Julius OkorieThere are strong indications that West Ham new coach, Graham Potter, will enjoy a smooth ride in the club after it was revealed that he was the overwhelming choice of club management for the job.
The 49-year-old former Brighton and Chelsea boss signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the sacking of Julen Lopetegui and his backroom staff.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the club’s statement, 49-year-old Potter was the unanimous choice of the hierarchy. West Ham also added that Potter is ready to lead the “talented team” into the future.
“West Ham United is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as the Club’s new Head Coach,” the statement reads.
“A highly-respected and sought-after coach, Potter has been awaiting the right opportunity after leaving his last role at Chelsea in April 2023 and was the Board’s unanimous choice to take the club forward in line with its objectives and ambitions.
“Potter, whose progressive style and flexible tactical approach previously impressed at Swedish club Östersund, Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, has a passion for returning to Premier League management and is relishing the opportunity to work with West Ham United’s talented squad of international players.”
In his first words after joining the underperforming club, Potter, who made a name for himself in the EPL as Brighton & Hove Albion’s manager, could not hide his delight at returning to management after nine months without a job following his sack by Chelsea.
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He added that he shares similar values with the club and is looking to build on West Ham’s triumph in the UEFA Conference League last season.
“I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United.
“My conversations with the Chairman and the Board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the club forward in the medium to long term.
“The Club has made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a Club that the supporters can be proud of.”
Potter was Chelsea’s manager for seven months before he was sacked in April 2023. He was relieved of the job after leaving the Blues in 11th place on the Premier League table, 12 points below the UEFA Champions League (UCL) spots.
Potter will take charge of his new team for the first time on Friday (today),when West Ham United visit Aston Villa in the third round of the English FA Cup.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
