West Ham United have appointed Graham Potter as their new head coach.
The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the club had agreed a deal with the 49-year-old following the departure of Julen Lopetegui.
Potter has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2027.
In an interview with his new club, 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.
“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 the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the club forward in the medium to long term.
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“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.
“The club have made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a club that the supporters can be proud of.”
The east London club confirmed that Potter’s backroom staff will be made up of assistant coach Bruno, first-team coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach, while former goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero will stay on in his role.
Potter’s managerial career began in 2007, and he has gone on to have spells in charge of Ostersund, Swansea City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea. He has taken charge of 141 Premier League matches.
Potter’s first game in charge of 14th-place West Ham will be against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the FA Cup on Friday.
(Photo: West Ham United)
