Ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter makes return to the Premier League. See what he has to say

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Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter has made a return to Premier League football, taking over the reins at West Ham United. 

The 48-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, stepping into the role following Julen Lopetegui’s departure after a challenging tenure.

Potter, who was dismissed by Chelsea in April 2023 after a difficult stint, will begin his new chapter with the Hammers on January 10, leading the team in an FA Cup third-round clash against Aston Villa. His appointment ends a 21-month absence from Premier League management, with West Ham looking to bounce back from their current struggles.

Under Lopetegui, West Ham won just seven of their 21 matches this season, with a heavy 4-1 defeat to Manchester City marking their 10th league loss. Potter’s task will be to stabilise the team and steer them away from their current challenges.

The new West Ham boss said: “I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the Club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United.

“My conversations with the Chairman and the Board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the Club forward in the medium to long term.

“West Ham United is a huge Club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world. I saw the scenes that followed their Europa Conference League victory in 2023 and it was clear that this is a Club with everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.

“The Club have made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a Club that the supporters can be proud of.”