West Ham United have appointed former Chelsea head coach, Graham Potter as new head coach of London club.
Gatekeepers News reports that the former English player’s appointment comes less than 24 hours after Julen Lopetegui and his staff were sacked.
Potter who has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract will immediately take charge of the team’s official matches. He will be supported by the newly appointed trio of Bruno, assistant coach, and Billy Reid and Narcís Pèlach as first-team coaches.
West Ham in a statement released, said 49-year-old manager was the unanimous choice of the hierarchy, adding that Potter is ready to lead the talented team into the future.
It said, “West Ham United is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as the Club’s new Head Coach.”
“A highly-respected and sought-after coach, Potter has been awaiting the right opportunity after leaving his last role at Chelsea in April 2023, and was the Board’s unanimous choice to take the club forward in line with its objectives and ambitions.”
“Potter, whose progressive style and flexible tactical approach previously impressed at Swedish club Östersund, Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, has a passion to return to Premier League management and is relishing the opportunity to work with West Ham United’s talented squad of international players.”
Speaking after joining the club, Potter expressed delight at returning to management after nine months without a job following his sack by Chelsea.
He said that he shares similar values with West Ham and is looking to build on West Ham’s triumph in UEFA Conference League last season.
The manager said, “I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United.”
“My conversations with the Chairman and the Board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the club forward in the medium to long term.”
“The Club have made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a Club that the supporters can be proud of.”
Potter will begin leading his new team on Friday when the club visit Aston Villa in the third round of the English FA Cup.