West Ham Confirm Departure of Manager Julen Lopetegui

Lopetegui’s Brief Tenure Comes to an End

West Ham United have officially announced the departure of manager Julen Lopetegui following a disappointing start to the 2024/25 season. Hired during the summer to replace David Moyes, the former Spain and Real Madrid boss managed just seven wins in 22 matches over a six-month stint in charge.

Struggles Under Lopetegui

Lopetegui’s future came under scrutiny as early as December due to a poor start to the campaign. A brief reprieve came with a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, but consistent struggles followed. West Ham’s only other win in that period was against Southampton, who currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League. The final blow came in consecutive heavy defeats to Liverpool (5-0) and Manchester City (4-1), sealing Lopetegui’s fate.

Club Statement

West Ham released an official statement confirming the departure of Lopetegui and his backroom staff:
“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.”

Graham Potter Tipped to Take Over

West Ham is widely expected to appoint former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter as Lopetegui’s successor. Potter could be in the dugout in time for the team’s FA Cup clash with Aston Villa on Friday.