Prague braces for I Viola and The Irons

The UEFA Europa Conference League final takes place in Prague at the Eden Arena this evening with Davies Moyes’ West Ham United facing a Fiorentina side coached by Vincenzo Italiano. 

Both of these sides have flirted with tilts at a top four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification in recent seasons but haven’t quite managed it. The two teams are of similar size and reputation, as well as fan base, as they head to the Czech capital to try and win a rare European trophy.

This is a brief preview of their seasons so far, European and general history to add some context to what could be a thrilling showdown in central Europe tonight…

WEST HAM UNITED

Season so far

David Moyes’ Hammers have found themselves in a relegation battle for much of the campaign in the Premier League. The east London club managed to finish the season really well, though, with four wins in their last six matches, which includes their semi-final victories over AZ Alkmaar. 

Moyes may well depart The Irons after this game and will be seeking to finish what has been a really impressive stint with his first ever major trophy. From saving them from the bottom three in 2020 to a sixth place finish in 2021, seventh place and a UEFA Europa League semi-final 2022 and now a European final in 2023. 

European history

UCL best: N/A
UEL best: Semi-finals (2021/22)
UECL best: Finalists (2022/23)
UCWC best: Winners (1964/65)
USC best: N/A

Manager profile | David Moyes

Clubs managed: Preston North End (1998-02), Everton (2002-13), Manchester United (2013-14), Real Sociedad (2014-15), Sunderland (2016-17), West Ham United (2017-18), West Ham United (2019-)

Major trophies won: 1 = Community Shield

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Run to Prague

UECL PO | W | 3-1 vs Viborg (H)
UECL PO | W | 3-0 vs West Ham United (A)
UECL GS | W | 3-1 vs FCSB (H)
UECL GS | W | 3-2 vs Silkeborg (A)
UECL GS | W | 1-0 vs Anderlecht (A)
UECL GS | W | 2-1 vs Anderlecht (H)
UECL GS | W | 1-0 vs Silkeborg (H)
UECL GS | W | 3-0 vs FCSB (A)
UECL R16 | W | 2-0 vs AEK Larnaca (A)
UECL R16 | W | 4-0 vs AEK Larnaca (H)
UECL QF | D | 1-1 vs Gent (A)
UECL QF | W | 4-1 vs Gent (H)
UECL SF | W | 2-1 vs AZ Alkmaar (H)
UECL SF | W | 1-0 vs AZ Alkmaar (A)

FIORENTINA

Season so far

Under the management of Vincenzo Italiano, Fiorentina did half a tricky first-half of the 2022/23 Serie A season and Italiano will have been grateful for good UEFA Europa Conference League playoff form as, without that, he may have come under serious pressure as I Viola boss.

Since the turn of the year, though, they have been exceptional, narrowly missing out on a top seven finish and European qualification in Italy, as well as reaching two cup finals: this one and the Coppa Italia showpiece, in which they were beaten by UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan a couple of weeks ago. 

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European history

UCL best: Runners’ up (1956/57)
UEL best: Runners’ up (1989/90)
UECL best: Finalists (2022/23)
UCWC best: Winners (1960/61)
USC best: N/A

Manager profile | Vincenzo Italiano

Clubs managed: Vigontina San Paolo (2016-17), Vigontina San Paolo (2017), Union ArzignanoChiampo (2017-18), Trapani (2018-19), Spezia (2019-21), Fiorentina (2021-)

Major trophies won: 0

Run to Prague

UECL PO | W | 2-1 vs Twente (H)
UECL PO | D | 0-0 vs Twente (A)
UECL GS | D | 1-1 vs Rigas Futbola Skola (H)
UECL GS | L | 0-3 vs Istanbul Basaksehir (A)
UECL GS | W | 3-0 vs Heart of Midlothian (A)
UECL GS | W | 5-1 vs Heart of Midlothian (H)
UECL GS | W | 2-1 vs Istanbul Basaksehir (H)
UECL GS | W | 3-0 vs Rigas Futbola Skola (A)
UECL KOPO | W | 4-0 vs Braga (A)
UECL KOPO | W | 3-2 vs Braga (H)
UECL R16 | W | 1-0 vs Sivasspor (H)
UECL R16 | W | 4-1 vs Sivasspor (A)
UECL QF | W | 4-1 vs Lech Poznan (A)
UECL QF | L | 2-3 vs Lech Poznan (H)
UECL SF | L | 1-2 vs Basel 1893 (H)
UECL SF | W | 2-1 [3-1 AET] vs Basel 1893 (A)