West Ham could replace Lopetegui with 4-3-3 manager who’s Zola 2.0

Julen Lopetegui might be coming to the top of his time at West Ham, having solely joined the membership in July, because the Hammers discover themselves languishing in 14th place within the Premier League after 14 video games performed.

West Ham tackle Wolves on Monday evening for his or her fifteenth Premier League sport of the season, in a fixture being nicknamed “El Sackico” as a consequence of each groups’ managers’ struggles this marketing campaign.

Ought to Lopetegui’s aspect lose on Monday, West Ham appear prepared to tug the set off, already reportedly having a shortlist of potential replacements, and considered one of these choices would see a shock return to the Premier League.

Maurizio Sarri hyperlinks

In accordance with reports from FootMercato, Maurizio Sarri is one identify that has been supplied to West Ham, ought to they sack Lopetegui. The 65-year-old has managed within the Premier League earlier than, spending one season at Chelsea in 2018/19, the place he additionally received the Europa League, beating Arsenal 4-1 in Baku.

Very similar to Gianfranco Zola who managed the Hammers, it could be one other Italian who has beforehand labored at Chelsea. The Italian is at the moment and not using a membership, having stop Lazio again in March 2024. Sarri was answerable for Lazio from 2021-2024, averaging 1.64 factors per match, taking cost of 137 video games in his time on the membership.

Maurizio Sarri supervisor report
Membership	Matches	PPM (factors per match)
Sangiovannese	74	1.61
Pescara	43	1.26
Arezzo	22	1.18
Avellino	1	0.00
Hellas Verona	5	0.20
Perugia	18	1.28
Grosseto	10	1.20
Alessandria	36	1.58
Sorrento	17	1.76
FC Empoli	132	1.52
Napoli	148	2.16
Chelsea	63	2.08
Juventus	52	2.12
Lazio	137	1.64
Stats taken from Transfermarkt

The 65-year-old coach had his greatest stints in Italy, together with his most well-known group being his Napoli aspect, which Pep Guardiola even named “one of the best teams I have ever faced“.

Sarri has by no means misplaced to the Irons in his profession, playing them twice in his time at Chelsea, successful as soon as and drawing as soon as. Now the Italian might discover himself within the reverse dugout, and that might make for a really attention-grabbing tactical evolution for the Hammers.

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Maurizio Sarri’s techniques

Sarri tends to choose a 4-3-3 beginning formation, with a transparent philosophy based mostly upon maintaining possession in their very own third, seeking to break the traces with progressive passes, and interchanging attacking actions, with quick, sharp mixture play within the ultimate third.

In his one season of Premier League soccer, Sarri applied this model at relative velocity, averaging 62.9% possession, which was the second highest within the league behind Manchester Metropolis, who averaged 67.9% possession.

Maurizio Sarri during his time as Lazio manager

This excessive possession, control-based model is one thing West Ham desperately wish to implement, since deciding to maneuver on from David Moyes in the summertime. Sarri is the precise sort of coach who would are available, and attempt to do precisely that, sticking to his key ideas, and seeking to rework the Hammers.

A key place in doing this may be the quantity six, typically taking part in the “regista” position for Sarri’s aspect, orchestrating play and controlling the tempo of the sport. While West Ham have loads of gamers who play defensive midfield, their passing qualities and soccer IQ are extraordinarily essential on this position, which might see somebody like Carlos Soler most popular to Edson Alvarez or Tomas Soucek.

One factor is for sure, if West Ham go down the route of hiring Sarri, it could solidify the route they wish to go down, implementing a brand new model of play, and sticking to it even when outcomes aren’t going their approach.