WEST HAM have finally FIRED manager Julen Lopetegui after just seven months in charge.
Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter is set to replace the Spaniard at the London Stadium.
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West Ham have parted ways with Julen Lopetegui
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Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter should take credit: SO
West Ham confirmed the news in a statement which read: “The first half of the 2024/25 season has not been in line 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 in the future.
“The process of appointing a replacement is underway.”
Potter’s first game in charge is due to be against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Friday night.
Lopetegui’s time in charge comes to an end after a shambolic week in which he continued training today while his successor signs a contract.
The former Real Madrid and Spain manager, who replaced David Moyes this summer, has managed just six wins in 20 Premier League games and leaves the club in 14th place in the table.
Defending has been a problem for West Ham, with only Wolves (45), Leicester and Southampton (both 44) conceding more than their 39 in the league this season.
SOCCER FREE BETTING AND REGISTRATION
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West Ham were beaten 5-0 at home to Liverpool before being beaten 4-1 by City to end Lopetegui’s reign
Nine of those goals came in the last two games against Liverpool and Manchester City.
The defeat in Lopetegui’s last game at the Etihad marked the ninth time they have conceded three or more goals this season.
Graham Potter admits he is ‘watching things’ as speculation mounts that he will replace Julen Lopetegui at West Ham
Things are also believed to have soured behind the scenes, with rumors of clashes with key players and technical director Tim Steidten.
Steidten, who also had a mixed relationship with Moyes, stepped aside from training after questioning alternative managers last month.
Their already strained relationship deteriorated and other club leaders were frustrated by both figures.
There was reportedly a split within the board over whether Lopetegui should be sacked earlier in the season.
Steidten also now faces an uncertain future and his influence over the January transfer window has weakened as owner David Sullivan takes over the leadership role.
The Hammers spent £127.5m in the summer window but are just seven points above the relegation zone.
At this time last year, West Ham was sixth in the league with 34 points after 20 games.
Potter joins West Ham after being out of work since leaving Chelsea in April 2023, following a successful three years at Brighton.
He plans to initially bring up to four members of his own coaching staff with him, while longtime goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero remains.
Lopetegui vs Potter: Stats
Graham Potter
Career Win Rate: 38.6%
Managed games: 440 games
Premier League win rate: 28.3%
Awards: Winner of the Swedish Cup (2016/17)
They managed the following clubs: Ostersund, Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea
Julen Lopetegui
Career Win Rate: 54.9%
Managed games: 419 games
Premier League win rate: 34.4 percent
Honors: Europa League (2019/20), U19 and U20 Euros
Clubs under management: Rayo Vallencano, Spain Youth, Porto, Spain, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves, West Ham
Lopetegui’s West Ham nightmare
Lopetegui, 58, was close to being sacked before the game against Newcastle on November 25. But an impressive 2-0 win bought him more time.
However, West Ham have failed to follow through, winning just TWO games since then – against relegation-prone Wolves and Southampton.
The fans turned on Lopetegui, chanting “you’ll be fired in the morning” at their own boss during the 3-1 defeat by Leicester.
His reign ended with his training session today after he canceled the team’s bonding dinner last night.
The disastrous reign of Julen Lopetegui
Author: Jack Figg
JULEN LOPETEGUI replaced David Moyes in May 2024 ready to start a new reign at West Ham – now it’s over before it’s begun.
The former Spain coach arrived in London with experience of working with big stars – but his reputation in England needed to be repaired.
Won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020 – joined Wolves two years later.
But Lopetegui left after leading Wolves to 13th place for one season, but left due to financial constraints.
After a year out of work, the former Real Madrid man agreed to take over from Moyes – who had led them to the Europa Conference League trophy just 12 months earlier.
But Lopetegui has made a terrible start to life in London, without a win in his first four matches.
This is despite spending £123m on the signings of Maximilian Kilman, Niclas Fullkrug and Aaron Wan-Bissak arriving this summer.
And Lopetegui’s tenure hit an all-time low following a 5-0 defeat at home to Liverpool and a 4-1 defeat at Man City.
The Hammers board had seen enough and began drawing up potential replacements after deciding to sack Lopetegui.
Lopetegui is furious with how his departure played out.
Away from the challenges on the field, he did not have a problem-free time.
West Ham had to contend with Michail Antonio’s horrific car accident which ruled him out for the foreseeable future.
Young Hammers goalkeeper Oscar Fairs has also died aged 15 after a battle with cancer.
Lopetegui’s father Jose also sadly passed away last month at the age of 94 after health problems.
In addition to falling out with Steidten, there was also reportedly a break-up at half-time with Jean-Clair Todiba and Mohammed Kudus.
Lopetegui’s worst West Ham moments
- West Ham 1-3 Man City (Prem)
- West Ham 0-3 Chelsea (Prem)
- Liverpool 5-1 West Ham (Carabao Cup)
- Tottenham 4-1 West Ham (Prem)
- Nottingham Forest 3-0 West Ham (Prem)
- West Ham 2-5 Arsenal (Prem)
- Leicester 3-1 West Ham (Prem)
- West Ham 0-5 Liverpool (Prem)
- Man City 4-1 West Ham (Prem)
West Ham appointed Lopetegui because of his success at Sevilla, where they won the Europa League and allowed them to regularly challenge for the top of LaLiga.
He also had Premier League experience with Wolves in the 2022/23 season, as he guided them to safety from relegation.
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But he resigned after falling out with the owners of the Molineux club over a lack of transfer activity and “different opinions”.
Lopetegui replaced Moyes, who has legendary status in east London after ending their 43-year trophy drought with European Conference League glory.
He also led them to the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the Europa League, as well as sixth and seventh place in Prem.
But he left when his contract expired last summer, with the club looking to change their style of play.
Graham Potter’s return to the Premier League
Graham Potter has returned to the Premier League almost two years after being sacked by Chelsea.
Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui at West Ham after the Spaniard’s horror start to the season.
It ended Potter’s 20-month wait for the job, who had also been linked with jobs at Manchester United and England.
The former defender began his coaching career in 2011 in Sweden with Östersunds FK – winning league and cup competitions.
He then took over Swansea in 2018 for a season in the Championship – finishing 10th.
Potter left Wales after just one year to replace Chris Hughton at Brighton where he would make his name.
His best finish with the Seagulls was ninth in 2022, but he joined Chelsea just months later in September.
Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel, just a season after the German won the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
But Potter was sacked after seven months in the job and Chelsea remained in 11th place.
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Source: HIS Education