- Graham Potter has been appointed as new West Ham manager
- The 49-year-old has managed various top clubs, including Swedish club Östersund, Swansea City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea
Graham Potter returns to the top of English football after being appointed as new West Ham manager on Thursday morning.
Potter takes over from Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked by West Ham 24 hours ago after an underwhelming campaign at London Stadium. The Hammers are currently 14th on the Premier League table, seven points clear from the relegation zone.
West Ham have brought in the experienced Potter to try and turn the club’s fortunes around. The 49-year-old has managed various top clubs, including Swedish club Östersund, Swansea City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea. Speaking after accepting West Ham’s deal, Potter said that he has been waiting for the perfect opportunity to return to management.
Graham Potter. Photo/ 90Min.com.
“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.” Graham Potter said, according to West Ham’s official website.
Potter, who has for long been considered as one of the brightest English coaches, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Hammers. The former footballer was appointed by the Board unanimously as he is seen as a man who could help the club meet its objectives and ambitions.
Potter arrives with new coaching staff that includes Bruno Saltor (Assistant Coach), Narcis Pelach (First-Team Coach) and Billy Reid (First-Team Coach). Meanwhile, goalkeeping Coach Xavi Valero will remain in his position despite the sacking of Julen Lopetegui.
Graham Potter Coaching Career
Graham Potter is a name football fans are familiar with considering he has coached Premier League clubs before. A former player, Potter’s football journey began at Birmingham City in 1992. He then played for various clubs, including Stoke City, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and Macclesfield Town, among others. He was a youth international for the England national team.
After ending his playing career in 2005, Potter transitioned into coaching and began his career in management at the University of Hull where he worked as a football development manager. During the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Englishman was the technical director for the Ghana women’s team.
Potter was appointed manager of Leeds Carnegie, which competed in Northern Counties East League, in 2008. In December 2010, he signed a contract with Swedish football club Östersund and joined the club the following month. The manager’s brilliance was spotted during his time in Sweden as he led Östersund to an incredible run of three promotions in five seasons.
Graham Potter previously managed Chelsea. Photo/ Eurosport.
With Östersund, he won the the Swedish Cup and led the club to the knockouts stages of the UEFA Europa League where they were knocked out by Premier League side Arsenal. Despite losing 4-2 on aggregate, Potter’s side recorded a memorable 2-1 win over the Gunners at Emirates Stadium in the second leg.
Potter got a new job as manager of Championship side Swansea City in the summer of 2018. After a campaign which saw Swansea finish tenth in the league, the Briton was acquired by Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of the 2019-20 season. In his Premier League debut, he guided Brighton to 3-0 win over Watford.
Potter became a household name during his time at Brighton as he transformed the club a relegation battling team to one of the best in the Premier League. His exploits prompted Chelsea to sign him in September 2022 after the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.
Despite having a promising start at Stamford Bridge, things later fell apart for Potter and the Blues. He was dismissed from his position on April 2, 2023, and has since been away from management. Twenty months later, he is back to the top of Premier League football after being appointed as West Ham manager.
