West Ham United is reportedly poised to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo following the dismissal of manager Graham Potter on Saturday. The decision comes as the club seeks to reverse a disappointing start to their campaign.
Potter’s departure comes in response to the club’s abysmal start to the current season, with the decision made only two days ahead of their upcoming match against Everton at the London Stadium. Since his appointment in January, the former Brighton and Chelsea boss oversaw a period of inconsistent performance, with the team managing only one win and five losses across all competitions.
An official announcement regarding Potter`s successor is anticipated shortly. Nuno is widely expected to assume the managerial role without significant delay, although his presence on the touchline for the Everton fixture is still uncertain. Known for his pragmatic and effective coaching style demonstrated during his tenures at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, Nuno notably guided the latter to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, securing their first European qualification in 29 years.
Nuno’s immediate focus will be on fortifying West Ham`s porous defense, which has already conceded a league-high 13 goals in just five Premier League matches this season. Ironically, in his final press conference on Friday, Potter had admitted the need for defensive improvement and also stated he had held “positive talks” with the club`s owners regarding his future.
The confirmation of his dismissal arrived the next morning. West Ham’s official statement cited: “Results and performances during the latter half of the previous season and the commencement of the 2025/26 season have fallen short of expectations. The board of directors believes a change is imperative to swiftly enhance the team`s standing in the Premier League.” The club further confirmed that assistant coach Bruno Saltor, first-team coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach, lead goalkeeper coach Casper Ankergren, and goalkeeper coach Linus Kandolin have also departed immediately.
