West Ham United have sacked head coach Nuno Espirito Santo following a disappointing start to their EFL Championship campaign. The decision comes in the wake of a 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, leaving the London club sitting eighth in the league table.
The 52-year-old manager had been in charge since September 2025, taking over from Graham Potter. However, he was unable to prevent the club from suffering relegation from the Premier League last season after a difficult campaign.
Despite entering the Championship as one of the pre-season favourites for an immediate return to the top flight, West Ham have struggled for consistency. They currently find themselves four points adrift of the automatic promotion places and six points behind league leaders Middlesbrough.
Recent results compounded the pressure on the coaching staff, with the team winning only two of their last six fixtures. Back-to-back home defeats, including a 3-2 loss against Southampton prior to the weekend reverse against West Bromwich Albion, ultimately forced the club's board into action.
Assistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeper coach Rui Barbosa have also left their roles with immediate effect. The club confirmed that the recruitment process for a permanent successor is already underway.
Mark Noble, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville will take temporary charge of the first team. The trio will lead the squad for their upcoming Championship fixture away against Cardiff City on Wednesday night.
Following a thorough review of the start to the EFL Championship season, the board of directors believe that a change is necessary at this time in order to ensure that the club's objectives and expectations remain on track, a club statement read.
The club expressed gratitude to the departing coaching staff for their efforts during their tenure. West Ham United would like to thank Nuno, Rui and Rui for their hard work and commitment during their time at the club, and wish them all the very best for the future.
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