West Ham United has announced Graham Potter as their new head coach following the sacking of Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday. 

The Spanish manager was dismissed after just six months in charge, having earned only 23 points from 20 games, leaving West Ham 14th in the Premier League table.

Despite replacing David Moyes and overseeing a £120 million ($147 million) investment in new players, Lopetegui failed to meet expectations, falling far short of mounting a challenge for European qualification and struggling to win over fans.

Graham Potter Takes Over

Following widespread speculation on Wednesday, the club confirmed on Thursday that Potter has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the 2022-23 Europa Conference League winners.

“I am delighted to be here,” Potter said. “It was important for me to wait for the right opportunity, one that felt like a good fit for me and for the club. I feel that with West Ham United.”

He emphasized the positive discussions he had with the chairman and board, highlighting their shared values of hard work and high energy to establish solid foundations for success both in the short and long term.

Potter praised the club's recent progress, noting that winning a European trophy reflects strong foundations. He expressed his determination to build on those achievements and create a team that supporters can be proud of.

Potter’s Track Record

Potter has been out of management since April 2023, when he was dismissed by Chelsea after securing just a 38.7% win rate. Prior to that, he excelled with Brighton, guiding the team to a ninth-place finish in the 2021-22 Premier League season.

He initially made his mark in Sweden with Östersunds FK before managing Swansea City in the Championship and then moving to the Premier League.

Immediate Challenges

Potter’s debut as West Ham manager will come on Friday in the FA Cup third-round tie against Aston Villa, followed by a Premier League clash with Fulham next Tuesday.

His primary goal will be to introduce a more proactive style of football and reconnect the team with its fanbase. Under Lopetegui, West Ham scored only 24 league goals, ranking 14th in attacking output, and underperformed their expected goals (xG) by -5.1, the fourth-worst in the league.

Additionally, Lopetegui’s tenure was marred by heavy defeats, including a 5-0 home loss to Liverpool in their final game of 2024. This marked their sixth Premier League defeat by a margin of three or more goals this season, more than any other team.