Graham Potter speaks for the first time on decision to become new West Ham head coach

Graham Potter speaks for the first time on the decision to become new West Ham head coach, as replacement for Julen Lopetegui.

The 49 year old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, aiming to guide the team in their upcoming matches, starting with the FA Cup third round clash against Aston Villa.

Potter expressed his enthusiasm for joining West Ham, noting the club’s rich heritage and his ambition to build on the success that led to their Europa Conference League victory, indicating a desire for consistent success both on and off the pitch.

He stressed the importance of finding the right fit after his previous tenure at Chelsea and highlighted his conversations with the club’s chairman, David Sullivan, and the board, which convinced him of their aligned vision for the club’s future.

West Ham currently sit 14th in the Premier League with 23 points from 20 games played, 7 points above the drop zone and 11 points from the top 6.

West Ham United is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as the Club’s new Head Coach ⚒️

— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 9, 2025

CLUB STATEMENT:

West Ham United is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as the Club’s new Head Coach.

The 49-year-old joins the Hammers on a two-and-a-half year contract and will take charge of his new team for the first time when the Irons travel to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday evening.

A highly-respected and sought-after coach, Potter has been awaiting the right opportunity after leaving his last role at Chelsea in April 2023, and was the Board’s unanimous choice to take the Club forward in line with its objectives and ambitions.

Potter, whose progressive style and flexible tactical approach previously impressed at Swedish club Östersund, Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, has a passion to return to Premier League management and is relishing the opportunity to work with West Ham United’s talented squad of international players.

The new Head Coach 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.

“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.”

Potter will be joined at the Hammers by Bruno (Assistant Coach), Billy Reid (First-Team Coach) and Narcís Pèlach (First-Team Coach). Goalkeeper Coach Xavi Valero will stay on in his role.

Potter has long been considered one of the brightest coaching minds in the English game, having studied for a Master’s degree following a 14-year playing career with the likes of Birmingham City, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.

The Solihull-born Potter began his coaching career with university students before taking his first managerial role at Östersund in 2010. He led the Swedish club on an incredible run of three promotions in five seasons to the top-flight, won the Swedish Cup and reached the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, defeating Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

Potter’s exploits in Scandinavia prompted Swansea to appoint him in summer 2018. After an eye-catching year in South Wales, he took charge at Brighton a year later and led the Seagulls to a then record-high Premier League finish of ninth in 2020/21.

Having impressed with both his results and style on the south coast, Potter moved to Chelsea in September 2022, before departing Stamford Bridge in April 2023. Now, after 18 months during which he has continued studying the game and working in the media, he is ready to return to the technical area with West Ham.

Everyone at the Club would like to welcome Graham, his family and his staff to London Stadium and wish them every success in east London.

Twitter users gave their reaction as Graham Potter speaks for the first time on decision to become new West Ham head coach…

@jaakecruump: This will work out as a great appointment for the club, the appointment that should have happened at the start of the season. Shame about the dark cloud hanging over it after how the club dealt with JL

@DonPascoe1: Welcome aboard Graham, we may be difficult to please at times but if you put your heart and soul into our great club you will find out what it’s like to be West Ham United 👍⚒⚒

@rickwhufc: Welcome Graham & good luck. Do yourself a favour & get into the club, find out what makes us tick, you have to have an understanding & “get” the fabric of the club to succeed here, do that & you’ll do well with the fanbase. Some decent entertaining football would go amiss either👍🏻

@Bishy613: Well, I’ve watched the interview. He speaks very well. He says all the right things and I must say I believe him. Here’s hoping he can achieve everything he wants to ⚒️

@M_BreezyFM: The type of coach that should have been appointed in the summer. Minimal expectations for this season, optimistic for the future. #COYI

@WHUFCallum_: Let’s get behind him and hopefully he gives us something to cheer about. Start off with a big performance on Friday ⚒️

@The_BoleynBoys:
2 things I like about Potter already.
1. He thought we were the correct opportunity for him after turning down a few jobs. (Notably the Ajax one!)
2. Glad he wanted to get involved straight away and be in the dugout for tomorrow!
⚒️

@Biggs1901:
It’ll be interesting to see how the famously patient West Ham fans are if he goes on a run anything similar to his record at #BHAFC
14 home games without a win
1 home win in a calendar year
3 months without a home goal
3 months without a win
And don’t mention the booing 🤫

@marks_WHUFC85: I’m shocked I never saw is appointing potter 🤣🤪 Pleased with the appointment. He will eventually get us playing football we crave. Needs to be given time to implement his ideas

@robbinho_3: Always felt like Potter going to West Ham was an inevitability and he was just waiting for Lopetegui to be sacked. Think he’ll be a fantastic appointment for West Ham and he’ll get the time and resources to be a success.

@misfituser38: I’m not convinced he is the answer or even the right one for the job, but I felt the same about Moyes, so, maybe Potter will prove me wrong also, but he has not been able to find another club since being sacked by Chelski in April 2023.

@dazyoungs: Whatever you think of #Lopetegui as a @WestHam fan, his farewell message just shows the class of the man and the upper management at the club handled this appallingly #KarenBrady and #DavidSullivan should be a little embarrassed #COYI

@Jamiexcvii: Hope he can turn things around but I’m not fully convinced on Graham Potter. Smashed it in Sweden; yes. Succeeded at Brighton with the benefit of it being a properly ran club which West Ham certainly aren’t. Time will tell #COYI