West Ham confirm Nuno Espirito Santo will remain as manager despite Premier League relegation after a dramatic final day.
West Ham United F.C. have confirmed that head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will remain in charge despite the club’s relegation from the Premier League. The Portuguese manager met senior club officials earlier this week before both parties agreed to continue together into next season.
West Ham dropped into the Championship on the final day despite beating Leeds United F.C. 3-0 at the London Stadium. Tottenham Hotspur F.C. secured survival with a 1-0 victory over Everton F.C., leaving the Hammers two points short of safety.
The club released an open letter to supporters confirming their support for Nuno. West Ham’s board praised improvements in mentality, performances and dressing room unity during the second half of the season. Nuno replaced Graham Potter in September on a three-year contract. Both the club and manager reportedly had clauses allowing them to separate without compensation following relegation.
Instead, West Ham chose stability ahead of a crucial Championship campaign. The board believes Nuno’s previous success with Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. makes him the right man to guide the club back to the top flight. Nuno won the Championship title with Wolves in 2018 after collecting 99 points. West Ham now hope he can repeat that achievement in east London.
Although relegated, West Ham showed signs of recovery late in the campaign. The Hammers collected 25 points from their final 17 league matches, averaging 1.47 points per game during that run. Across the full season, West Ham finished with 39 points from 38 matches. It was the highest points tally for a relegated side in the Premier League since 2010-11.
The team recorded 10 wins, nine draws and 19 defeats while scoring 46 goals and conceding 65. West Ham averaged 42.5 percent possession and produced an expected goals figure of 51.6 during the campaign. However, damaging defeats earlier this month ultimately proved costly. Consecutive losses against Brentford F.C., Arsenal F.C. and Newcastle United F.C. handed Tottenham control of the survival race.
Club captain Jarrod Bowen publicly apologised to supporters after relegation was confirmed. Bowen described the season as painful and admitted the squad had simply not performed well enough. Despite the disappointment, Bowen remained one of West Ham’s standout players. The England forward finished the season with nine league goals and 11 assists while creating 62 chances.
Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes also attracted attention after an impressive campaign. His performances are expected to generate transfer interest this summer as the club faces major financial challenges following relegation.
West Ham estimate relegation could cost the club close to £200 million in lost revenue. Significant player sales may therefore become unavoidable before the new season begins. The board also pledged to improve communication with supporters following years of fan frustration. Season ticket prices will reportedly be reduced by up to 30 percent for the Championship campaign.
West Ham are expected to begin pre-season preparations in July as Nuno starts planning for an immediate Premier League return in 2026-27.
