It has again been a difficult couple of years for loyal West Ham fans and their first European trophy in decades already seems like a long distant memory given their struggles on a Premier League pitch.
After lifting the Europa Conference League trophy back in the 2022/23 campaign, David Moyes’ more successful second spell at the London Stadium came to an end in the summer of 2024 and their board made the move for former Spanish, Real Madrid and Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui. The 58 year old probably had a point to prove in England following his short spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but it is safe to say he failed to prove anything and with the side in 14th place in the top flight table, he has now been given his marching orders.
The rumour mill was already full of speculation that they were planning to replace him and their defeat to Manchester City seems to have been the final straw, but from the outside the whole episode has been a shambles with training sessions held, but press conferences cancelled and further delays suffered before his departure was officially confirmed.
Not least Graham Potter as the hot favourite to replace him had apparently accepted another job, leaving West Ham prioritising a new target for a period, before reports leaked that a six month deal had been agreed for the 49 year old – with it later being claimed terms were for two and a half years.
With Unai Emery’s fellow claret and bluers, Aston Villa, quickly up for the Hammers in Friday’s FA Cup clash, it is fair to say that the off pitch shenanigans hardly provide Potter with the perfect start to life at the club. Especially as, at the time of writing, he still has not been officially appointed either.
With confirmation expected at some point on Thursday morning, this will be Potter’s return to management following his departure from Chelsea back in 2023 but with many considering him to be more of a long term project type of head coach, it very much remains to be seen as to what kind of ‘managerial bounce’ he may have with their first team group and whether or not he can markedly turn the remainder of their season around before he too fails to live up to expectations and the ‘club’s ambitions’.
In time Potter could be exactly what the side needed to kick on from the foundations Moyes laid, but the question on the lips of fans is whether he will get that time.