West Ham United have dismissed manager Nuno Espirito Santo following a disappointing start to their Championship campaign, with former midfielder Scott Parker emerging as the club’s preferred successor.
The decision came three days after the Hammers suffered a 3-1 home defeat against West Bromwich Albion, their second consecutive loss following an earlier defeat by Southampton.
West Ham are currently eighth in the Championship, despite having one of the division’s most expensive squads and retaining captain Jarrod Bowen after their relegation.
The club’s stated objective is to secure immediate automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
In a statement announcing Nuno’s departure, West Ham said the board had reviewed the team’s start to the season and concluded that a managerial change was necessary to keep the club’s objectives on track.
Dressing Room Discontent Had Grown Under Nuno
Nuno’s position had come under pressure amid concerns within the club about his tactical decisions, approach to managing players and training sessions.
Some club insiders described the Portuguese manager as distant, while questions were raised about the team’s playing style and lack of a clear identity.
His selection decisions included using full-backs on their unfamiliar sides during a defeat against Brentford and fielding a team without a recognised striker against Leeds, with Andy Irving operating in midfield.
Several players and people connected to the squad appeared to welcome his departure on social media.
Former West Ham striker Callum Wilson liked the club’s Instagram announcement confirming the dismissal, as did midfielder Edson Alvarez, who had struggled to secure a regular place under Nuno.
The wife of goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who had lost his starting position to Mads Hermansen, also shared an Instagram story featuring the song So Long, Farewell from The Sound of Music.
Former midfielder James Ward-Prowse, who had also fallen out of favour under Nuno, previously expressed satisfaction after Southampton defeated West Ham at the London Stadium.
Asked whether the victory felt particularly rewarding because of his relationship with his former manager, Ward-Prowse said: “I’m not gonna lie, of course it does.”
Supporters Had Called for Nuno’s Dismissal
West Ham supporters had made their dissatisfaction clear during the home defeat against West Brom.
Travelling West Brom fans sang that Nuno would be sacked in the morning, with some of the remaining home supporters joining in after the final whistle.
The club confirmed his departure three days later, following a board-level review of the team’s performances.
Nuno had remained in charge after West Ham were relegated, despite former majority shareholder David Sullivan reportedly wanting him dismissed during the summer.
Sullivan’s influence at board level had subsequently declined after he stepped down as joint-chairman following a BBC Panorama investigation into historical allegations about his behaviour, which he denies.
Daniel Kretinsky, who has taken a leading role in the club’s decision-making, had initially favoured maintaining stability but decided a managerial change was necessary after a meeting earlier in the week.
Scott Parker Emerges as West Ham’s Preferred Successor
West Ham have turned to former midfielder Scott Parker as they search for a manager capable of securing promotion.
The 46-year-old has been without a club since leaving Burnley in April and is expected to become the fourth permanent manager appointed by West Ham since their European success under David Moyes.
The club held discussions with Parker during the summer and is believed to have contacted him again last week after the defeat against Southampton.
West Ham are hoping he could take charge in time for Wednesday night’s match against Cardiff.
Parker previously played for the Hammers and was named the club’s Hammer of the Year for three consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2011.
He has also built a record of securing promotion from the Championship, having achieved the feat with Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley.
His most recent promotion came with Burnley in the 2024-25 season, when the club collected 100 points.
Mark Noble Expected to Join Parker’s Coaching Team
Former West Ham captain Mark Noble is expected to be involved in Parker’s backroom staff.
Noble, who currently serves as the club’s sporting director, has been in interim charge following Nuno’s departure.
The two men previously played together at West Ham, and their involvement in the new managerial setup would bring familiar figures into the dugout.
A senior club source said Parker understood the club’s identity and values, describing him as someone who knew the West Ham ethos.
The appointment is also being viewed internally as part of a broader effort to establish greater stability under chief executive Karim Virani.
West Ham’s Defensive Record Presents Parker With an Immediate Challenge
Parker’s first major task will be improving a defence that has conceded 18 goals in 13 Championship matches.
West Ham have scored 33 goals, giving them the division’s highest-scoring attack, but their defensive record is among the weakest of the leading teams.
Eight of the goals conceded have come within the opening 20 minutes, while the Hammers have yet to win a match in which they conceded first.
Their four clean sheets so far also compare poorly with Parker’s defensive record at Burnley.
During the 2024-25 promotion campaign, Burnley kept 30 clean sheets and conceded only 16 goals across 46 league matches. They did not concede more than once in any game.
Parker’s Championship teams have recorded clean sheets in nearly half of their matches, and West Ham will be expected to improve defensively under his management.
Parker’s Burnley Team Was Built Around Defensive Strength
Parker’s approach at Burnley focused heavily on making his team difficult to beat.
Although the club finished the 2024-25 season as the Championship’s third-highest scorers, they ranked 10th for shots and expected goals. Eight other teams also recorded more touches inside the opposition penalty area.
A Burnley source described Parker’s football as “dour but effective”, explaining that his teams were particularly difficult to overcome once they had scored.
Despite criticism of his playing style, Parker maintained strong relationships with his players. One source said members of the squad would run through brick walls for him.
Several Burnley players also published lengthy messages following his departure from the club.
West Ham are hoping Parker can bring the same defensive organisation while making use of the attacking quality available in his new squad.
Former West Ham Players Could Benefit From Managerial Change
Parker’s arrival could provide opportunities for players who struggled to secure places under Nuno.
Areola previously worked with Parker at Fulham after joining the club on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The goalkeeper went on to win Fulham’s Player of the Season award.
Noble has also spoken positively about Alvarez, expressing his respect for the midfielder’s abilities.
Senior figures at West Ham are hopeful that Parker’s greater attacking options could allow him to adopt a more expansive approach than the one used during his time at Burnley.
At Burnley, he had to rebuild his squad after losing several important players towards the end of a transfer window, while still maintaining a strong defensive record.
Parker’s Premier League Record Remains a Concern
Although Parker has secured three promotions from the Championship, his record in the Premier League has been less successful.
Fulham and Burnley both suffered immediate relegation after reaching the top flight under his management.
Burnley were relegated despite spending more than £100 million during the summer before their Premier League campaign.
Parker was also dismissed by Bournemouth after just four matches of the 2022-23 season, following a 9-0 defeat against Liverpool and public complaints that his squad was not adequately equipped for the campaign.
His win rate stands at approximately 55 per cent in the Championship, compared with 15 per cent in the Premier League.
His average points per game also falls from 1.95 in the second tier to 0.7 in the top division.
West Ham Focus on Securing Immediate Promotion
West Ham’s immediate priority is to return to the Premier League after falling short of expectations in the opening part of the Championship season.
Despite their attacking output and the presence of Bowen, consecutive defeats against Southampton and West Brom have left the club outside the automatic promotion places.
Parker will be tasked with improving the team’s consistency and defensive organisation while delivering the promotion expected by the board and supporters.
Questions about how he would fare in the Premier League are likely to remain, given his previous record in the division, but West Ham must first secure their return to the top flight.
