Mickey Ambrose is looking forward to West Ham’s first European final since 1975

You cannot keep a good man down. David Moyes the West Ham Manager under pressure for most of the season and struggling to emulate their previous success finishing sixth and seventh in the Premier League. Moyes has steadied the ship since he arrived in 2019 but some are still not happy – well you cannot win them all.

David still has the dressing room which for those non-football fans means the players are 100 per behind him. So, let’s celebrate while we can and savour this moment because the Hammers have reached their first major European final since 1976 after they overcame AZ Alkmaar in their Europa Conference League semi-final, having won the first leg at the London Stadium 2-1.

The Hammers were resolute and steadfast away to their Dutch opponents, reaching the finals in Prague on 7 June a few days after my Dad’s 89th birthday.

Now let me share with you something about my Dad. He is an Arsenal fan and you cannot criticise him for that. He can still run for a bus which means I have his genes which is great news, and he still drives a car at 89 years of age.

I gave up driving in 2010, because what is the point? You cannot park anywhere because of parking charges and you’re always sitting in traffic. That’s not for me anymore.

Well, West Ham certainly did not get stuck in any football traffic on the pitch, they competed in every department and their high energy performance won them a place in the final.

“Come on you Irons” rang around the stadium to the cheers of the players.

David Moyes’ side soaked up plenty of pressure at AFAS Stadium until Pablo Fornals scored on the counter-attack in second-half injury time.

West Ham will face Fiorentina, who beat Basel in extra time in the other semi-final.

The Hammers are hoping to lift their first major trophy since they lifted the 1980 FA Cup; they were one of three winners of the 1999 Intertoto Cup.

They came agonisingly close to breaking that duck last season, losing 3-1 on aggregate to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-finals.

This time around the team were disciplined, keeping their hosts at arm’s length for much of their second leg and they were brilliant to watch. West Ham’s last European final was in the 1975-76 Cup Winners’ Cup when they lost 4-2 to Anderlecht.

A photo of Mickey Ambrose — Mickey Ambrose

Now back to the dilemma. Hammers face a tricky question. Do they stick with Moyes? Only two managers, Ron Greenwood and John Lyall, have lifted trophies in the club’s history. Only one player, the great Bobby Moore, has captained them to a European trophy. Declan Rice, who took over from club stalwart Mark Noble, is following in some illustrious footsteps.
David Moyes now has the chance to put the debate about his future to bed. He said it would be the biggest achievement of his career if he leads West Ham past AZ Alkmaar and into the the Europa Conference League Final.

David you did it now go and win it!

Mickey Ambrose is a former Chelsea and Charlton player who lives in Stratford

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