Graham Potter to appoint former Championship manager as West Ham no2 just 13 days after he was sacked from last job
GRAHAM POTTER will appoint a recently sacked Championship manager to be his assistant at West Ham.
The former Chelsea boss is expected to be named as the new Hammers manager today.
Potter, 49, arrives at the London Stadium as the successor to Julen Lopetegui.
The Spaniard was sacked after just seven months in charge of the club.
He only won six of his 20 Premier League games leaving the club in 14th place in the table.
Lopetegui’s backroom staff have also left the club, with only goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero remaining.
Potter will therefore name Narcis Pelach as his no.2 at the club.
The Spaniard has previously coached at the likes of Huddersfield Town and Norwich City.
The 36-year-old landed his first managerial job in England in September as he was appointed Stoke City boss.
However, he was axed just 13 days ago, on December 27, after winning just three of his 19 matches in charge.
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He also had time as a player and played for the likes of Spanish sides Cassa, Manlleu, Palamos and Figueres.
Pelach’s playing career came to an early end as he retired at the age of just 27.
West Ham‘s first game without Lopetegui in charge will come against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Friday night at Villa Park.
Potter will have to get to work quickly in order to steady the sinking West Ham ship.
The club forked out £127.5million in the summer on stars such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman and Crysencio Summerville.
But results on the pitch have gone backwards from the time under David Moyes.
Potter will also have to find a way to get the team firing without talisman captain Jarrod Bowen.
The England international is currently sidelined with a fractured foot and is not expected back until February at the earliest.
Lopetegui v Potter: The stats
Graham Potter
Career win rate: 38.6 %
Games managed: 440 games
Premier League win rate: 28.3 %
Honours: Swedish Cup Winner (2016/17)
Clubs managed: Ostersund, Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea
Julen Lopetegui
Career win rate: 54.9%
Games managed: 419 games
Premier League win rate: 34.4 per cent
Honours: Europa League (2019/20), U19 & U20 Euros
Clubs managed: Rayo Vallencano, Spain Youth, Porto, Spain, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves, West Ham