West Ham have sacked manager Julen Lopetegui after six months in charge following nine defeats and six wins in their first 20 games of the Premier League season.
The Hammers had a net spend of £85.2 million during the summer but are 14th after their 4-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, seven points above the relegation zone.
“The first half of the 2024/25 season has not aligned with the club’s ambitions,” a West Ham statement said, adding that they have acted to meet their “objectives”.
A 5-0 defeat against Liverpool on December 29 extended their poor home form to one win in five matches, having started the campaign with three successive losses at London Stadium.
West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the Club.
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 8, 2025
Next West Ham manager: Graham Potter?
Graham Potter is widely expected to succeed Lopetegui, with BBC Sport reporting that the former Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Swansea City manager has held talks about stepping in, initially on a short-term basis.
Lopetegui’s scheduled press conference on Wednesday was cancelled before the 58-year-old took training in preparation for their FA Cup third round tie at Aston Villa on Friday (8pm GMT).
Assistant manager 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 West Ham.
The Hammers return to Premier League action at home to ninth-placed Fulham on January 14 (7.30pm) before the visit of 15th-placed Crystal Palace four days later (4pm).
Potter’s first league away game in charge could be at eighth-placed Villa on January 26 (4.30pm).
More to follow
