West Ham have decided to stick by manager Nuno Espirito Santo despite the team's relegation from the Premier League. The Hammers' fate was confirmed despite a 3-0 win against Leeds United on Sunday. They ended the season in 18th, two points behind 17th-place Tottenham, and will join Wolves and Burnley in the Championship next season.
Nuno refused to talk about his future after his side's win at home to Leeds, and it was reported on Monday morning that he was summoned for a crisis meeting about his future at the London Stadium. However, he will be staying put to lead their promotion charge back to the Premier League next season.
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As part of a lengthy club statement, West Ham said: "The football operation always has to be our first priority and the planning for next season started as soon as the final whistle sounded on Sunday. We held meetings with Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo early this week and are pleased to confirm that he has expressed his continued commitment to the Club – as we have to him.
"Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking. That must be the unquestionable goal for next season. Nuno has spent one previous year in the EFL Championship and it was an outstanding success as he secured 99 points to win the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018.
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"While the ultimate outcome on Sunday was a painful one, the Board of Directors believe that there have been broader signs of improvement and progress in recent months, and we want Nuno to continue developing that progress.
"A total of 25 points taken from our final 17 Premier League matches equated to 1.47 points per game – a ratio that would have resulted in a seventh-place finish across the full season. Furthermore, we feel the clear improvement in squad mentality and togetherness since January, leading to that upturn in performances and results, makes him the right man to lead us forward."
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The 52-year-old replaced Graham Potter in the hot seat at West Ham in September, and although he started to make an impact in the second half of the season, it proved to be too little too late.
As a result of their relegation to the second tier, West Ham had a choice to make over whether to move on without Nuno in his role as first-team manager, with a break clause able to be triggered in his contract.
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Overall, Espirito Santo won 11, drew 11 and lost 15 of his 37 matches across all competitions at West Ham last season, and the club now face the prospect of a fire sale of star names ahead of the 2026/27 Championship season.
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The Hammers have also promised to "review every aspect of the club’s operation", as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League.
The club said: "Relegation is obviously not the outcome that anyone at West Ham United would have wanted when the Premier League season started last August. For every single person who is passionate about the Club, it hurts deeply and that feeling will sustain for some time.
"As a Board we cannot shy away from the fact our season has not been good enough. We know you, the supporters, have backed the team constantly as always and your loyalty and commitment has not been matched by our final league position.
"We also understand the frustration that many of you feel about the direction the Club has headed in recent years.
"Although relegation is not what any of us wanted, we now have to look forward. The Board must now review every aspect of the Club’s operation to ensure that when we return to the Premier League – hopefully in August 2027 – we are a better West Ham United in every way, on and off the pitch."