West Ham United have officially announced that Nuno Espirito Santo will continue as head coach despite the club's relegation to the Championship. The decision follows a series of meetings between the board and the Portuguese manager after the final day of the Premier League season.
Club Statement Confirms Continuity
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Hammers expressed gratitude to fans for their unwavering support throughout a difficult campaign. The statement read: "First of all, thank you for the magnificent backing you gave the team throughout Sunday's match at London Stadium. The players responded by giving it their all but, sadly, the victory against Leeds United wasn't enough to get us to safety."
The board acknowledged the pain of relegation, stating: "Relegation is obviously not the outcome that anyone at West Ham United would have wanted when the Premier League season started last August. For every single person who is passionate about the Club, it hurts deeply and that feeling will sustain for some time."
Board Takes Responsibility
The statement continued: "As a Board we cannot shy away from the fact our season has not been good enough. We know you, the supporters, have backed the team constantly as always and your loyalty and commitment has not been matched by our final league position. We also understand the frustration that many of you feel about the direction the Club has headed in recent years."
Looking ahead, the board emphasised a commitment to improvement: "Although relegation is not what any of us wanted, we now have to look forward. The Board must now review every aspect of the Club's operation 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."
Nuno's Commitment Confirmed
The club confirmed that Nuno Espirito Santo has expressed his desire to lead the team back to the top flight. "We held meetings with Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo early this week and are pleased to confirm that he has expressed his continued commitment to the Club – as we have to him. Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking."
The statement highlighted Nuno's previous success in the Championship: "Nuno has spent one previous year in the EFL Championship and it was an outstanding success as he secured 99 points to win the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018."
Reasons for Retention
The board cited recent improvements as a key factor in their decision: "While the ultimate outcome on Sunday was a painful one, the Board of Directors believe that there have been broader signs of improvement and progress in recent months, and we want Nuno to continue developing that progress." They noted that "a total of 25 points taken from our final 17 Premier League matches equated to 1.47 points per game – a ratio that would have resulted in a seventh-place finish across the full season."
Furthermore, the statement added: "We feel the clear improvement in squad mentality and togetherness since January, leading to that upturn in performances and results, makes him the right man to lead us forward."
West Ham's relegation was confirmed despite a final-day victory over Leeds United, as results elsewhere went against them. The club will now prepare for life in the Championship under Nuno's leadership, with the aim of an immediate return to the Premier League.
