Graham Potter has been sacked by West Ham United following a string of poor results. The club confirmed the departure on Saturday, stating that performances had not met expectations since the second half of the previous season and the start of the current one. West Ham currently sit 19th in the Premier League, having won only one of their opening five league games.
Potter was appointed as West Ham manager on January 9, 2025, replacing Julen Lopetegui. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club. His first game in charge was an FA Cup match against Aston Villa on January 10, which West Ham lost 2-1. Potter managed just one win in his first six games. West Ham finished 14th in the 2024-25 Premier League season. In total, Potter managed 6 wins, 5 draws, and 14 defeats in his 25 games in charge. During that time, the team scored 30 goals and conceded 41.
The club's board of directors felt a change was necessary to improve the team's position in the Premier League. Along with Potter, Assistant Coach Bruno Saltor, First Team Coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach, Lead Goalkeeper Coach Casper Ankergren, and Goalkeeper Coach Linus Kandolin have also left the club. West Ham are preparing to face Everton on Monday night.
Several names have been linked to the West Ham job, with Nuno Espírito Santo emerging as an early favorite. Slaven Bilic has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for a return to the club.
Potter's departure marks the ninth managerial dismissal since the current ownership took charge 15 years ago. Before that, West Ham had only 11 managers in the 110 years prior. Some fans have voiced their unhappiness with the club's board. They released a statement expressing a lack of confidence in the current leadership, citing repeated failures in financial planning, football strategy, governance, and fan relations. The supporters are calling for a clearer structure at the top of football operations.
Despite the change in manager, deeper problems remain at West Ham. The team's poor performance has been attributed to a number of factors, including poor signings and a lack of a clear playing style. The defensive setup has also been a concern, with the team conceding too many goals from set pieces.
