West Ham United have parted ways with Head Coach Julen Lopetegui. The Spaniard was reportedly prevented from holding the club’s pre-match press conference, a decision that fueled speculation about unrest behind the scenes. Hours later, the club issued an official statement confirming Lopetegui’s departure.
The statement read:
“West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the Club. The first half of the 2024/25 season has not aligned with the Club’s ambitions, and the Club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives.”
The announcement also confirmed that Lopetegui’s backroom staff, including Assistant Head Coach Pablo Sanz, Head of Performance Oscar Caro, Head Analyst Juan Vicente Peinado, Fitness Coach Borja De Alba, and Technical Coach Edu Rubio, had also left the club.
“The Board would like to thank Julen and his staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future. The process of appointing a replacement is underway,” the statement concluded.
Lopetegui, who joined West Ham in the summer of 2023, was brought in to elevate the club’s ambitions following a season of mid-table mediocrity. However, results this season have been underwhelming. West Ham currently sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table, having struggled for consistency both domestically and in Europe.
Sources close to the club suggest that Graham Potter is on the radar of the club as the possible replacement for Lopetegui.
