West Ham United announced the appointment of Graham Potter as their head coach on Thursday, following the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui.
Potter, who has been without a managerial role since his departure from Chelsea in 2023 after a brief seven-month stint, has signed a contract lasting two and a half years.

In expressing his thoughts about the new role, Potter stated, “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.”

Taking the reins of a struggling team, Potter steps in at a time when West Ham has only managed to secure three victories out of their last eleven matches, currently placing them 14th in the league, seven points clear of relegation.

Lopetegui, who has led teams like Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, faced the consequences of the team’s lackluster performance as his departure was announced on Wednesday. He was brought in during May with hopes of elevating the club to new levels, following David Moyes’s substantial achievement in winning the Europa Conference League, which put an end to West Ham’s 43-year wait for a major trophy in 2023.

The new 49-year-old head coach believes that West Ham possesses the foundations necessary for sustained success, both on and off the pitch.
“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,” he remarked.

Graham Potter’s coaching journey began in 2011 at Ostersunds in Sweden, leading to a rapid rise through the ranks. He took charge at Swansea in 2018 before moving to Brighton, and eventually, he found himself managing Chelsea by 2022.
However, his time at Chelsea was marred by challenges, particularly as the club experienced a tumultuous transition under new American ownership by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. After achieving only seven victories out of 22 league matches, he was let go after just six months in charge.

West Ham stated that all parties were in agreement about Potter being their “unanimous choice” for the role.
His first match at the helm will take place on Friday when West Ham faces Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup.