- READ MORE: Inside Graham Potter’s West Ham sacking and where it went wrong
Nuno Espirito Santo has been appointed the new West Ham manager after Graham Potter was sacked following a dismal start to the season.
The Portuguese manager, who was dismissed as Nottingham Forest boss less than three weeks ago, has signed a three-year deal at the London Stadium and will take charge of his first game at Everton on Monday night.
Nuno took training on Saturday, just hours after Potter had informed a shocked West Ham squad that he had been relieved of his duties with the club 19th in the Premier League.
‘I am very pleased to be here and very proud to be representing West Ham,’ said Nuno. ‘My objective is to work hard to get the very best from the team and ensure that we are as competitive as we possibly can be. The work has already started and I am looking forward to the challenge that is ahead.’
Potter lasted just eight months and won just six of his 25 matches in his first role since his horror seven-month spell in charge of Chelsea.
The 50-year-old had expected to be given the trip to Hill Dickinson to try to turn around West Ham’s torrid start to the season despite the huge speculation over his future.
West Ham have appointed Nuno Espirito Santo as their manager after sacking Graham Potter
Nuno has quickly returned to management after his dismissal by Nottingham Forest this month
Potter took his press conference as usual on Friday and spoke about how he had held ‘positive talks’ with owner David Sullivan about his future.
However, the club were finalising talks with Nuno and struck a deal on Friday night with Potter given the news first thing the next morning.
‘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, and the board of directors believe that a change is necessary in order to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible,’ read the West Ham statement confirming Potter’s departure.
The club had also considered former Hammers boss Slaven Bilic on a short-term deal before focusing on Nuno once it became clear they could make the finances work.
‘I am incredibly disappointed to be leaving West Ham, particularly without being able to achieve what we set out to achieve at the start of our journey in East London,’ said Potter in a statement. ‘I do however fully acknowledge that the results have just not been good enough up to now.’
Potter was dismissed on Saturday morning with the Hammers down in 19th in the table
Nuno has previously coached Wolves, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League
Nuno becomes West Ham’s fourth permanent manager in just 16 months after David Moyes, Julen Lopetegui and Potter.
The 51-year-old enjoyed a triumphant spell at Forest, leading them to a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League and taking the club into Europe for the first time in nearly 30 years.
However, Nuno was sacked shortly after revealing his relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had broken down.
‘I always had a very good relationship with the owner,’ said Nuno. ‘Last season, was very close almost [talking] on a daily basis. This season, not so well. Our relations have changed.’
