West Ham United have parted ways with head coach Nuno Espírito Santo with immediate effect following a disappointing start to their Championship campaign, bringing an end to his 13-month spell at the London Stadium.
The decision was officially confirmed by the club on Tuesday, November 3, after growing frustration over the team’s performances and their failure to establish themselves among the leading promotion contenders.
Despite being widely tipped to secure an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation last season, the Hammers have struggled for consistency and currently occupy eighth position in the Championship table.
Their latest setback came on Saturday when they suffered a disappointing 3-1 home defeat against West Bromwich Albion, a result that further intensified pressure on Nuno and left the club six points behind league leaders Middlesbrough.
The defeat followed another frustrating home loss against Southampton, meaning West Ham had suffered consecutive setbacks at the London Stadium at a particularly important stage of their promotion campaign.
The club’s management subsequently reviewed the team’s performances before deciding that a change in leadership was necessary to protect their ambitions.
In an official statement, West Ham confirmed that Nuno had left his position with immediate effect, adding that assistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeper coach Rui Barbosa had also departed.
The club explained that its board believed a managerial change was necessary to ensure that its objectives and expectations remained on track.
West Ham also confirmed that the recruitment process for a new permanent head coach was already underway.
Meanwhile, former midfielder Mark Noble, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville have been placed in temporary charge of preparations ahead of Wednesday’s Championship encounter against Cardiff City.
Nuno’s dismissal represents another significant managerial setback for the Portuguese tactician, who arrived at West Ham in September 2025 after the departure of Graham Potter.
He was initially brought in to improve the team’s fortunes and prevent relegation from the Premier League. However, despite his efforts, West Ham failed to preserve their top-flight status and eventually dropped into the Championship.
The club nevertheless retained his services following relegation, hoping his previous experience of winning promotion with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest would help them secure an immediate return to English football’s top division.
However, that confidence has gradually weakened following a disappointing run of results.
West Ham have collected six victories from their opening 13 league matches, with defensive inconsistencies and disappointing home performances contributing to their struggles.
Their defeat against West Brom proved particularly damaging, with supporters expressing their frustration as the team conceded three goals at home.
Jarrod Bowen managed to find the net for the Hammers, but goals from Felix Horn Myhre, Jimmy-Jay Morgan and Callum Styles condemned the hosts to another painful defeat.
With the club now searching for a new manager, former West Ham midfielder Scott Parker has emerged as a leading candidate to take over.
Reports indicate that discussions with Parker are at an advanced stage, with the former England international reportedly close to agreeing to return to the London Stadium in a managerial capacity.
Parker is familiar with the demands of Championship football, having previously secured promotion to the Premier League with Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley.
His connection with West Ham could also make him an attractive appointment, having represented the club between 2007 and 2011, making 129 appearances during his playing career.
However, the potential appointment would come with considerable expectations, particularly given West Ham’s ambition to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.
The incoming manager will inherit a squad expected to compete for automatic promotion but will need to address the team’s inconsistent performances and restore confidence among supporters.
West Ham’s immediate challenge will be their trip to Cardiff City, where Noble, Potts and Prenderville are expected to oversee preparations while the club works towards confirming a permanent appointment.
For Nuno, his departure marks the end of a difficult chapter at the London Stadium, while West Ham must now make another important managerial decision if they are to prevent their promotion ambitions from slipping further away.
The Hammers’ next appointment could prove decisive in determining whether they can recover from their disappointing start and return to the Premier League.
