner, and the Italians came close to completing the turnaround but Rolando Mandragora failed to direct a first-time effort on target.
However, as the contest appeared to be heading for extra time, Jarrod Bowen etched his name into West Ham folklore when he ran in behind Fiorentina's backline and netted a dramatic 90th-minute winner, placing a composed finish beyond Pietro Terracciano from Lucas Paqueta's perfectly-weighted through-ball to spark bedlam in the stands and in the dugout as Moyes channelled his inner Jose Mourinho by running down the touchline in celebration.
The Hammers eventually survived eight minutes of stoppage time to clinch their first European trophy since the 1965 Cup Winners' Cup and their first major honour in any competition since winning the 1980 FA Cup.
> Click here for a full list of West Ham United's results from the 2022-23 season
BEST MOMENT
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West Ham arguably witnessed their greatest moment this century when they celebrated Europa Conference League glory, not only ending their 43-year wait for a major trophy but also qualifying for next season's Europa League.
Jarrod Bowen's last-gasp winner will live in the memory of every Hammers fan, as will the jubilant and emotional scenes at full time with Moyes, his players and staff all able to bask in the glory with friends and family in front of the 5,000 East London contingent who were fortunate enough to get their hands on a showpiece ticket.
After winning the first trophy of his 25-year managerial career, Moyes busted out some questionable yet justifiable dance moves and celebrated on the pitch with his 87-year-old dad, and there were a few tears shed from both Aaron Cresswell – a 10-year servant at West Ham – and sporting director Mark Noble, while the party in Prague was a particularly special moment for Czech Republic internationals Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal.
After playing in what is set to have been his final game as a West Ham player, in-demand captain Declan Rice had the honours of lifting the club's first major European silverware since club icon Bobby Moore nearly 60 years ago, and the Hammers have now joined an exclusive group of English clubs to have won multiple major European trophies that includes Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.
TOP PRIORITY FOR SUMMER
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It remains to be seen what lies ahead for David Moyes, but the decision to possibly part ways with the 60-year-old has become all the more difficult following West Ham's Europa Conference League triumph. Nevertheless, sorting out his future will be at the top of the Hammers' priority list before discussions can take place over their summer transfer business.
Moyes, who has spent the last four years at the London Stadium in his second spell at the club, has just 12 months remaining on his contract, and the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter, Paulo Fonseca and Michael Carrick have all been linked with potentially succeeding the Scotsman.
Throughout the season, Moyes has been reluctant to move away from his relatively conservative tactics and has received criticism for failing to get the best out of his more adventurous players. West Ham may allow Moyes to stick around for the final year of his contract, but moving forward under a new leader with fresh ideas will also be considered by the club's hierarchy as they look to make significant improvements domestically and avoid another relegation scrap.
Regardless of who is in charge next season, one man who is set to bid a fond farewell this summer is midfielder Declan Rice, with chairman David Sullivan confirming that they have "promised" to sell the Englishman even though he still has two years remaining on his contract. Out of the "three or four clubs" to have shown an interest in Rice, Arsenal are believed to be leading the race for his signature as things stand, while Man City, Man United and Bayern Munich are set to rivals the Gunners for the £100m-rated Hammer.
Meanwhile, West Ham quartet Vladimir Coufal, Manuel Lanzini, Aaron Cresswell and Angelo Ogbonna all face uncertain futures at the London Stadium as they are due to see their contracts expire this summer. Lanzini is the most likely to depart as things stand, while Ogbonna is hopeful that he will be offered a new deal.
The majority of West Ham's additions from last summer still have a point to prove, particularly Gianluca Scamacca who struggled to make the desired impact in front of goal – scoring just three times in the league – before suffering a season-ending knee injury in March. With both Antonio and Ings on the wrong side of 30, getting the best out of the 24-year-old Italian will be high on the agenda for whoever is in charge next season.
In terms of possible incomings, a replacement for Rice will be a top priority, and Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse is one name to have been linked with the Hammers along with Fulham lynchpin Joao Palhinha. Leicester winger Harvey Barnes is another said to be on West Ham's radar, while signing a new central defender and left-back could also be on the cards, especially if both Ogbonna and Cresswell leave for free.
FINAL VERDICT
Nine weeks on from watching West Ham supporters wave a 'Moyes Out' banner at Craven Cottage, David Moyes has been labelled as one of the club's greatest-ever managers by Declan Rice after leading the Hammers to a historic European triumph, salvaging something positive from a season that threatened to end in disappointing fashion.
The East Londoners relied heavily on beating teams in and around them in the hotly-contested Premier League relegation dogfight, and they seemed the rise to the occasion when presented with much-win matches that ultimately bought more time for Moyes as the season progressed.
West Ham deserve huge credit for sticking with Moyes, who has surely persuaded the hierarchy and some sections of the clubs fanbase for him to continue blowing bubbles in the Hammers hotseat next season. Only time will tell as to whether the Scotsman and certain key players will remain at the London Stadium, though, ahead of a third successive season juggling domestic and continental duties.
Oliver Thomas
