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Who is Graham Potter, West Ham’s New Manager?

The former Chelsea boss’s hire comes at precarious time for the Hammers who seek a much needed lifeline out of the bottom third of the league.    

By Andrew Woodin
Graham Potter coaches during a match between Aston Villa FC and West Ham United FC.

By all accounts, now that he’s taken the reins at London Stadium as West Ham’s new manager, Graham Potter has his work cut out for him. Why you might ask? Well, despite a versatile and well-respected  background as a player, on top of previous managerial success for Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, things didn’t necessarily go according to plan for the now 49-year-old Englishman during his last spell in charge of a Premier League club, which was hands down his most important post to date. Though some might point to the firestorm of internal turmoil during his Chelsea tenure as to the reason he was so unceremoniously sacked less than seven months into the job, there’s two sides to every story and, no matter how you slice it, his production at Stamford Bridge never matched up to the expectations the Blues’ brass had for him upon replacing his predecessor, Thomas Tuchel.

Potter won just 12 of his 31 matches across all competitions with Chelsea, chalking up a disappointing 1.27 points per game in the Premier League – a stat that must still sting as it’s the lowest mark for any manager to helm 20 or more contests for Chelsea in the Premier League, along with Glen Hoddle, according to the BBC. But that was then, and this is now … right? A fresh start with West Ham might be just what the doctor ordered, though with the club only recording one win in Potter's first five matches (in all competitions) in charge, it's clear the process will require patience.

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Who did Graham Potter play for?

After working his way up the ladder as a player in the '90s, moving from Birmingham City to Stoke City, Graham Potter, a native of Solihull, England, landed his boyhood dream of playing football in England's top tier. Though it was brief, from 1996-1997, Potter played in eight matches for Southampton, including the Saints’ historic win over then juggernaut Manchester United before the left back dropped down to West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Championship – England’s second football tier. His usage immediately went up, and Potter found stability for the next three years with the Baggies, playing in 43 games.

After a pair of short spells loaned out to Northampton Town and Reading in England’s third tier, followed by his longest tenure as a player with York City (2000-2003), where he scored five goals in 114 appearances, it was clear that his days on the pitch were numbered. He bounced around the next two years between Boston United, then Shrewsbury Town, then Macclesfield Town before finally hanging up his spurs. It was time for a change yet again, but it wasn’t London calling – it was ... Ghana.

Sunderland's Lee Clark (L) gets the ball away from West Bromwich Albion's Graham Potter.

Who has Graham Potter managed?

Though Potter was already accustomed to a transient career peppered with short posts here and there, starting his coaching career as the technical director for the Ghana women’s team during the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a bit unorthodox even for him. That said, Potter impressed enough to land a gig in 2008 as an assistant coach for the England University team, a role he said was a “fantastic honor.” Potter, who already had a knack for the cerebral, strategic side of the game, dedicated himself to growth as a leader, gorging on political and philosophical teachings to nurture his man management while elevating himself amongst his peers. His work ethic was embraced and, after three years coaching Leeds Carnegie in the Northern Counties East League Division One, Potter again packed his bags after landing a three-year contract with the Swedish club Östersund.

It wasn’t a flashy gig by any means, but Potter has never been one to shy away from putting in the sweat to earn his stripes, and the Swedish club provided the vehicle to continue his ascension. After seven years cementing a legacy in the frosty Nordic land, including a momentous 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in 2017, the phone rang again, and this time it was worth the wait: Swansea City, freshly relegated from the Premier League. Having triumphed over heavy hitters before, the ever-humble Potter stood tall in the face of the expectations that he’d return the Swans to the promised land.

"This is a Premier League club from the last seven years, and it wants to try to get back, but get back in a way that there is an identity and an understanding of what they want to be on the pitch,” he stated to WalesOnline after his hiring in 2018. “That was the interesting thing for me – the chance to build something.”

But a 10th-place finish in the Championship that season prevented Potter from ushering in the promotion so many had hoped for. That said, his short spell with the Swans garnered Potter his own promotion he had been yearning for: a return to the Premier League.

In 2019, Potter took control of Brighton & Hove Albion where he remained until 2022, etching his name in the record books with the squad after guiding the Seagulls to a myriad of high points that included a seven-match run of victories in 2022 and becoming the first Brighton manager to defeat the Manchester United on their home turf at Old Trafford. His success earned him high praise around the league with even Man City boss Pep Guardiola hailing Potter as “the best English manager right now,” according to Total Football Analysis.

Graham Potter celebrates a West Ham United FC victory.

Graham Potter's Chelsea Woes

After demonstrating an ability to optimize his players’ full potential at Brighton, Potter accepted a five-year deal at Chelsea to replace the embattled Thomas Tuchel just a few weeks into the 2022-2023 season. But despite the lucrative gig with the Blues, Potter was met with scrutiny nearly right out of the gate as questions mounted whether he was ready for a job that big. Despite Stamford Bridge’s significant financial might, on full display during the summer and winter transfer windows that season that saw Chelsea's new ownership spend more than $600 million on new players, heads would eventually roll, and Potter was axed in April, following a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa at home.

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It’s Hammer Time!

Since his Chelsea departure, Potter worked in football media and had been linked for some time to the England national team after the end of Gareth Southgate's tenure following the 2024 Euros. But Graham Potter’s number would again be called, and this time it was West Ham. After nearly two years away from the job, Potter gladly accepted the post on January 9, 2025 after Julen Lopetegui was sacked. Potter signed a two-and-a-half year deal that will keep him with the Hammers through 2027.

"It's a proud day to be head coach of this amazing club, big tradition, big history, big expectations, big challenge," Potter said, per the BBC. "I'm really excited, it's a bit like Christmas – Christmas for the adults.”

“It was important that I chose the right option for me at the right time, and as soon as I spoke to this club, it just felt right for me,” Potter added. "It's an amazing club with a tremendous, loyal fanbase that is passionate, knowledgeable, knows their football and what they want. I think it's a good fit.”

"My experience is that if you can build a team that is recognizable on the pitch, that the supporters identify with, are proud of and enjoy watching, and you get that trust and connection between the players and the supporters, with everybody aligned, that's the key."

At the heart of his coaching philosophy lies player development and adaptability on the pitch. Emphasizing fluidity and positional rotations are core ingredients to maintaining his preference for possession-forward football. Though he suffered a 2-1 defeat in his first game to Aston Villa, he rebounded January 14 with a 3-2 home victory over Fulham. Whether Potter can elevate the 15th-placed Hammers out of the doldrums of the league remains to be seen, but if he can, perhaps he'll find a long-term footballing home.

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