David Moyes' 'dad dancing' lights up West Ham celebrations
At 60 years old, with knees like his, David Moyes did not back himself to produce “the full Mourinho” – the dramatic touchline knee-slide made famous over the years by Jose Mourinho – as he sprinted onto the pitch in celebration of the greatest achievement of his managerial career.
In the seconds after Jarrod Bowen sealed victory in Prague and delivered to Moyes his first major trophy, the West Ham manager instead settled for the more traditional touchline dash, as he clenched his fists and unleashed a roar for the ages towards the West Ham fans who had travelled to their Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina.
“The minute Jarrod went through, I was edging down the touchline,” Moyes said. “If there was anybody who was going to score, it was going to be Jarrod. I couldn’t do the full Mourinho because I can’t slide on my knees and the grass was a bit dry. I didn’t want to fall on my belly.”
That is not to say, though, that Moyes held back in the celebrations in the dressing room after the final whistle. The knee-slide may have been beyond him, but the “dad-dancing” (his words, earlier this season) certainly was not: footage from the West Ham changing room showed the manager, beer in hand, cavorting joyfully to the sound of the Proclaimers.
Our gaffer as you've never seen him before! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/e1JzNuioA4
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 8, 2023
There were other songs and chants, too. “West Ham are massive, everywhere we go” has been the soundtrack to their past two seasons in Europe, while Moyes joined his players in singing “Bowen’s on fire” on the pitch. That particular song features reference to Bowen’s relationship with Dani Dyer, the mother of his newborn twins and the daughter of TV personality (and famous West Ham fan) Danny Dyer.
Speaking in a post-match press conference at around midnight, Bowen had given some indication of what was to come. “We are just going to go mad,” he said. “I am not going to put any filter on it. I am not going to give a responsible answer. These moments don’t come around often in your career. When that final whistle went, I was just thinking ‘yes, this party is going to be crazy.’”
Jogadinha do Paquetá 🎶 pic.twitter.com/n7REwkzRkx
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 8, 2023
The sight of Moyes wiggling his hips will perhaps be the lingering image of West Ham’s wild celebrations, but there is plenty of competition. The booze was flowing within a few minutes of the trophy being lifted by Declan Rice and the party was only just beginning when the players finally emerged from the dressing room at around 2am on Thursday morning.
Rice is the usual DJ in the squad but he had support in that regard from goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who walked through the post-match media zone with an enormous speaker, the bass pounding and the volume turned up high.
Some of the West Ham players were evidently already feeling the effects of the alcohol in these moments, and who could blame them? Mark Noble, their former captain and current sporting director, joked to the waiting journalists that he was “too emotional” to stop for a chat. Alternative words may also have been applicable.
Join the dressing room, join the madness! 🕺 pic.twitter.com/LUDFTMZLqs
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 8, 2023
From the Eden Arena, the players eventually headed back to their hotel in Prague. Some reports suggest the music did not stop until 9am, while Said Benrahma was filmed out on the streets of Prague, hugging supporters, at 5am. An hour earlier, Vladimir Coufal, Rice and Moyes were pictured roaming the city centre.
Perhaps an afternoon nap will be required, because the celebrations will not stop when the team returns to England. The players and staff will parade the club’s first major trophy since 1980 on an open-top bus in London, with the journey starting at their old home of Upton Park before moving on to a reception at Stratford Town Hall.