Graham Potter in serious sack danger - West Ham's 5 shortest serving managers ever
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Credit: Imago
Harri Burton
Thu 28 August 2025 17:09, UK
Graham Potter appears set to join a rather unfortunate group at West Ham as a decision looms on his future already.
Football Insider understands that West Ham have already started the search for Potter’s replacement, with chiefs being left underwhelmed by the head coach’s impact since replacing Julen Lopetegui.
The former Brighton and Chelsea figure has won just 22 per cent of his games in charge since taking over in January, just recently being kicked out of the Carabao Cup by Wolves on Tuesday, 26 August.
Supporters are furious, co-owner David Sullivan is pointing fingers at the West Ham dugout, and nothing appears to be changing on the pitch despite two changes in managers since June 2024.
In light of the news no Potter’s future, Football Insider has taken a look at the shortest managerial reigns in the club’s history.
Credit: Imago
Still living off his success as Man City manager, supporters were excited for Manuel Pellegrini to stamp his mark on things at the London Stadium, and he did so with some attractive, attacking football.
However, the honeymoon period was quickly over, with the team plagued by inconsistency and frailties in defence, alongside a lot of overspending on players such as Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson.
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Despite a bright start, his side went on a long winless streak between September and December in 2019 before eventually being sacked just days before the New Year following a home defeat to Leicester City, leaving the Hammers one point above the dropzone.
Hired as Gianfranco Zola‘s replacement in June 2010, Avram Grant lasted just one full season in charge of the Irons, eventually overseeing the club’s demotion to the Championship in 2010/2011.
Despite reaching the League Cup semi-finals and the FA Cup quarter-finals, form never improved in the league, officially being relegated from the Premier League after a 3-2 defeat to Wigan Athletic, a game which they led 2-0.
Less than an hour after the full-time whistle, Grant’s future in East London was decided, recording an awful win rate of 31.9 per cent before being sacked.
Lou Macari’s arrival at West Ham marked a huge shift in the club’s culture, having replaced the long-standing John Lyall in 1989, and was sacked just seven short months later.
Supporters were unsurprised by his spell in East London, with the boss’ appointment being greeted by a rather lukewarm reception.
The aim was to win promotion, but his team spent most of the season in mid-table.
With frustrations growing, and more off-field overshadowing his time at West Ham – allegations involving illegal payments during his time at Swindon Town – he resigned in February 1990.
Before his incredible four-year-long stay at the London Stadium, David Moyes experienced an awful first spell with the Hammers, one which saw him last just six months in charge, recording a 29 per cent win rate.
Nobody knew of the European trophy to come under his leadership, though the fanbase would have to wait patiently until the 2022/23 campaign to lift silverware with the Scot.
His brief was simple – avoid relegation.
Having taken over from Slaven Bilic, he did exactly that, with the Hammers finishing 13th in the Premier League in 2017/18.
The club opted to bring in Pellegrini, and we have already discussed how that went…
The less said about Julen Lopetegui’s reign, the better.
He was given the incredibly difficult task of filling the shoes left by Moyes, who had been living off their Europa Conference League title during a dismal final season.
After just six months in charge, Sullivan and Karren Brady made the ruthless decision to move the Spaniard on, with no visible improvements after deciding against keeping Moyes in charge.
(Credit Imago)
With a 31 per cent win rate, it could possibly be the worst managerial reign in West Ham’s history, but that might be beaten by Potter very soon if current trends continue.
Suffice to say the recent history at the London Stadium, ever since lifting the Conference League trophy, has been appalling and doesn’t look to be getting any better.