 After a difficult start to the 1974 – 75 season , Greenwood moved himself " upstairs " to become general manager and , without informing the board , appointed his assistant John Lyall as team manager . The result was instant success – the team scored 20 goals in their first four games combined and won the FA Cup , becoming the last team to win the FA Cup with an all @-@ English side when they beat Fulham 2 – 0 in the 1975 final . Lyall then guided West Ham to another European Cup Winners ' Cup final in 1976 , though the team lost the match 4 – 2 to Belgian side Anderlecht . Greenwood 's tenure as general manager lasted less than three years , as he was appointed to manage England in the wake of Don Revie 's resignation in 1977 . 
