West Ham United has appointed Graham Potter as their new head coach.

The 49-year-old has been without a job since being sacked by Chelsea in 2023. He replaces Julen Lopetegui and faces the challenge of turning West Ham’s fortunes around, with the primary goal of helping the club return to European competitions.

The Englishman is no stranger to management, having previously coached Leeds Carnegie, Östersund, Swansea City, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Chelsea.

Potter expressed his joy at becoming West Ham’s manager and feels he is in the right place. He 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.”

He also referred to West Ham as “the heart of London” and reflected on their UEFA Europa Conference League success:
“West Ham United is a huge club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world. I saw the scenes that followed their Europa Conference League victory in 2023, and it was clear that this is a club with everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.”

Graham Potter will aim to prove his critics wrong by turning West Ham’s situation around.