West Ham United have parted ways with manager Julen Lopetegui after just 22 games in charge, following a string of poor performances that left the Hammers 14th in the Premier League table. Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter is the frontrunner to take over at the London Stadium.
Lopetegui, 58, was dismissed on Wednesday after a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City over the weekend sealed his fate. During his brief tenure, the Spaniard managed only six wins in 20 league games, despite a £125 million summer spending spree that brought players like Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, and Niclas Fullkrug to the club.
In a statement, West Ham announced: “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 had high hopes following Lopetegui’s appointment in May 2024, replacing David Moyes, who led the team to Europa Conference League glory in 2023. However, heavy losses, including a 5-2 defeat to Arsenal and a 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool, eroded confidence in Lopetegui’s leadership.
Graham Potter, 49, is reportedly the top choice to succeed Lopetegui. Talks with the former Brighton and Chelsea boss are underway, with an initial short-term deal being considered. Potter has been out of management since his dismissal from Chelsea in April 2023.
West Ham also considered Paulo Fonseca and Christophe Galtier for the role but appear to have zeroed in on Potter, who has a track record of developing teams at Brighton and Swansea.
The Hammers face Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday, with crucial Premier League clashes against Fulham and Crystal Palace on the horizon.
Lopetegui becomes the fifth Premier League manager to lose his job this season, following Erik ten Hag (Manchester United), Steve Cooper (Leicester), Gary O’Neil (Wolves), and Russell Martin (Southampton).