West Ham has sacked manager Nuno Espirito Santo following a challenging start to the season, with Scott Parker reportedly set to take over.
The team, considered Championship promotion favorites, currently sits eighth in the league, failing to meet expectations after their relegation from the Premier League last season. Santo, who previously managed Tottenham, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest, signed a three-year contract in September 2025 but could not prevent the club's poor performance.
Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion marked the latest setback, leaving West Ham with only six wins in 13 matches. The club confirmed Santo's departure on Tuesday morning, along with Assistant Head Coach Rui Pedro Silva and Goalkeeper Coach Rui Barbosa.
Marrion Areola, wife of West Ham's backup goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, appeared to celebrate Santo's dismissal on social media. She shared Instagram stories featuring the song "So Long Farewell" from "The Sound of Music," which many interpreted as a parting jab at the former manager. This follows previous criticisms from Marrion Areola regarding her husband's playing time under Santo.
West Ham's Instagram post announcing Santo's exit received a 'like' from midfielder Edson Alvarez, who has not featured in the Championship this season.
The club stated in a release that a thorough review of the season's start led the Board of Directors to believe a change was necessary to keep the club's objectives on track. The process of recruiting a new Head Coach is underway. Mark Noble, Steve Potts, and Gerard Prenderville will temporarily manage the team ahead of their upcoming match against Cardiff City, though Parker could be in charge if a deal is finalized in time.
Parker, a former West Ham midfielder, has a history of securing promotions to the top flight with Fulham, Bournemouth, and Burnley. He has been out of work since leaving Burnley last season.
Despite significant investment in the squad over the summer, including the acquisition of Arne Engels for a Championship record fee of £22 million, West Ham has struggled for consistency. Back-to-back defeats against Southampton and West Brom proved to be the final straw for Santo, who had faced chants of "sacked in the morning" from home fans.
Santo expressed his disappointment in post-match comments, stating that winning games is the only solution to appease fans and improve performances. He leaves with a record of 19 wins, 19 defeats, and 15 draws from 53 matches in charge.
Following the Cardiff game, West Ham, who are six points behind league leaders Middlesbrough, will face Blackburn before the international break.