West Ham United have sacked head coach Nuno Espírito Santo with immediate effect following a disappointing start to their Championship campaign, bringing his 14-month spell at the London Stadium to an abrupt end.
The Premier League relegated side confirmed the Portuguese manager’s departure on Tuesday, November 3, following a review of the club’s performances and their failure to establish themselves among the leading promotion contenders.
The decision comes after consecutive home defeats against Southampton and West Bromwich Albion left West Ham eighth in the Championship standings, six points behind league leaders Middlesbrough after 13 matches.
Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to West Brom proved particularly costly, intensifying pressure on Nuno as supporters expressed their frustration over the team’s performances.
In an official statement, West Ham said the board believed a managerial change was necessary to ensure the club’s objectives and expectations remained on track.
“West Ham United can confirm that men’s first-team Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo has left his position with immediate effect,” the club announced.
The club also confirmed the departures of assistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeping coach Rui Barbosa.
Back-to-back defeats seal Nuno’s fate
Nuno’s dismissal follows a difficult period for West Ham, who entered the Championship season with ambitions of securing an immediate return to the Premier League.
The Hammers suffered a 3-2 home defeat against Southampton before losing 3-1 to West Brom, results that exposed their defensive vulnerabilities and inconsistency.
The defeats were particularly damaging because West Ham had enjoyed an encouraging spell earlier in the campaign.
After failing to win their opening three league matches, Nuno’s side registered four consecutive victories in September, scoring 16 goals during that run and briefly moving to the top of the table.
However, that momentum proved difficult to sustain.
Although they subsequently secured victories against Lincoln City and Swansea City, dropped points against Millwall and Queens Park Rangers, alongside their recent defeats, increased scrutiny of the manager.
West Ham now find themselves outside the automatic promotion places, raising concerns about their ability to achieve the club’s immediate objective of returning to the top flight.
From Premier League survival battle to Championship dismissal
Nuno was appointed West Ham manager in September 2025, replacing Graham Potter, who had been dismissed following a poor run of results.
The Portuguese tactician arrived with considerable Premier League experience, having previously managed Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.
At Wolves, he established himself as a respected manager, guiding the club to promotion from the Championship in 2018 before securing consecutive seventh-place finishes in the Premier League.
He also led Nottingham Forest to Premier League survival after taking charge in December 2023.
However, his West Ham appointment proved challenging. Despite efforts to improve the team’s fortunes, he could not prevent their relegation at the end of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
West Ham subsequently decided to retain his services, hoping his experience would help the club secure promotion at the first attempt.
That confidence has now come to an end just 13 matches into the Championship campaign.
Mark Noble takes temporary charge
Following Nuno’s departure, West Ham have appointed club technical figures Mark Noble, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville to oversee preparations temporarily.
The trio will take charge ahead of Wednesday’s Championship encounter against Cardiff City as the club begins its search for a permanent replacement.
West Ham confirmed that the recruitment process for a new head coach was already underway but did not announce any immediate successor.
The upcoming Cardiff fixture will therefore provide an early test of the interim arrangement as the Hammers attempt to arrest their declining form.
Pressure mounts on West Ham’s promotion ambitions
Nuno’s dismissal highlights the pressure surrounding West Ham’s efforts to return to the Premier League.
The club entered the Championship season with expectations of challenging for automatic promotion, but inconsistent performances have complicated that ambition.
With Middlesbrough establishing themselves at the top of the table, West Ham’s six-point deficit leaves little room for further setbacks.
The departure also continues a period of managerial instability at the London Stadium, following previous changes involving David Moyes, Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter.
For Nuno, the dismissal represents another difficult chapter in a managerial career that has included notable achievements in English football.
For West Ham, attention now shifts to finding a replacement capable of restoring consistency, rebuilding confidence and delivering the promotion campaign the club’s supporters expect.
