West Ham boss David Moyes hails winning European Conference League as ‘best moment of his career’

West Ham boss David Moyes hailed winning the European Conference League as the ‘best moment of his career’.

Jarrod Bowen scored in the 90th minute as West Ham United secured a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday to clinch a first major European trophy in over half a century.

The match at Prague’s Eden Arena looked like it was heading to extra time when Lucas Paqueta slipped a ball through to Bowen who outpaced the defenders and fired home past a sprawling Fiorentina keeper.

Afterwards Moyes told BT Sport: ‘This is fantastic. I have had a long career in football and you don’t get many moments like this.

‘These sorts of moments as managers don’t come around often. This is a great moment for us.

West Ham lifted their first European trophy in 58 years after seeing off Fiorentina in Prague

‘It is a brilliant club in the East End of London that does wonderful work in the community. It is a great family club. It is getting better and stronger. This is another step on the road of continued progress.

‘We have gone unbeaten in Europe, which is incredible. We only lost last year in a semi-final, two incredible years and we get another one now.’

West Ham took the lead in the 62nd minute when Said Benrahma converted a penalty after a VAR review confirmed a handball by the Italian side’s captain Cristiano Biraghi, who had been a thorn in West Ham’s side with his runs down the flank.

Fiorentina immediately stepped up the pace after going behind and were rewarded five minutes later when Giacomo Bonaventura controlled the ball with two defenders on him and sent an angled shot past West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola.

Both sides struggled to create much in a nervy opening half with Fiorentina controlling possession but lacking a cutting edge in the final third, while West Ham had long spells without the ball.

When the referee blew the final whistle, the West Ham players raced to the corner to celebrate in front of their fans who revelled in the team’s first win in a European final since they lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965.

Jarrod Bowen scored in the 90th minute as West Ham United secured a last-gasp 2-1 victory 

Moyes was seen giving his winner’s medal to his 87-year-old father following the trophy presentation, and when asked if it was the best moment of his career, he replied: ‘I would have to say so. 

‘The moments you get to celebrate with your family and win in the last minute of the game, it doesn’t happen often. It can go against you but tonight is a brilliant feeling.

‘If somebody had said three years ago when I took the job that you’d avoid relegation and finish in Europe, I’d have said you were mad.

‘This competition has been great for us, the players have been remarkable.’

David Moyes posed with his 87-year-old dad and gave him his winner’s medal on the pitch