West Ham have relieved Julen Lopetegui of his duties as the men’s first-team coach.

The 58-year-old was appointed in the summer with the aim of returning West Ham to European qualification, a feat they achieved under David Moyes. The club owners demonstrated their ambitions by backing Lopetegui with a net spend of £85.2 million during the summer transfer window.

Given the calibre of players brought in, many expected West Ham to compete in the top half of the Premier League table. However, the opposite has been the case, as the team currently sits 14th, with only six wins from 20 matches and a negative goal difference of -15.

Lopetegui now joins a growing list of Premier League managers who have been sacked this season, including Erik ten Hag, Steve Cooper, Gary O’Neil, and Russell Martin.