Graham Potter confirmed as new West Ham manager after winning contract wrangle
West Ham have sacked boss Julen Lopetegui in favour of ex-Chelsea and Brighton man Graham Potter with the club sitting 14th in the Premier League table after a summer of heavy spending
by Daniel Orme · The MirrorWest Ham have announced Graham Potter as their new manager after sacking Julen Lopetegui.
Former Wolves, Real Madrid and Spain boss Lopetegui was only appointed in the summer as David Moyes' replacement, but he has endured a miserable first eight months at the London Stadium before his sacking on Wednesday.
West Ham sit 14th in the Premier League table and are just seven points clear of the relegation zone after a summer of heavy spending. Lopetegui took training as usual on Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Aston Villa, and then reported for work on Wednesday, but the search for his successor was already well underway.
He was informed on Wednesday afternoon that he was to be relieved of his duties, while the new man is already in situ. Having initially been offered a six-month deal Potter asked for a longer one, and has now agreed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Hammers.
His arrival at the London Stadium signals Potter’s return to the dugout nearly two years after he was sacked by Chelsea. And the Englishman is delighted to be back managing in the Premier League.
“I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me – and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United," he said.
“My conversations with the Chairman and the Board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the club forward in the medium to long term.
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“West Ham United is a huge club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world. I saw the scenes that followed their Europa Conference League victory in 2023 and it was clear that this is a club with everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.
“The club have made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a club that the supporters can be proud of.”
Potter will be joined at the London Stadium by Bruno (Assistant Coach), Billy Reid (First-Team Coach) and Narcís Pèlach (First-Team Coach), while Goalkeeper Coach Xavi Valero will stay on in his role. His predecessor Lopetegui won just seven games out of 22 before being dismissed.
West Ham also backed him heavily in the transfer market with a host of big-money signings including Max Kilman, Niclas Fullkrug and Luis Guilherme all failing to hit the mark this season.
There have also been reports of a falling out between Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten. The latter has been leading talks with Potter and was spotted in discussions with him ahead of his appointment, while he has been avoiding West Ham’s training ground as a decision was made on Lopetegui’s long-term future.
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