David Moyes: Guiding West Ham to European final would be my biggest achievement

West Ham United manager David Moyes insists earning a European final with the Hammers would be the biggest achievement in his career.

West Ham are preparing to welcome AZ Alkmaar to the London Stadium for Thursday night’s Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg encounter.

Moyes’ side have endured a troubled domestic campaign as they have only recently put some daylight between themselves and the Premier League relegation zone.

However, the Hammers continue to shine on the continental stage as they bid to earn a place in a European final for the first time since 1976.

Moyes has enjoyed numerous highlights during his 25-year managerial career, including steering Everton into the Champions League and an FA Cup final in 2009.

The 60-year-old also reached the Europa League semi-final with West Ham last season but is yet to lift a major trophy.

“To get to a European final – it could be my best [achievement],” Moyes said (via the Evening Standard).

“In the past, I’ve got to a Champions League quarter-final with Man United, lost on penalties in the quarter-final of the Europa League with Everton, and last year we reached a semi-final at West Ham.

“I want to try and take it a couple of steps further, and I would refer back to the serial winner Jose Mourinho – who found winning this trophy so special for him and his football club.

“If ever I needed somebody to show how hard it was to win a trophy, and he treated it as if it was so important.”

Moyes has flirted with the sack for most of the campaign but has kept his job against the odds.

West Ham are currently 15th in the Premier League standings and just one more win away from reaching the elusive 40-point mark. 

With three games left and seven points separating them from the drop zone, their chances of retaining their top-flight status look good.

However, there could yet be a fairytale end to their troubled campaign, and they will hope to take another step further in realising their European dream on Thursday.