David Moyes believes that he is leaving West Ham United having enjoyed a "successful" period as the club's manager and hopes they can reach new heights in the 2024-25 season.
The 61-year-old took charge of his 262nd and final match as Hammers boss on Sunday when his side were beaten 3-1 away against Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Mohammed Kudus scored a sublime bicycle kick to pull a goal back for West Ham on the stroke of half time after a Phil Foden brace had put Man City in control early doors, before Rodri restored the hosts two-goal advantage with a shot from the edge of the area midway through the second half.
West Ham end the 2023-24 campaign in ninth place, failing to qualify for European competition almost a year on from their historic Europa Conference League triumph - the club's first major trophy for 43 years.
That moment was a standout one for Moyes during his tenure, with their 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the Conference League final one of 25 European wins under the Scotsman - he also guided the Hammers to sixth and seventh-placed finishes in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 Premier League seasons.
While Moyes has received plaudits from some quarters of the West Ham fanbase, others have criticised his style of play and the club's poor run of form under his tutelage during the second half of the campaign.
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Moyes pleased with "successful" West Ham spell
Reflecting on his time at the London Stadium, Moyes feels that he and the Hammers supporters have seen 'a lot more of the light than the darkness' and is proud of the success that he and his players have achieved together over the last four years.
"I'm really pleased it was a successful time at West Ham and I think that most people would probably agree with that," Moyes told reporters after the match.
"The people I've worked with have been successful and all the people I've enjoyed, and I hope that everybody else can continue it.
"We've had some dark days here, but let's be fair, we're seeing a lot more of the light now than we are of the darkness."
"Let me tell you, coming into the football club, I wanted to make everyone feel included," the Scotsman added. "I think there are a lot of things for the club to take forward and a lot of things we've made better here and I hope it continues, I really do.
"I've said to the players in the dressing room, they have to keep it going. They've set some standards in the Premier League now and let's see if we can maintain it.
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"We've tried really hard to give the supporters something a bit more than what we've had in recent seasons.
"You've got to remember that a couple of seasons ago we were finishing sixth and seventh and this year we've come ninth, which I kind of think are pretty good positions.
"I know we've had a 14th which sticks a bit, but we got over that one, but generally in the time I've been here, we've given West Ham a pretty good position.
"Not just me, the players and the staff, we've really been at it, really worked hard and committed to try and make things go better, and I think people around the club would generally think we have done.
"We've generally been in a really good place, lots of games, lots of trips, the club is employing more people than it's ever done and we're getting bigger crowds than it's ever done, so if you add all those things together, it would probably sound like progress."
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Moyes: 'We gave everything against Man City'
Commenting on his side's performance and the result against Man City, Moyes said: "We gave everything. I've had some really big and disappointing results away from home recently at Crystal Palace and Chelsea, so today was never going to be easy, but I thought the players did a better job and we were competitive.
"We started the game really poorly, but I have to say Foden's first goal was a brilliant goal, it really was, and it took the wind out of us right away, but the players stuck at it.
"We conceded again and then [Kudus] scored a wondergoal as well, so we were right back in the game and quite confident at half time that we could stick at it, but obviously you're not the champions for nothing. I remember seeing them play Real Madrid and Arsenal recently and they're such a good side.
"I think we went in at half time and came out after half time feeling pretty confident. We just couldn't quite get the ball off them enough and I think they had about 40 passes before they scored their third goal and we could probably have done a bit better.
"But it's not for me to say now what we should have done and shouldn't have done, but as a manager you are always going to say we might have blocked the shot or saved it, but overall we did so many good things."
Moyes departs West Ham having won 112, drawn 55 and lost 95 of his 262 games in charge of the club; the Hammers hierarchy will now continue their search for a successor ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, with Julen Lopetegui believed to be the frontrunner at present.
Oliver Thomas
