David Moyes has revealed why he didn’t go “full Jose Mourinho” with his wild celebrations after West Ham clinched late glory in the Europa Conference League.
The Hammers dramatically sealed their first major trophy since 1980 - and their first on the continent since 1965 - on a memorable night in Prague on Wednesday, with Jarrod Bowen slotting home a 90th-minute winner to down Serie A side Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final after Said Benrahma’s earlier penalty had been cancelled out quickly by Giacomo Bonaventura.
Bowen’s winner, which came after a superb threaded pass from Lucas Paqueta, was greeted with pandemonium in the stands at Fortuna Arena and in the West Ham dugout, with a euphoric Moyes sprinting down the touchline with his arms raised in triumph.
However, the Scot, 60, avoided finishing his touchline dash with the knee slide most famously performed by Mourinho with Porto at Old Trafford in the Champions League almost 20 years ago, explaining afterwards that his knees simply wouldn’t allow it.
“The minute Jarrod went through I was edging down the touchline; if there was anybody who was going to score it was going to be Jarrod,” Moyes said.
“I couldn’t do the full Mourinho because I can’t slide on my knees and the grass was a bit dry, and I didn’t want to fall on my belly.”
Wednesday’s triumph in Prague was the culmination of so many years of hard work for Moyes, who had previously never won a major trophy in his long managerial career. It also came just 12 months after a heartbreaking Europa League semi-final loss and against the backdrop of ongoing speculation and doubts over his West Ham future after they were involved in a relegation battle for most of the Premier League campaign.
“We’ve turned what we felt was a disappointing season into a super season. To play in the Premier League and to play in European football, especially in the Europa League or Conference League, has been a difficult situation, but we’ve managed to get through both [Premier League and Europa Conference League]. This competition has been terrific for us,” he added.
Moyes draped his winners’ medal around the neck of 87-year-old father David Sr, who later entertained fans with his silky dance moves in Prague.
“I thought that he was the first one I should get it round his neck,” Moyes said after the game. “I hope he’s enjoying it and he can enjoy what’s going on [later] tonight as well.”
