West Ham Sack Coach Julen Lopetegui, In Talks With Graham Potter

West Ham United have parted ways with manager Julen Lopetegui after a six-month collaboration and are currently in discussions with Graham Potter regarding the possibility of his appointment as the new manager.

Julen Lopetegui who previously coached Wolves, took the helm in May following David Moyes’ departure, officially beginning his tenure on July 1. However, the team faced challenges during this period, securing only six victories in the Premier League.

Following a tough 4-1 loss to Manchester City, which marked the ninth defeat in 20 league matches this season, West Ham now find themselves in 14th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 8, West Ham acknowledged, “The first half of the 2024/25 season has not aligned with the club’s ambitions, and therefore, we have taken action in line with our objectives.”

The club has also decided to release Lopetegui’s entire backroom staff, including assistant Pablo Sanz, head of performance Oscar Caro, head analyst Juan Vicente Peinado, fitness coach Borja De Alba, and technical coach Edu Rubio.

The board expressed gratitude towards Lopetegui and his staff for their dedication, wishing them success in future endeavors. “The process of appointing a replacement is underway,” they added.

West Ham have opened discussions with several candidates, including former AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca and ex-Paris St-Germain coach Christophe Galtier, currently managing Al Duhail in the Saudi Pro League. However, there is a strong belief that Potter is poised to succeed in the role.

Looking ahead, West Ham’s next fixture is an FA Cup third-round tie against Aston Villa on Friday. Before Saturday’s loss against Manchester City, the team did show resilience, remaining unbeaten in four games that included solid victories over Wolves and Southampton.

Despite a promising start under Moyes, which saw the team reach the Europa League quarter-finals and secure the Europa Conference League title, recent challenges highlighted the need for a strategic shift.

Lopetegui invested around £125 million over the summer to boost the squad, but the season’s start has been less than favorable, compounded by a 5-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.