LAST UPDATE | 8 Jan
WEST HAME HAVE sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui after less than eight months in charge.
The Hammers are expected to announce former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter as the Spaniard’s replacement in the next 24 hours.
The PA news agency understands talks with Potter were at an advanced stage on Tuesday night, with a few contract details still to be ironed out.
Lopetegui took training as usual on Tuesday and reported for work on Wednesday to be officially told his spell in charge was over.
“West Ham United can confirm that head coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the club.
“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.
“The club can confirm that assistant head coach Pablo Sanz, head of performance Oscar Caro, head analyst Juan Vicente Peinado, fitness coach Borja De Alba and technical coach Edu Rubio have also left with immediate effect.”
“The board would like to thank Julen and his staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future.
“The process of appointing a replacement is under way.”
The 58-year-old was appointed in May to replace David Moyes, who left the club at the end of last season after his contract expired.
He was tasked with bringing a more attacking style of play to the London Stadium after some fans grew frustrated with Moyes’ pragmatic approach, even though the Scot led the club to a first trophy in 43 years when they won the Europa Conference League in 2023.
But despite a £130million spending spree in the summer, bringing in nine players including Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug and Wolves captain Max Kilman, results have been poor with West Ham a lowly 14th in the Premier League.
Lopetegui’s position was under threat in early December following a 3-1 defeat at Leicester, but a run of four matches unbeaten earned him a stay of execution.
However, the manner of the 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool after Christmas, followed by a 4-1 loss at Manchester City on Saturday, set alarms bells ringing again among the West Ham hierarchy.
Technical director Tim Steidten, who is understood to have advocated appointing Potter in the summer, has been staying away from the training ground amid reports of tension between him and Lopetegui.
West Ham say the German, 45, is focusing on the January transfer window, which opened last week.
The club are looking at potential striking options with Jarrod Bowen out for six weeks with a fractured foot and Michail Antonio facing a long road back after he was injured in a car accident last month.
Potter is poised to return to management 20 months since he was sacked by Chelsea just seven months and 31 matches into a five-year contract.
The Hammers face a tough FA Cup third-round trip to Aston Villa on Friday before home league matches with Fulham and Crystal Palace.
I agree it looks and sounds bad but not sure you can banish him off panel for it, she’s as much to blame.
It doesn’t say anywhere in the article that his youtube video has anything to do with him being dropped from the panel. It just mentions he has other talents.
If players get dropped off the panel over a video like that then the GAA needs to seriously look at the expectation of amateur players. What next, laughing bans?
Aideen and john, get a dictionary and look up the meaning of the word “sarcasm”
I was just making a general point rather than responding to any of the points above
Davy has lost the team
Davy is going to save a fortune on Mi Wadi and biscuits
Everyone is writing them boys off, so they are. But I know what them boys are like. So I do.
It’s a disaster now cold Galvin is off as well 3 of them gone playing football, it’s not looking good, he’s obviously lost the dressing room, but judge him after this year, it would be such a shame to waste that amount of talent
Simple answer, bring back Kinnerk! And if need be oust Fitz
When words like United and tight bunch get bandied about you just know trouble is not far away. I hope I’m wrong . Come on the banner
Clare people would want to get a grip of themselves. 2013 was a freak year, how many all irelands are won by beating laois galway limerick and cork.
Or rather not tipp or kk? I’ve the height of respect for a talented bunch of hurlers, but my god the rubbish hand passing puke hurling they are being made play is Sh**
It’s evident in their body language that they don’t like it, and also evident that it does not work. Clare should be going man for man and playing the style of hurling that goes out to win. They haven’t won a game in a full year..The manager is a divisive figure and obviously did not have his work appraised sufficiently because not winning a game in a year is marching orders for me.
If the Clare people were honest about it, he is not the man to lead them. Sparrow built that team. Now get are demoralised by a garbage style of hurling and rubbish management. Lads have already jumped ship, not because they don’t want to hurl, it’s because they don’t want to hurl under current management.
Il agree with you to a point. Management don’t look good no, but 2013 was no freak year or was it a fluke. Limerick took care of Tipp and Dublin took out Kk. Both heavyweights played out a thriller in nowlan pk in the qualifiers where Kk came out the stronger after a terrific contest. Cork took Kk out of the championship after that. Clare beat Munster champs limerick in the semi’s and went onto an epic win over cork in the final. By no means was it freak! It just happened to be a different year to the hurling calendar and a welcome change to who we usually see. And mark my words clare will be there or there abouts again this year. Iv 100% belief and faith that those young guys got many more all Ireland’s left in the tank to win. An Clár abu!
Kinnerk leaving was liking a head falling off and leaving the b*llocks to make the decisions!