When West Ham announced the surprising appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo following Graham Potter’s firing, many viewed it as a calculated gamble.
The new boss got off to a promising start with a 1-1 draw at Everton, but behind the scenes, concerns have already emerged about how long he will last on the irons.
The results provided a short boost to morale, but football insiders warn that the outcome alone will not segregate him from the structural tensions that have plagued the club’s other recent management regimes.
In particular, former scout Mick Brown warns that unless the parties adapt, Portuguese coaches may struggle to float under West Ham’s requested ownership.
Nuno Espirito Santo is known for being honest
Nuno has a history of clashing with the owners of the club he managed. It happened not only in Nottingham Forest, but also in wolves.
Ex-West Ham Scout’s Brown argues that this kind of friction could be repeated if the board doesn’t learn from past mistakes.
“If there’s anything recent history, Nuno won’t last long.” He told the soccer insider.
“I don’t know what the board did to show that this appointment is different from the last two, but neither of them were successful at all.
“For Nuno, he left the wolf after opposing the owner about the decision and direction of the transfer, then left the forest after another disagreement with the owner.
“(David) Sullivan and Co are showing that they aren’t always the easiest to do their job.
“I’m sure he’ll talk about it one day, he doesn’t need to tell me for him, but even when Moyesey was there, they always made the decision behind him.
“It doesn’t even start with a transfer where the chairman intervenes or moves, even if the manager says it isn’t.
“I know Nuno, his history with his previous owners and how the board operates in West Ham. I can see it wrong as long as I hope it’s not for the manager.”
West Ham United is a disruptive club
Nuno inherits a challenging role in West Ham and has stepped into a club already caught up in tension between management, ownership and supporters.
His initial results provided promises, but the historical patterns suggest that longevity may not depend on what happens on the pitch, and may depend on how he navigates.
If West Ham hierarchies want continuity and success, they need to provide managers that are more than just goodwill.
Otherwise, despite a hopeful start, Nuno may find himself under pressure much earlier than either side expected.
Summer Signature Already Leave West Ham for a Better Team
