West Ham sack Nuno Espírito Santo with Hammers 8th in Championship
In brief
West Ham United sacked head coach Nuno Espírito Santo on 3 November 2026, with the relegated club eighth in the Championship after 13 games. The decision followed back-to-back home defeats to Southampton and West Bromwich Albion.
West Ham United dismissed head coach Nuno Espírito Santo on 3 November 2026. According to the club statement reported by BBC Sport, the board decided a change was needed after reviewing the first 13 rounds of their second-tier campaign. ScoreLab data shows the Hammers eighth on 22 points, six behind leaders Middlesbrough and four adrift of second-placed Swansea City.
Nuno's assistant Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeping specialist Rui Barbosa are leaving with the 52-year-old Portuguese. The club say the search for a permanent successor has begun, though no candidates have been named.
Why was Nuno sacked?
Nuno lost his job after two straight defeats at the London Stadium: 3-2 against Southampton on 24 October 2026 and 3-1 against West Bromwich Albion on 31 October 2026. BBC Sport noted West Ham had won only two of their last six league games despite being widely tipped for an automatic promotion place before the season. Sky Sports also linked the decision directly to that pair of results, which dropped the Hammers to eighth.
ScoreLab data highlights a split record. West Ham are unbeaten in six away games but have lost three of their seven at home. With 33 goals they have been prolific going forward, yet they shipped six at the London Stadium across their last two home fixtures.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Played / points | 13 / 22 |
| Position | 8th |
| Won-drawn-lost | 6-4-3 |
| Goals for-against | 33-18 |
| Home | 7 games: W3 D1 L3 |
| Away | 6 games: W3 D3 L0 |
Source: ScoreLab data; table after round 13.
What did West Ham say?
“Following a thorough review of the start to the EFL Championship season, the board of directors believe that a change is necessary at this time in order to ensure that the club's objectives and expectations remain on track.”
The club also thanked Nuno, Rui Pedro Silva and Rui Barbosa for their efforts and said the hunt for a successor had already started.
Timeline: Nuno at West Ham
- September 2025 — Nuno Espírito Santo is appointed West Ham head coach.
- May 2026 — West Ham finish 18th in the 2025/26 Premier League with 39 points from 38 games and are relegated; Nuno stays on.
- 16 August 2026 — Championship campaign opens with a 2-2 draw at Burnley.
- 11 September 2026 — Wrexham beaten 6-0 at home.
- 14 October 2026 — 6-0 win away at Lincoln City.
- 24 October 2026 — 3-2 home defeat to Southampton.
- 31 October 2026 — 3-1 home defeat to West Brom, Nuno's final game.
- 3 November 2026 — Club confirm Nuno and two coaches have left.
Who is Nuno Espírito Santo?
Nuno Espírito Santo is a 52-year-old Portuguese coach who took over at West Ham in September 2025 and was in charge as they dropped out of the Premier League. The club kept faith with him after relegation, aiming for an immediate return to the top flight. His previous English clubs were Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.
What happens next?
West Ham face Cardiff City away on Wednesday 4 November 2026, with an interim staff of former captain Mark Noble, Gerard Prenderville and Steve Potts in the dugout. According to ScoreLab fixtures, a trip to Blackburn Rovers follows on 7 November 2026. This article will be updated once a permanent head coach is appointed.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
Why did West Ham sack Nuno Espírito Santo?
The board felt a change was needed with the team eighth in the Championship after 13 games. The decision came after home defeats to Southampton (3-2) and West Brom (3-1).
Who is in charge of West Ham now?
Mark Noble, Gerard Prenderville and Steve Potts are leading the team on an interim basis, starting with the trip to Cardiff City on 4 November 2026.
Where are West Ham in the Championship table?
ScoreLab data shows West Ham eighth with 22 points from 13 games (six wins, four draws, three defeats), six points behind leaders Middlesbrough.
When did Nuno join West Ham?
Nuno Espírito Santo was appointed in September 2025 and stayed on after the club's relegation from the Premier League.
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This analysis was prepared by the ScoreLab Newsroom using the sources listed and ScoreLab data. Editorial policy