West Ham United have sacked head coach Nuno Espírito Santo with immediate effect after reviewing the club’s start to the EFL Championship season.
The club confirmed the decision in a statement on Tuesday, explaining that the board felt a coaching change was needed to keep its targets and expectations on course.
“Following a thorough review of the start to the EFL Championship season, the Board of Directors believe that a change is necessary at this time in order to ensure that the Club’s objectives and expectations remain on track,” the statement said.
Assistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeping coach Rui Barbosa have also left the club. West Ham thanked all three coaches for their “hard work and commitment” and wished them success in their future endeavours.
The club has started searching for a new head coach. In the meantime, Mark Noble, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville will oversee squad preparations ahead of Tuesday evening’s Championship match against Cardiff City.
West Ham said it would not make further comments until a new manager is appointed.
Nuno joined the club on September 27, 2025, after leaving Nottingham Forest, signing a three-year deal. He previously managed Wolves, Tottenham, Valencia, Porto and Al-Ittihad.
At Wolves, he won the Championship title in 2018 and secured promotion to the Premier League. He later guided the club to two consecutive seventh-place finishes and the 2019/20 Europa League quarter-finals.
He also won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad in 2022 and led Nottingham Forest to seventh place in the Premier League and the FA Cup semi-finals in 2024/25.
West Ham had appointed him hoping to improve their performances and secure promotion back to the Premier League after relegation. Nuno had said his goal was to get the best out of the squad and make the club as competitive as possible.
