West Ham United have confirmed that Nuno Espirito Santo will remain in charge next season after holding discussions over his future following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Questions had emerged around the Portuguese coach after West Ham narrowly missed survival despite a 3-0 victory over Leeds United on the final day of the campaign. Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 win over Everton ultimately left the Hammers two points short of safety.
With uncertainty surrounding the manager and significant squad changes expected during the summer, speculation had grown that both sides could consider moving in different directions.
Those doubts now appear to have been resolved.
West Ham commit to Nuno despite relegation setback
Following meetings earlier this week, the club released an official statement confirming that Nuno remains fully committed to leading West Ham’s attempt to return to the Premier League at the first opportunity.
The club stated:
“We held meetings with Head Coach Nuno EspÃrito Santo early this week and are pleased to confirm that he has expressed his continued commitment to the Club – as we have to him.
Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking.”
— West Ham United statement
The board also highlighted signs of improvement despite the outcome of the season and indicated a belief that progress had been visible in recent months.
Why West Ham chose stability
Nuno only arrived at the club in September 2025 after replacing Graham Potter and immediately inherited a difficult situation.
While relegation ultimately could not be avoided, West Ham’s final points total illustrates how narrow the margins were.
| West Ham 2025/26 overview | Record |
|---|---|
| Final league position | Relegated |
| Points total | 39 |
| Points from safety | 2 |
| Nuno contract length | Three years |
source: season and club records – 27 May 2026
Thirty-nine points represents one of the highest totals recorded by a relegated side in recent years, suggesting circumstances rather than complete underperformance contributed to the outcome.
Having followed West Ham’s season closely, there were periods where performances appeared stronger than results reflected. Consistency remained an issue, but there were visible improvements in organisation and competitiveness.
Summer rebuild now becomes the focus
Reports had suggested Nuno was weighing whether he wanted to oversee a major squad rebuild, especially with player sales expected to help balance finances after relegation.
That uncertainty now appears settled.
The challenge ahead may prove substantial. Championship campaigns often demand depth, adaptability and consistency across a demanding schedule.
Nuno does have previous experience of succeeding under those conditions after leading Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Championship title with 99 points in 2018.
Key Points
- West Ham have confirmed Nuno Espirito Santo will remain manager
- Talks over his future took place earlier this week
- The Hammers were relegated with 39 points
- Player sales are expected during the summer
- Nuno previously won the Championship with Wolves
What's next
Attention now shifts towards West Ham's summer transfer business and the scale of the squad rebuild required ahead of next season.
Retaining key players while reshaping the squad could become one of the club's biggest challenges. The Championship season begins quickly and promotion contenders often benefit from stability early in the process.
Can Nuno guide West Ham back to the Premier League at the first attempt?
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