West Ham United have sacked head coach Nuno Espírito Santo with immediate effect following a disappointing start to their English Championship campaign.
The club confirmed the decision on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, after reviewing the team’s performances and results. The board said a managerial change was necessary to keep the club’s objectives and expectations on track.
West Ham also confirmed the departure of assistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeping coach Rui Barbosa. The club thanked all three coaches for their commitment and wished them well in their future careers.
Nuno’s dismissal comes after West Ham suffered consecutive home defeats against Southampton and West Bromwich Albion.
The Hammers lost 3-2 to Southampton before falling 3-1 to West Brom on October 31. Those results weakened the club’s push for an immediate return to the Premier League.
After 13 matches, West Ham had recorded six victories and occupied eighth position in the Championship table. The club remained six points behind league leaders Middlesbrough.
West Ham had expected a stronger campaign after their relegation from the Premier League last season. However, inconsistent performances and disappointing home results increased pressure on the coaching staff.
The Portuguese manager joined West Ham on September 27, 2025, after leaving Nottingham Forest. He signed a three-year contract and was expected to improve the team’s performance.
However, he could not prevent the club’s relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season. Despite that setback, West Ham retained him to lead their promotion campaign.
Before joining West Ham, Nuno managed several clubs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, Valencia, Porto and Al-Ittihad.
He gained recognition in English football after guiding Wolves to the Championship title in 2018. He also led the club to consecutive seventh-place finishes in the Premier League.
Following Nuno’s departure, West Ham said the process of recruiting a new head coach had begun.
In the meantime, club figures Mark Noble, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville will temporarily oversee preparations for the team’s next Championship fixture against Cardiff City.
Reports indicate that former West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is a leading candidate for the vacant position. However, the club has not officially confirmed his appointment.
Parker previously played 129 matches for West Ham between 2007 and 2011. He has also guided Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley to promotion from the Championship.
West Ham’s immediate challenge is to regain consistency and close the gap on the automatic promotion places.
The managerial change reflects the pressure on the club to secure a quick return to the Premier League. However, appointing a new coach alone will not guarantee promotion.
The next manager must improve the team’s defensive organisation, home form and consistency. Results in the coming weeks will also determine whether West Ham can recover their position in the promotion race.
For now, the club faces a crucial period as it seeks to rebuild confidence and meet its season objectives.
