According to some reports, amid real fan unrest, chairman David Sullivan is keen to avoid a Julen Lopetegui-esque ‘will they, won’t they’ sack saga with Potter, and will make a quicker decision on whether to part company if poor results continue.
talkSPORT reports that West Ham officials have spoken to Nuno about replacing Potter, but it remains to be seen whether the tactician, who won a Saudi league title with Al-Ittihad, would be so eager to jump into such a pressurised role after the heartbreak of his Forest departure.
In terms of whether Nuno is the right man, we believe he is the standout candidate by far if they elect to hand Potter a P45.
Why West Ham should appoint Nuno if they sack Potter?!Here are some arguments in favour of West Ham appointing Nuno Espírito Santo if they sack Graham Potter — plus some caveats.On balance, Nuno could be a solid appointment for West Ham if they want to stop the slide, stabilise the team, and build a more defensively reliable unit. If the biggest priority is to avoid relegation threats and restore confidence, he checks many boxes.
However, if the club and fans demand more ambitious attacking style, silverware, or more visible “flash” in performance, there might be trade-offs. And the board would need to commit to giving him the resources, transfer control, and backroom support he wants.
So:
■Good fit if the Hammers are in trouble and need a steady hand.
■Questionable fit if the board wants someone to build an exciting, possession-based, progressive identity.
Here are a couple of funny / lighthearted stories about Nuno Espírito Santo that show a more human side of him:
■■■😂 Buying Land He Couldn’t Build On■■■
When he was about 27, Nuno bought a plot of land in Guimarães, Portugal, overlooking a famous church (the Santuário da Penha) with big dreams to build his “dream home” on a hill.
The funny (or embarrassing) twist? After buying it, he found out that the land was in a protected area — above a certain elevation — where constructions aren’t allowed. So, all that planning, excitement, purchase… for nothing. He admitted later he probably should’ve checked the zoning laws before buying.
■■■Handpan Music in His Office■■■
At Nottingham Forest, Nuno has a hobby that surprises people: he plays the handpan in his office (that’s a steel percussion instrument that makes calm, melodic sounds).
Ryan Yates (Forest captain) said sitting in Nuno’s office was “like walking into a luxury spa” because of how relaxing the sound was. Players pass by, hear the music, relax. It’s a side-of-a-manager that you don’t always see.
