West Ham United have unveiled Graham Potter as their new manager following the departure of Julen Lopetegui.
Lopetegui was relieved of his duties on Wednesdayjust six months after joining the club as David Moyes' replacement, having overseen just seven wins in 22 games in all competitions.
The decision to part with Lopetegui was officially confirmed after an agreement was reached with Potter, whose arrival in West Ham it has already been made official.
“I'm happy to be here,” Potter said after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. “It was important for me to wait until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and also that I was a good fit for the club I'm joining. That's 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 strong foundations that can produce success and we are on the same wavelength as far as belongs to what is needed. in the short term and then how we want to move the Club forward in the medium and long term.
“West Ham United is a great club, in the heart of London, with an incredible fan base and huge support around the world. I saw the scenes following their Europa Conference League win 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.
“The club has made a lot of good progress in recent years and has ensured that it has some very strong foundations to build on. You don't win a European trophy by accident – there has to be a good foundation in a football club for that to happen.” happen, and the challenge now is to take it and build the next steps, to develop a team and a club that supporters can be proud of.”
Potter, who returns to management for the first time since leaving Chelsea in April 2023, will take charge of his first game on Friday when West Ham travel to Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup.