West Ham United has announced the appointment of Scott Parker as their new head coach. The 46-year-old former captain has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club. Parker is expected to take charge of the team for their EFL Championship fixture against Cardiff City on Wednesday evening. He returns to West Ham after managing Fulham, AFC Bournemouth, and Burnley, guiding all three teams to promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.
Parker will be assisted by first-team coaches Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville, and Billy Lepine. Former teammate Mark Noble will also work closely with him. The club will announce further details about the permanent structure of his backroom staff in due course. Parker achieved promotion with Fulham in 2020, Bournemouth in 2022, and Burnley in 2025. He also won the EFL Championship Manager of the Season award in 2024/25 with Burnley.
During his playing career, Parker made 129 appearances for West Ham between 2007 and 2011. He won the club's Hammer of the Year award three consecutive times and received the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award for the 2010/11 season. Parker described his appointment as a proud moment, expressing his excitement to lead West Ham back to the Premier League.
Parker emphasized the importance of consistency and commitment levels to achieve success in the Championship. He expressed his confidence in working with the club's owners, Karim Virani and Daniel Křetínský, who share his ambition to return West Ham to the Premier League. Parker highlighted his experience in the Championship, having been promoted three times.
West Ham announced Nuno Espírito Santo's departure on Tuesday, following a review of the club's start to the Championship season. The club also confirmed the departure of assistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeping coach Rui Barbosa. Nuno was appointed in September 2025 after leaving Nottingham Forest but left West Ham after a short period.
Parker is expected to bring a new level of enthusiasm and energy to the team. He expressed his desire to build on the relationships he established with the fanbase during his playing career. The club's owners are confident that Parker will lead West Ham to success and return to the Premier League.
The appointment of Parker marks a new chapter for West Ham, with the club aiming to achieve promotion to the Premier League. Parker's experience and track record in the Championship make him a strong candidate for the role. The club will look to build on their current momentum and achieve success under Parker's leadership.
Key points
- Scott Parker has been appointed as West Ham's new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
- Parker has experience in managing teams in the Championship, having guided Fulham, Bournemouth, and Burnley to promotion.
- West Ham aims to return to the Premier League under Parker's leadership.
