Graham Potter: West Ham appoint former Chelsea and Brighton boss as new head coach after Julen Lopetegui exit

Graham Potter has been confirmed as Julen Lopetegui's successor and has compared joining West Ham to "Christmas for adults" while explaining how excited he is to get started.

The 49-year-old takes over from Lopetegui, who was sacked on Wednesday afternoon after winning just six of his 20 Premier League matches in charge, leaving the club 14th in the Premier League.

Potter, who had interest from Everton with the pressure growing on their boss Sean Dyche, had been out of management since leaving Chelsea in April 2023 having previously been in charge of Brighton, Swansea and Swedish side Ostersunds.

Lopetegui took West Ham training on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of Friday's FA Cup tie with Aston Villa. Sources close to Lopetegui understand he was surprised and frustrated by the situation around his future.

West Ham also held interviews with Paulo Fonseca, who left AC Milan last month, and Christophe Galtier, who currently manages Qatari side Al Duhail, but opted for Potter after holding further positive talks on Tuesday.

The new Hammers boss said: "Very excited, very proud day to be head coach of this amazing club.

"It's a big tradition, big history, big expectation. A big challenge. It's a bit like Christmas for the adults. Excited, not the best of sleeps last night just from excitement. Looking forward to meeting the players, meeting our supporters and getting going."

He continued: "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.

"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."

Potter will be joined at the London Stadium by assistant coach Bruno, first-team coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach. Goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero will continue in his role.

"West Ham is a huge club at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world," Potter added. "I saw the scenes that followed their 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."

Potter will meet his new players on Thursday and take his first West Ham training session later today - his only training session before his first game against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Friday night.

Karren Brady - West Ham's vice chair - played a key role alongside owner David Sullivan in Potter's appointment.

Baroness Brady is married to Paul Peschisolido, who was a team-mate and room-mate with Potter at both Birmingham and West Brom in their playing days.

The negotiations and appointment were delayed slightly as Potter and his representatives held further discussions with Everton but those negotiations were mutually dropped so that Potter could proceed with West Ham.

Getting members of his trusted backroom staff in place was also key to the process - with Bruno and Billy Reid joining him. Both worked with Potter at Chelsea and Brighton.

Potter had been determined to take his time in selecting his next role, feeling it was a crucial decision after the crushing disappointment of his time at Stamford Bridge.

He had been out of work for more than 18 months since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023, and he had been determined to take stock after the first significant setback in a managerial career that had otherwise been on a consistent rise.

Potter turned down the chance to take over at Ajax when he was first choice with the Amsterdam club and similarly distanced himself from opportunities at Leicester, Southampton and even AC Milan last spring because he did not feel they were right for him.

Financially too, there had been no rush for Potter to get a new job because he was entitled to a lucrative severance package from Chelsea which sustained him long after his sacking.

Nevertheless, he had been ready to get back into football for several months and had been actively considering various options.

Livesport VIP pundit Jamie Carragher believes West Ham have finally landed the manager they thought they were getting in Lopetegui by appointing Potter.

Speaking on Monday Night Football, he said: "The whole reason they moved away from David Moyes was not actually the results as such - the last season wasn't great, they had better seasons. In the main, Moyes did a good job at West Ham but I always felt West Ham wanted their 'Roberto De Zerbi', a guy who comes in and plays brilliant football.

"But don't forget it started with Graham Potter, who came off the back of Chris Hughton, who was a different type of manager and they [Brighton] wanted to change things. West Ham wanted to change things and be a team that's on the front foot and take the game to the opposition.

"We know Potter can do that. If he can unlock some of the attacking talents West Ham have got, it's a good move for both if the deal comes off."

Livesport VIP' Paul Merson:

"I like Graham. I just thought Chelsea was too big for him at the time when he went there but I thought he did a great job at Brighton. The problem is, if West Ham get beat by Aston Villa this weekend [in the FA Cup], that's their season over. So, it's a strange one for me.

"West Ham are a big football club. Their expectations are pretty high where they want to come in the league. The stadium is packed out every week and they've got a massive fan base.

"I can see where he's coming from. They're not really going to be fighting relegation like Leicester are. With Leicester, all of a sudden, they get relegated and he's managing in the Championship. Everybody wants to be in the Premier League.

"To be a manager in the Premier League, and you know you're going to be in it next season as well, makes a massive difference in my opinion."

January 10: Aston Villa (a), FA Cup, kick-off 8pm

January 14: Fulham (h), Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm

January 18: Crystal Palace (h), Premier League, kick-off 3pm

January 26: Aston Villa (a), Premier League, live on Livesport VIP, kick-off 4.30pm

February 3: Chelsea (a), Premier League, live on Livesport VIP, kick-off 8pm