In his second tenure guiding West Ham, the Scottish manager oversaw the most fruitful era in the team’s contemporary history.
This golden period reached its peak when the Hammers captured the Europa Conference League trophy in 2023, amidst a stretch of three straight seasons competing in Europe.
Yet, despite bringing home silverware and creating unforgettable moments for the supporters, his departure arrived at the close of the subsequent season, as growing discontent over his defensive and practical tactics became too intense to ignore.
Michail Antonio Reflects on David Moyes’ Time at West Ham
West Ham forward Michail Antonio enjoyed a highly productive spell under Moyes, netting 55 times across 182 outings for the ex-Manchester United manager, and noted that the tactician rapidly grasped the identity of the club.
“He truly grasped the ethos of the team and understood how to motivate us,” Antonio explained to FourFourTwo. “Our style of play wasn’t always beautiful, but we consistently secured points.”
Nonetheless, Antonio admits that this pragmatic approach occasionally alienated the fan base.
“Naturally, the supporters grew impatient with our brand of football,” he concedes. “But we were getting victories and accomplished great things regardless.”
During his initial stint, Moyes was brought in mid-season in November 2017 to steer the club away from relegation, yet he was not offered a long-term contract that summer despite succeeding in keeping the team up.
“Because of that, I was shocked when he wasn’t kept on after that first rescue job, given that we survived. In his second period, the crowd definitely grew restless with the negative tactics and demanded more entertaining football.”
His second appointment came in December 2019 with West Ham sitting precariously in 17th position, initiating a five-year tenure before the board ultimately decided to seek a fresh tactical path.
Though numerous commentators doubted the decision, Antonio reveals that the West Ham squad similarly felt that parting ways with Moyes carried significant risk.
“Absolutely, because of the level of success he brought,” the Jamaican international explains. “We were regularly qualifying for European competitions and performing strongly.
“However, in that final season, we hovered too close to the drop zone, leading to the realization that despite our continental success, a shift in tactical identity might be necessary.”
‘Humans Not Robots’, the autobiography of Michail Antonio published by HarperCollins, is out now
