West Ham United has announced the dismissal of manager Graham Potter on Saturday morning and is reportedly poised to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo as his successor, in a bid to rescue their faltering season.
Potter`s tenure was abruptly cut short following a dismal start to the season for the Hammers. The club made the swift decision just two days before their upcoming fixture against Everton at the London Stadium. Since his appointment in January, the team has struggled to find consistent form, securing only one victory across all competitions while suffering five defeats, failing to meet performance expectations.
The confirmation of Nuno Espirito Santo`s appointment is anticipated imminently, though it remains unclear if he will be in the dugout for the Everton match. Nuno, known for his pragmatic and effective football philosophy during his previous spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, notably guided Forest to an impressive seventh-place finish in the Premier League, securing their first European campaign in 29 years.
Nuno`s immediate priority will be to address the team`s significant defensive vulnerabilities. West Ham has conceded a league-worst 13 goals in their five Premier League matches this season. Ironically, in his final press conference on Friday afternoon, Potter had acknowledged the dire need for defensive improvement and even mentioned having `positive talks` with the West Ham owners regarding his future, just hours before his sacking.
The official statement from West Ham, released the following morning, confirmed Potter`s sacking. It stated that “results and performances over the course of the second half of last season and the start of the 2025/26 season have not matched expectations.” The board of directors determined that a change was necessary to improve the team`s position in the Premier League as quickly as possible. The club also confirmed the immediate departure of assistant coach Bruno Saltor, along with first-team coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach, lead goalkeeper coach Casper Ankergren, and goalkeeper coach Linus Kandolin.
