West Ham appoint Scott Parker as head coach

London football club West Ham United have appointed Scott Parker as their new head coach. The decision follows the dismissal of Nuno, whose side lost back-to-back home games against Southampton and West Bromwich Albion. West Ham are playing in the EFL Championship, England's second tier, after being relegated from the Premier League last season, and their aim is an immediate return to the top flight.

Position in the table

Before the season, West Ham were among the promotion favourites, but their start has been uneven. They have won two of their last six matches and lost 3-2 at home to Southampton and 3-1 at home to West Brom on Saturday. They now sit eighth, six points behind leaders Middlesbrough, having dropped from second place.

Parker becomes the club's fourth permanent manager since David Moyes left London Stadium in May 2024. He will be assisted by first-team coaches Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine, while his former team-mate Mark Noble will work closely with him as sporting director. Further backroom appointments will be announced in the coming days and weeks.

Comments on the appointment

Parker said he was proud to return to a club that means a great deal to him and his family, and that he wants to lead West Ham back to the Premier League. He acknowledged the Championship is a tough division but said he has been in it three times and got out of it three times. He said the club's leadership shares his ambition of a rapid return.

Interim chief executive Karim Virani said Parker was the board's unanimous choice, pointing to his experience, his record in the Championship and his understanding of the club.

The squad

After relegation, the club raised about £150m in transfer revenue over the summer. Part of it went on a Championship-record £22m fee to Celtic for midfielder Arne Engels. Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos remain at the club.