Julen Lopetegui has been sacked by West Ham with a replacement reportedly Graham Potter already lined up to quickly come in.
We were expecting this and finally the news has now broken. The Hammers have parted company with their head coach, the announcement made public with Julen still inside the West Ham training ground and had been taking training.
The club have made no mention of Graham Potter, but Julen Lopetegui has left West Ham after 8 points from the last 8 games and only 7 wins from 22 in his time in charge. His last game being a 4-1 defeat to Man City, leaving his side 14th in the Premier League.
🚨⚒️ BREAKING: Julen Lopetegui has been sacked by West Ham, confirmed.
Graham Potter set to become the new head coach with contracts being checked. pic.twitter.com/ca5EuLCSG3
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2025
— Sean Bruce (@seanbruce88) January 6, 2025
EXCLUSIVE
POTTER AND TIM pic.twitter.com/2SAhl36mru
— Central (@WestHam_Central) January 6, 2025
WEST HAM STATEMENT:
West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the Club.
The first half of the 2024/25 season has not aligned with the Club’s ambitions and the Club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives.
The Club can confirm that Assistant Head Coach Pablo Sanz, Head of Performance Oscar Caro, Head Analyst Juan Vicente Peinado, Fitness Coach Borja De Alba and Technical Coach Edu Rubio have also left with immediate effect.
The Board would like to thank Julen and his staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future.
The process of appointing a replacement is underway.
The Club will be making no further comment at this time.
“His results weren’t fantastic” 👀
Sky Sports News talks to a West Ham fan on the possibility of Graham Potter becoming the next head coach of the club ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/fwqzWW3wD4
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 8, 2025
What are the realistic expectations for Graham Potter at West Ham this season? ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/LF2ESyPo1D
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 8, 2025
JULEN’S LAST POST-MATCH INTERVIEW:
Lopetegui sais per the club website: It’s tough for me to explain the score.
It’s true that we did a lot of good things. In my opinion, in the first half, we overcame a lot of things, but we didn’t take advantage of our good things and positive things.
In football, if you don’t take advantage then normally, against this kind of team, you are going to be closer to suffering a goal [being scored against you].
But the first goal was very, very unlucky. It was not about one moment when they dominated us or they had clear chances. It was one moment when it was one rebound [off Coufal’s boot into the net] and it was very unlucky for us.
It was one key moment, above all, and it came after we had a very clear situation to score, which we didn’t do. And when this happens, normally you are going to lose the match.
There was another key moment when Crysencio Summerville regained the ball in a very clear press and the referee whistled for a foul, but it was not at foul. It was very clear and had a very good press. It was a very clear chance for us, a one-on-one with the ‘keeper.
So, when all the key moments work against you, against this kind of opponent, normally you are going to lose, but that’s why it’s not easy for me to explain the match.
We had double the number of shots that Manchester City had, and that’s why it’s not easy to explain the score.
We have to keep the positive things, knowing that the little details we have to improve. We have to improve to be more consistent in both boxes and in the moment when you don’t take advantage and score yourself, you have to avoid above all conceding the second and third goals.
The last City goal was one moment where we had a very clear ball and we can change and switch the play but we didn’t do it. But they are goals that we can set.
There were no goals when they dominated us and they had very clear chances.
That’s why in these little details and individual actions we can and we have to do better.
Niclas Füllkrug scored one goal, but he did a lot of good things for the team too.
He was able to finish the match in the pitch, which is the first match he started and finished, so step by step he’s better.
He scored a goal, but the work that he did for the team was more important. He did very good work and with Crysencio it was the same. Summerville did very, very well. Lucas Paquetá too. A lot of players, they did well.
That’s why today is not easy for me to explain. We lost 4-1, it’s not enough and we are very unhappy, but it’s true that it has been a very strange match when we did good things and we have to keep the positive things.
I look forward to the next challenge, improving these little details.
Twitter users reacted as West Ham release statement on decision to sack Julen Lopetegui with the replacement lined up…
@j_marsh98: While it might’ve been the right decision. The treatment he got was awful.
@DavidKezza: im happy but i feel bad for the guy.
@Birdiex94x: A few months too late. Shocking how it’s been handled though with replacements being known so publicly before the manager even leaves though
@vinnywhufc A terrible appointment. There was never any connection with the fans and the results were just not there. We saw nothing under this manager to think things were going to get better. It was clear early on that this was a mistake and he should have been dismissed much sooner. The club have dealt with this appallingly. But this is West Ham under David Sullivan. How can it even be a surprise? West Ham are being run exactly how we have always been under Sullivan. It’s all a bit Del Boy. All that happened is that we got a manager who managed to get a team together and found success with this for a while. It’s likely Graham Potter will take over. This is a manager who will need to get results very very quickly because time and patience is something he won’t be afforded with the majority of this fanbase.
@ben_glander: Glad it’s finally over, wasn’t the right appointment to begin with. However, the way we’ve dealt with this from a human standpoint has been nothing but disgraceful.
@Ian_A_Woodcock: Aaron Cresswell is going to be on Undr The Cosh in a couple of years time talking about the training session Lopetegui had them on today
@Nathaniel_John: Like him or loathe Lopetegui, the way our circus of a board have treated him is disgusting. Lack of class, lack of respect, lack of human decency. A fish rots from the head down, comes to mind.
@archieballoo: Absolutely embarrassing how the club have handled this. Sullivan you’re a twat
@OpinionsWhu: We’ve handled this awfully but glad it’s done, time to get behind Potter! ⚒️
@bubblesgirl08: The way this was handled was disgusting. This club treats its fans and employees like shit. @WestHam
@Jack_Ryan_123: As glad as I am that he’s gone, the board should be ashamed of how they’ve handled this! Best wishes julen ⚒️
@BradChuck: No one ever doubt my commitment as as a @WestHam fan. But please also understand the ridiculous nonsense i constantly deal with. Yes, we are agree with this sacking, as much as we disagreed with the hiring. But this circus of a board has to end. Now. #Lopetegui #coyi
@ZombieRocker86: Thanks #Lopetegui for your efforts. Ultimately you didn’t fit the club and couldn’t get the team performing. Thanks for trying. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours. ⚒️🫧⚒️
@Giantdaz72: Stop with all the “I feel sorry for lopetegui.” I feel sorry for the pensioners in the cold.”Oh, he was so classy to turn up for training.” Yeah, he’s getting 3 million quid for putting on a tracksuit & standing on the training ground for half an hour. He’s a millionaire, #COYI
