Nuno Espírito Santo has been appointed as the new head coach of West Ham United, marking a swift return to the Premier League after recently leaving Nottingham Forest. The appointment, confirmed on September 27, 2025, comes just 18 days after his departure from Forest and follows the sacking of Graham Potter. Nuno has signed a three-year contract with the Hammers.

West Ham's decision to part ways with Potter after only a short time in charge underscores the club's urgency to improve their position in the Premier League. Potter managed just six wins in his 25 games. West Ham are currently second-bottom in the league. The board of directors felt a change was necessary to improve the team's performance as quickly as possible.

Nuno's arrival at West Ham marks his fourth managerial role in the Premier League, following spells with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, and Nottingham Forest. His previous stint at Nottingham Forest saw him guide the team to a seventh-place finish and qualify for the Europa League, as well as reach the FA Cup semi-finals last season. However, a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis led to his departure.

Nuno, born on January 25, 1974, brings a wealth of experience from his playing and managerial career. As a player, he was a goalkeeper for clubs in Portugal, Spain, and Russia, including Porto, where he won the UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup under José Mourinho. His managerial career began in 2012 with Rio Ave, where he led the team to two domestic cup finals. He also managed Valencia in Spain and Porto in Portugal before moving to England.

His time at Wolverhampton Wanderers was particularly successful, leading the team to promotion to the Premier League, consecutive seventh-place finishes, and a Europa League quarter-final. After leaving Wolves in 2021, he had a brief spell at Tottenham Hotspur before managing Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, where he won the league title and Saudi Super Cup.

Nuno's immediate challenge is to turn around West Ham's fortunes and move them up the Premier League table. His first game in charge is against Everton, led by former West Ham manager David Moyes.

Upon his appointment, Nuno expressed his enthusiasm for the new role. "I am very pleased to be here and very proud to be representing West Ham United," he said. "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."

Nuno took his first training session with the team on Saturday, September 27, and will be assisted by academy coaches Mark Robson, Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine. Further announcements regarding his coaching and backroom staff are expected.

Some observers have questioned whether Nuno's preferred counter-attacking style of football will suit West Ham. Sky Sports chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol noted that while Nuno is a "fantastic manager when your side doesn't have the ball," it remains to be seen whether West Ham has the players to execute that style effectively.