West Ham Sack Manager Lopetegui With Potter Expected To Take Over

After only 22 games in charge, West Ham fired manager Julen Lopetegui, with Graham Potter anticipating his replacement at the London Stadium.

The Hammers are 14th in the Premier League table, seven points above the relegation zone, after just six wins in 20 league matches during the Spaniard’s tenure.

The club’s chiefs’ final blow came on Saturday with a 4-1 defeat to champion Manchester City.

“The first half of the 2024/25 season has not aligned with the club’s ambitions and the club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives”, West Ham said in a statement.

The board would like to thank Julen and his staff for their hard work with the Hammers, and wish them every success in the future, the statement added.

West Ham were among the biggest spenders in the Premier League in the summer transfer window, splashing out around £125 million ($155 million) on players including Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug.

However, Lopetegui only managed to win one of his first six league games while also facing two severe blowouts, including a 5-2 defeat at home to Liverpool and a 5-0 defeat at home to Liverpool.

The 58-year-old former Spain and Real Madrid boss replaced David Moyes, who left at the end of last season after a second spell at the London club.

West Ham won the Europa Conference League in 2023, earning the club its first major trophy in 43 years, and the Scot qualified for European competition for three straight years while doing so.

Lopetegui, who previously led Wolves in the Premier League, claimed he had other opportunities ahead of him but was “very happy that West Ham chose me because I chose West Ham as well.”

The club reportedly spoke with former AC Milan boss Paulo Fonseca and former Paris St. Germain manager Christophe Galtier as they sought a replacement for Lopetegui.

Potter, 49, has been out of management since he was sacked by Chelsea in April 2023, just seven months into a five-year contract. He won a mere 12 of his 31 matches in charge.

The Englishman took over at Stamford Bridge after making his managerial debut at Ostersund in Sweden. He had successful spells with Swansea and Brighton before taking over.

On Friday, West Ham will face Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup.

Source: Channels TV