West Ham United could soon be in the market for a new manager, just months after appointing Julen Lopetegui in May. Despite the club’s substantial £150 million summer spending spree, the team has struggled under the Spanish manager’s stewardship, winning only three out of their first ten Premier League matches. As a result, West Ham finds itself in a precarious 14th place in the league table, far from the position the board had hoped for at this stage of the season.
As it stands, West Ham’s performance in the 2024-25 Premier League season has been disappointing, with the team earning just 11 points from ten games. After spending heavily in the transfer market, expectations were high, but the club’s form has been inconsistent. With West Ham languishing in the middle of the table, questions about Lopetegui’s future are beginning to surface, especially with the club’s ambitious plans for European competition.
While the board has not taken any immediate action, sources close to the club indicate that David Sullivan, the club’s owner, is growing increasingly concerned with the team’s poor results. The situation may force the club to make a decision on Lopetegui sooner rather than later, with a need for improvement in performances becoming ever more pressing.
In a recent appearance on talkSPORT, TV presenter and Hartlepool United director Jeff Stelling made a bold suggestion regarding West Ham’s managerial future. Stelling proposed that if Lopetegui were to leave, Frank Lampard might be the ideal candidate to replace him.
“I didn’t mention Moyes at all. I’m going to mention someone who might divide opinions,” said Stelling. “Is it time, if Lopetegui goes, for West Ham to bring Frank Lampard home? Just a thought. He is available, and West Ham could be the ideal job for him. I know there’s a man in situ at the moment, but this is just a speculative suggestion.”
Lampard, who has managed Derby County, Chelsea, and Everton in his managerial career, has overseen 83 wins from 196 matches. Most recently, he was in charge of Everton, where his tenure ended in January 2023 after a run of poor results left the club in 19th place in the Premier League.
Although Stelling’s suggestion was clearly speculative, it caught the attention of many, including West Ham fans, who were quick to voice their disapproval. Many called into the talkSPORT show to argue that Lampard, despite his legendary status as a player for the club, has been unsuccessful as a manager, with a string of disappointing results at Derby, Chelsea, and Everton.
While Frank Lampard is undoubtedly a club legend, having made 179 appearances for West Ham as a player, his managerial record raises concerns. After a promising start at Derby, where he led the team to the Championship playoffs, Lampard’s time at Chelsea was mixed, despite a top-four finish in his first season. His subsequent stint at Everton ended with his dismissal after just under a year, with the club struggling to avoid relegation.
Many West Ham supporters feel that bringing Lampard back as manager would be a step backwards. With all due respect to his playing career, they argue that hiring Lampard would be akin to reinstalling David Moyes, a manager who had also faced significant criticism during his second spell at the club. Critics argue that Lampard’s management has yet to prove he can turn around a Premier League team in crisis.
Lampard was also linked with other managerial roles, including a potential move to Burnley to replace Vincent Kompany, and to Sunderland, but for now, he remains without a job.
Some believe that Lampard should return to the Championship before taking charge of another Premier League club. His work at Derby, where he nearly earned promotion to the Premier League, was lauded, but his brief stints in the top flight have raised doubts about his ability to succeed at the highest level.
As West Ham continues to underperform, the club’s board may soon face a crucial decision. While Stelling’s endorsement of Lampard may have been controversial, it certainly adds fuel to the fire of ongoing speculation about the future of West Ham’s management. Ultimately, the club’s priority will be finding a manager who can ensure improvement and bring stability to a team currently in danger of underachieving despite its financial investment.
