Nuno Espirito Santo continues as West Ham manager (Image: Getty)
West Ham have retained manager Nuno Espirito Santo despite the team being relegated from the Premier League. Despite Sunday’s 3-0 win against Leeds United, the Hammers’ fate was sealed. They finished the season in 18th place, two points behind 17th place Tottenham, and will be competing in the Championship alongside Wolves and Burnley next season.
Nuno refused to talk about his future after the team’s home win against Leeds, but was reported to have been called to an emergency meeting about his future at the London Stadium on Monday morning. However, he will stay on next season to help lead promotion to the Premier League.
As part of the club’s lengthy statement, West Ham said: “Football operations have always been our top priority and planning for next season began as soon as the final whistle blew on Sunday. We spoke with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo earlier this week and are pleased to confirm that he, like us, has expressed his continued commitment to the club.”
“Nuno made it very clear in his first question that he is keen to take on the challenge of taking West Ham United back into the top flight, which must be his undoubted goal for next season. Nuno has spent the previous year in the EFL Championship and enjoyed great success in 2018, winning the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers with 99 points.”
Express sports on FB! Get all the best sports news and more on our Facebook page
“While Sunday’s final result was painful, the board believes there have been widespread signs of improvement and progress in recent months and hopes Nuno can continue to build on that progress.
West Ham have had a disastrous season (Image: Getty)
“The total of 25 points scored in the last 17 Premier League games equates to 1.47 points per game, a ratio that will see us finish seventh overall for the season. “Additionally, we have seen a clear improvement in the team’s mentality and cohesion since January, which we feel has led to an improvement in performances and results, and we feel he is the right person to take us forward.”
The 52-year-old replaced Graham Potter in West Ham’s hot seat in September and started to make an impact in the second half of the season, but it proved to be too late.
As a result of their relegation to the second division, West Ham have had to choose whether to take the next step without Nuno as first-team manager, as the break clause in his contract could be triggered.
Overall, Espirito Santo won 11, drew 11 and lost 15 of his 37 games in all competitions for West Ham last season, with the club now facing the prospect of selling off their star players ahead of the 2026/27 Championship season.
The Hammers also promised to “review all aspects of the club’s operations” as they aim to return to the Premier League immediately.
The club said: “Relegation is clearly not the outcome that everyone at West Ham United had hoped for when the Premier League season began last August. For everyone who is passionate about the club, it hurt deeply and those feelings will continue for some time.”
“As a board, we cannot escape the fact that our season has not been good enough. We know that our supporters, as always, have been tirelessly rooting for our team and that your loyalty and dedication cannot be faulted for in the final league position.”
“We also understand the frustration many feel about the direction the club has taken in recent years.
“Relegation is not what any of us wanted, but we must now move on. The board must now review every aspect of the club’s operations to ensure that when we return to the Premier League, hopefully in August 2027, we are a better West Ham United in every way, on and off the pitch.”
