West Ham United have announced that head coach Nuno Espírito Santo will retain four academy coaches as part of his permanent backroom staff — rewarding their impact during his first weeks in charge.
The new West Ham boss, who took over late last month, has promoted Mark Robson, Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville, and Billy Lepine to senior coaching roles following a successful interim spell working alongside him.
Nuno chooses continuity over overhaul
While Nuno was widely expected to bring his own coaching team with him from previous jobs, he has instead chosen to reward the existing West Ham staff for their commitment and understanding of the club.
Robson, Potts, and Prenderville will remain as first-team coaches, while Lepine has been confirmed as goalkeeping coach. The quartet had worked with Nuno on an interim basis during his opening matches — a 1-1 draw away at Everton and a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.
The Portuguese head coach has now confirmed the appointments permanently ahead of his first home match in charge, against Brentford at the London Stadium following the international break.
“They are a great asset” – Nuno Espírito Santo on his staff
Speaking to West Ham TV, Nuno explained his decision to promote from within and praised the coaches’ dedication and deep understanding of the club.
“I am very happy that Mark, Steve, Gerard and Billy have agreed to continue in their positions permanently. They are a great asset: people who, beyond their knowledge and effort, feel for West Ham United. This is key to the challenge we are currently facing.” — Nuno Espírito Santo, West Ham manager
The new Hammers boss continued:
“I’ve been very impressed by their work, their knowledge and their commitment to West Ham United. They know the club, the players and the people here very well, and that’s a great strength for us going forward. Everyone has been very supportive during these first two weeks; they immediately understood what I’m trying to implement, and we already have a good relationship. Every day we learn more and work harder to get closer to the team we want to become.”
Continuity and identity at the heart of Nuno’s project
The decision to promote from within aligns with Nuno’s reputation for fostering unity and maintaining club identity — something he also emphasised during his time at Wolves and Porto.
By integrating trusted academy figures into the first-team environment, Nuno is ensuring that the bridge between West Ham’s youth setup and senior squad remains strong. Robson and Potts, in particular, are long-serving members of the club’s coaching structure and hold deep connections with the Hammers’ traditions.
Looking ahead
Nuno will take charge of his first home match as West Ham boss when the club face Brentford after the international break — a key fixture as he looks to register his first win and begin to climb the Premier League table.
The Portuguese coach’s early decisions suggest he’s focused on stability, togetherness, and re-establishing the “West Ham way” — values echoed by both players and staff in recent weeks.
👉 Will Nuno’s decision to promote from within prove the spark West Ham need to turn their season around?
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