West Ham Sacks Graham Potter Following Poor Premier League Start

‎West Ham have sacked Graham Potter just five games into the Premier League season, making him the second managerial casualty of 2025-26.

‎The decision comes after a 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend.

‎Potter’s side also suffered heavy losses, including a 3-0 opening-day defeat at Sunderland and a 5-1 thrashing by Chelsea despite taking the lead through Lucas Paquetá.

‎West Ham then went out of the Carabao Cup at Wolves, the 3-2 defeat marked by a confrontation between Jarrod Bowen and a Hammers fan. After a 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest, West Ham lost by the same scoreline at home to Spurs.

‎Palace’s 2-1 victory at the London Stadium proved the final straw.

‎Damningly, West Ham have lost their opening three home league games for the second consecutive season, the first time they have done so in 98 seasons in English football.

‎The January appointment made Potter the successor to Julen Lopetegui. He had some notable successes, including a 1-0 win at Arsenal that significantly dented the Gunners’ title hopes, but the Hammers were 14th when he took charge, and he couldn’t improve their position by the end of the season.

‎Of his five wins last season, two came against Ipswich and Leicester, both of whom were relegated.

‎Potter acknowledged he was under scrutiny after the defeat by Chelsea, saying, “You are under pressure all the time in these jobs. In this situation, that is how it is. I know the territory, I know what comes with poor results and I accept that responsibility.

‎”It was too easy to score against us so I take my responsibility and I have to do better. That is the case with all the players.”

‎After the Palace match, he said, “Do I believe I can turn it around? Of course. I also understand it’s tough. We’re in a tough situation, there’s no getting away from that.

‎”The only thing you can do is front it up, be honest with it. We want to do better than we are and at the moment we’re not.”

‎The 50-year-old, who first rose to prominence at Östersund in Sweden, then at Swansea and subsequently Brighton, had been away from management for over a year before taking the job at West Ham.

‎He had been dismissed by Chelsea in April 2023 after less than a year in charge, with the club sitting 11th in the Premier League.

‎The club has begun searching for a new manager, with Slaven Bilic touted for a potential return to the Hammers, and Nuno Espírito Santo also on the shortlist.

‎West Ham are set to face Everton on Monday night, with a caretaker manager yet to be announced.