West Ham United sack Julen Lopetegui with Graham Potter set to take over

Spanish coach's reign at Premier League club lasts just six months

Julen Lopetegui won six out of his 20 Premier League games in charge of Premier League club West ham United. AFP

Julen Lopetegui has been sacked as manager of West Ham United just six months after taking charge of the Premier League club.

The Spaniard replaced David Moyes last July and the club spent around £140 million on new players ahead of the new season as they looked to build on the ninth-placed finish of the previous campaign.

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 Lopetegui struggled to win over Hammers fans as the team fell to a number of heavy defeats that included miserable performances against London rivals Chelsea (3-0), Tottenham Hotspur (4-1) and Arsenal (5-2).

The 58-year-old was reported to be close to the sack before the home game against Wolves on December 9 but a 2-1 win turned out to be the start of a four-game unbeaten run that was West Ham's best of the season so far.

But successive humiliating defeats against Liverpool (5-0) and Manchester City (4-1) were Lopetegui's final games in charge and he leaves with the team in 14th place, seven points above the relegation zone.

Lopetegui took training as usual on Tuesday – ahead of Friday's FA Cup third-round tie at Aston Villa – but West Ham cancelled Wednesday's scheduled press conference with widespread reports saying that the former Real Madrid and Wolves coach would soon be heading for the London Stadium exit.

And, after managing just six wins in 20 league matches, the club announced his sacking hours later. Assistant manager Pablo Sanz, head of performance Oscar Caro, head analyst Juan Vicente Peinado, fitness coach Borja De Alba and technical coach Edu Rubio also left the club with immediate effect.

The Hammers are expected to name former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter as the Spaniard's replacement in the next 24 hours.

Reports in the UK media on Tuesday night suggest that talks with Potter are at an advanced stage, with a few contract details still to be ironed out.

Former Ostersund and Swansea City coach Potter has not held a managerial role since he was sacked after less than seven months into a five-year contract at Chelsea in April 2023.

“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 during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future.

“The process of appointing a replacement is under way. The club will be making no further comment at this time.”

Lopetegui is the fifth Premier League manager to lose his job this season, following the sackings of Erik ten Hag (at Manchester United), Steve Cooper (Leicester City), Gary O'Neil (Wolves) and Russell Martin (Southampton).

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.