Conference League semis: West Ham enter first European final in 47 years, to face Fiorentina
Jose Mourinho's AS Roma reach successive Europa League final following goalless draw against Bayer Leverkusen
West Ham have not won a major trophy since Trevor Brooking's goal beat Arsenal in the 1980 FA Cup final. They lost the 'Steven Gerrard' FA Cup final on penalties after a 3-3 draw against Liverpool in 2006.
"We're absolutely thrilled. It's a big achievement for the club, but now it's about going and winning it. AZ are very good at what they do, but I'm delighted we did it," West Ham boss David Moyes said. "We've brought in a lot of international players to get better, but we've really struggled this season. We had to go back to what gets you wins, and thankfully we did that."
Last season, West Ham lost 3-1 on aggregate to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-finals. Moyes' side have made amends for that painful near-miss by reaching the final of a competition much-maligned in some quarters, but never again in east London. West Ham have won 13 of their 14 games in the competition this season and will be favourites whoever they play in the final.
"We have created history. It's the first time in 47 years. It's pure emotion and happiness to get it done," West Ham midfielder Declan Rice said.
Moyes has led West Ham to top 10 finishes in the Premier League in the past two seasons, but they have struggled for much of the current campaign. They are 15th in the table with two games left, all but mathematically safe from relegation.
Winning a European trophy would be an unexpectedly uplifting end to their troubled season.
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