Julen Lopetegui has a three-game window to secure his long-term future at West Ham United amid growing pressure on him.
According to a report by Give Me Sport, Julen Lopetegui does not have long to secure his long-term future at West Ham United. While recent updates suggested the Hammers were ready to back the Spanish tactician for the long haul, he has a three-game window to save his job at the London Stadium.
Julen Lopetegui and his career so far
Julen Lopetegui has endured a topsy-turvy ride thus far in the managerial sphere. A native of Asteasu, the Spaniard was a goalkeeper and turned out for Barcelona and Real Madrid in his professional career, although his best phases came with CD Logrones and Rayo Vallecano.
The 58-year-old called time on his career in 2002 before entering the managerial world in 2003 with Rayo Vallecano. Since then, Lopetegui has enjoyed successful spells with Sevilla and Spanish teams of several age groups in international football. However, he has also endured disastrous stints with Real Madrid and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Spanish tactician would have hoped to recreate the success from his spell with Sevilla after replacing David Moyes at West Ham United ahead of the 2024/25 season. However, the stint is heading towards disaster in the first few weeks of the 2024/25 season.
How has Lopetegui fared at West Ham United?
West Ham United began the season with a creditable performance against Aston Villa despite suffering a 2-1 defeat. The East London outfit bounced back with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace before reaching the EFL Cup third round by beating Bournemouth 1-0 in the second round. However, Julen Lopetegui and his charges have failed to win a game since then.
While the Hammers have lost to Manchester City and Chelsea, they earned a 1-1 draw with Fulham thanks to a late goal by Danny Ings. So, the pressure is ramping up on Lopetegui despite reports that he enjoys the backing of the decision-makers at West Ham United. The same officials have handed the Spaniard a three-game ultimatum to save his job.
The 58-year-old Spanish tactician will be under the microscope in West Ham’s upcoming Premier League games against Brentford, Tottenham Hotspur, and Ipswich Town. If results do not improve in those outings, Lopetegui might fail to secure his long-term future at the London Stadium.
