West Ham United have confirmed that Nuno Espirito Santo will remain as head coach as the club aims to secure immediate promotion back to the Premier League following their relegation at the end of the recent season. The decision was announced after discussions held earlier this week, during which the club had the option to part ways with the Portuguese manager without owing compensation. However, Nuno’s renewed commitment to the team influenced the board’s decision to retain him.

The club’s statement emphasized Nuno’s motivation for the challenge ahead, highlighting his previous success in the Championship when he guided Wolverhampton Wanderers to the title with a record 99 points in 2018. “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,” the statement read. “That must be the unquestionable goal for next season.”

West Ham’s relegation was confirmed after a final-day defeat of Leeds United was insufficient to prevent them dropping into the second tier. The club had shown improvement from January through April, gathering 22 points from 13 matches to climb out of the relegation zone. Nonetheless, three losses in their last four games, including a 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in early January, left them unable to secure Premier League survival. Prior to Nuno’s appointment on September 27, West Ham had been 19th in the league, prompting the dismissal of former manager Graham Potter.

The club's board noted “broader signs of improvement and progress in recent months” despite the overall outcome of the season. The decision to retain Nuno Espirito Santo also reportedly received support from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, West Ham’s second-largest shareholder, who is understood to favor continuity with the current head coach.

Nuno Espirito Santo took charge with West Ham struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table and initially secured only two wins in his first 16 league matches. While the team ultimately fell short in their survival bid, the club leadership believes that under Nuno’s guidance, West Ham can build on recent progress and position themselves well for a successful return to the top flight.