At times this season for West Ham boss David Moyes, it has felt like one long goodbye.
With his contract running out this summer, the stay-or-go narrative has now ended with the news that he will leave the club at the end of the season with former Spain, Real Madrid and Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui set to take over.
On Saturday, the 61-year-old Scot will get a chance to acknowledge the fans who have been with him on a remarkable journey at West Ham that took them from the relegation zone during the Covid-enforced break, to glory and silverware on a never-to-be-forgotten night in Prague.
For many neutral observers, it seems harsh.
Even now, after a dreadful run post-Christmas, where heavy defeats by Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea have contributed to a joint-record highest goals conceded (70) in a Premier League season for the Hammers, they are still on track to secure a top-10 finish.
It would be Moyes’ third in four and a half seasons. No West Ham manager has achieved that since Harry Redknapp over two decades ago.
But modern-day football is a brutal business.
The Scot takes charge of his penultimate game of his second spell at London Stadium against Luton on Saturday.
Moyes’ final task will be to plot the downfall of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City – trying to get the win likely needed to secure a historic fourth successive Premier League title on the final day.
