Five managers West Ham should consider to replace David Moyes

GERARDO SEAONE 

Background 

Former Switzerland U21 international Gerardo Seaone has been out of work since he left Bayern Leverkusen last month. The 44-year-old made a strong impression in Germany, and it was no surprise that he turned around Leverkusen’s fortunes almost straight away.

Seaone was born and raised in Lucerne. He started and ended his playing career for his hometown team, and he also spent time playing in Spain. When he retired in 2010, he joined Luzern’s academy setup. He spent seven years as a coach for Luzern before he landed the most important job of his career – the manager of Young Boys.

Young Boys was a big step for Seaone, who took over from Adi Hütter. Considered a rising young manager in Swiss football, Seaone opted to keep Hütter’s backroom staff and to play the same style of football as his predecessor. The promises paid off, as Young Boys won a league title and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in its history. He won two more league titles in the following two seasons.

Seaone left Young Boys in the summer of 2021 to manage Bayern Leverkusen. Leverkusen finished third in the Bundesliga during his first season in charge. He signed Adam Hložek and Callum Hudson-Odoi before the start of the 2022/23 season. Although the new signings had promise, they did not hit the ground running. Results did not impress the fans, and Seaone was sacked after winning one of his last eight games. Xabi Alonso replaced him.

Management Style

When Seaone first arrived at Leverkusen, he was concerned at the lack of production on the pitch. The team’s stagnancy was the first problem he addressed, and he made major changes to individuals and the team dynamic.

Leverkusen started to play football that focused on moving the ball from all areas and applying pressure in attack. It paid off, with the team scoring 15 goals in the first five league games of the 2021/22 season. Striker Patrik Schick and midfielder Florian Wirtz formed the core of the team’s attack. Seaone also aimed to improve the youth system, as he has previously managed Luzern’s youth teams, and he has helped Leverkusen’s academy to redevelop.

ANDONI IRAOLA 

Background

Andoni Iraloa is regarded as one of Athletic Bilbao’s greatest-ever defenders, and he spent 13 years at the club. He had hoped for the same sense of longevity as a coach, but managing proved to be a bumpy ride at first. Iraloa now manages Rayo Vallecano.

Iraloa grew up in Basque Country, where he played for Athletic Bilbao. Having initially joined the club as a teenager, he made his La Liga in 2003 and became the club’s starting right-back. Bilbao won three Copa del Reys during his long tenure, and the team was Europa League runners-up in 2012. He left Bilbao at the end of his contract in 2015, playing for New York City FC for one season.

His first managerial job was with Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in 2018. It was not as successful as he had anticipated, as he was sacked after seven months in charge. He was named the new manager of CD Mirandés in July 2019, signing a one-year contract. Under his guidance, Mirandés reached the semi-final of the Copa del Rey and beat many Spanish giants, including Villarreal and Sevilla.

Iraloa left Mirandés when his contract expired, but he wasn’t unemployed for too long. One month later, he joined Rayo Vallecano, with whom he won promotion to La Liga.

Management Style 

One key component of Iraola’s managerial style is creating confidence through results. He wants his players to use winning runs as motivation, and this idea has proven to work. At the time of writing, Vallecano has recently beaten Real Madrid to extend its unbeaten run to five games.

Iraola demands that his players show full commitment on and off the field, as well as athleticism. The attacks are usually very organized and quick, while his defence is resolute. His central midfielders operate on a pivot-pressure transition, which allows extra defensive cover and ball movement in the middle. His wingers cut in on their stronger foot to create space and to cross the ball.

FRANCK HAISE

Background

Lens has taken Ligue 1 by storm this season. Les Sang et Or have lost one league game all season and are five points off table toppers PSG. The man responsible for the title-challenging form is manager Franck Haise, and his recipe for success lies deep within the team dynamics.

Haise was a holding midfielder in his playing days. After he retired, he had some coaching experience at lower-league teams in France before he joined Rennes in 2006. He managed Rennes’ academy for six years, leaving to manage Changé in 2012. His time in Mayenne was short-lived, however, as he left the club in early 2013.

He was appointed the coach of Lorient B in the summer of 2013 and later became the assistant manager to Sylvain Ripoli. He left Lorient for Lens B in 2017, and his success at developing the academy did not go unnoticed. When Philippe Montanier was sacked in February 2020, Haise was promoted to first-team manager.

Management Style

Haise likes his side to have good chemistry and has done this through signing compatriots. For example, Lens has three Polish players in the first team to help them to integrate into French football. There are also many Spanish and Portuguese speakers in the squad.

Although Haise has been known for deploying a back-three, he admits that it is not really his favourite system. He prefers to focus on playing two central midfielders, two wingers and an attacking midfielder. Lens plays with a narrow press and a deep attack, with room for the players to get the ball from either side of the field. Haise likes his defenders to be composed on and off the ball, and he does not ask his full-backs to attack too far ahead of the opposition’s territory.