West Ham United have appointed Nuno Espírito Santo as their new manager, just hours after parting ways with Graham Potter on Saturday.
Nuno, who was dismissed by Nottingham Forest earlier this season, has signed a three-year contract with the struggling Premier League side and will take charge of his first match away to Everton on Monday.
Potter’s departure, coming only nine months after his appointment, had been widely anticipated following a dismal start to the season that left West Ham second from bottom in the Premier League table.
Nuno embraces challenge
“I am very pleased to be here and very proud to be representing West Ham United,” said Nuno, 51.
“My objective is to work hard, get the very best from the team, and ensure we are as competitive as we possibly can be. The work has already started and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
The Portuguese coach arrives with notable Premier League experience, having previously managed Wolves and Tottenham. He most recently led Nottingham Forest to an impressive seventh-place finish last season, securing European qualification for the first time in 30 years. However, he was sacked just three weeks ago after falling out with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis over transfer policy.
Potter’s short-lived tenure ends in frustration
Potter’s spell at the London Stadium lasted just 25 matches, yielding only six wins. Pressure mounted after a poor start to the 2025/26 campaign, with the team earning just three points from five league games and suffering an early League Cup exit at the hands of Wolves.
Last weekend’s 2–1 home defeat to Crystal Palace proved to be the final straw, with the club confirming his dismissal less than 24 hours after his usual Friday press conference.
“Results and performances over the second half of last season and the start of the new campaign have not matched expectations,” West Ham said in a statement. “The board believes a change is necessary to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible.”
Potter had been under scrutiny since taking over from Julen Lopetegui in January. Despite a summer spending spree that brought in eight new signings, the Hammers failed to show meaningful progress. A brief glimmer of hope came with a 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest, but that momentum was quickly lost with back-to-back defeats against Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
Potter: “incredibly disappointed”
In a statement following his dismissal, Potter expressed his regret but acknowledged the team’s poor form.
“I am incredibly disappointed to be leaving West Ham United Football Club, particularly without being able to achieve what we set out to at the start of our journey in East London,” said Potter, who was also dismissed by Chelsea less than seven months into his tenure in 2023.
“I do, however, fully acknowledge that the results have just not been good enough up to now.”
Nuno will now be tasked with steering West Ham away from the relegation zone and stabilizing a club that has seen three managerial changes in less than two seasons—following the short stints of both Potter and Lopetegui after David Moyes’ departure.
