West Ham United can confirm that Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has left the Club to pursue a new challenge.

Vandenbroucke initially joined the Hammers as a first-team physiotherapist in 2009, spending three seasons on the backroom staff under Gianfranco Zola, Avram Grant and Sam Allardyce.

After spells in Russian football with Anzhi Makhachkala and Dinamo Moscow, the Belgian returned to east London to take up a new senior role under Allardyce in February 2014. He has worked under Slaven Bilic for the past two seasons.

Joint-Chairman David Sullivan thanked Vandenbroucke for his more than six years of service to the Hammers.

“Stijn was a member of the backroom staff when we arrived at the Club in 2010 and immediately struck the Board with his professionalism and commitment to the role,” said Mr Sullivan.

“Since taking up his role as the Head of Medical and Sports Science, he has continued to show his expertise in his field and raise the bar with an ambitious philosophy.

“He has created and maintained professional and strong relationships with all departments at the Club, the players, the manager and the Board. He was also involved in the transition to London Stadium and the new training ground at Rush Green.

"We all have enjoyed working with Stijn and wish him and his family all the best."