Nuno Espirito Santo is set to leave West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League, hours after the wife of one of the club’s stars took aim at their head coach.
West Ham’s 14-year stay in the top flight came to an end on Sunday, despite Nuno’s side beating Leeds United 3-0 at the London Stadium.
The victory ultimately proved futile, as Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Everton confirmed their survival at West Ham’s expense.
Nuno has been summoned for talks by West Ham, with the expectation he will leave his position.
Nuno was appointed as West Ham boss at the end of September, following Graham Potter’s sacking five matches into the Premier League season.
The 52-year-old signed a three-year contract at the London Stadium, but it contained a clause enabling the club to sack him without compensation if relegated.
Nuno Espirito Santo is set to be sacked by West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League
West Ham won 3-0 on the final day of the season, but were relegated after Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Everton
Alphonse Areola’s wife Marrion, left, hit out at Nuno Espirito Santo following their relegation
West Ham won nine, drew nine and lost 15 of Nuno’s 33 Premier League matches in charge.
Their final total of 39 points is the highest achieved by a relegated side since 2011.
Nuno had refused to be drawn on his own future on Sunday after West Ham’s relegation to the Championship was confirmed.
‘If you ask me now about the past and the future, this is not the day. Today is to understand the moment of sadness for our fans, of ourselves, of the club,’ he said.
‘Our attention was all on achieving the mission that we didn’t accomplish. Now we need to go to this period of sadness.’
When pushed further on both a timeframe for his decision and his desire to stay, Nuno added: ‘You keep insisting about that, but my mind is not there.
‘Next press conference, for sure we can speak about that, but today is not about this.’
The wife of West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola launched an attack on Nuno on social media after relegation was confirmed.
Marrion sarcastically thanked Graham Potter and Nuno for West Ham’s season, before claiming the latter had dropped her husband ‘for no particular reason’ in February
Marrion continued her attack on Nuno in a series of Instagram posts on Sunday night
Marrion Areola accused Nuno of dropping her husband ‘for no reason’, as she sarcastically thanked the West Ham boss and his predecessor Graham Potter for their season.
She shared memories from West Ham’s 2023 Conference League triumph, before adding a broken heart following West Ham’s decline from their European success to dropping into the Championship.
Areola had lost his place as West Ham’s No 1 under Potter, after Mads Hermansen was signed from Leicester in an £18m move in the summer.
The French goalkeeper regained his place after Hermansen struggled in West Ham’s opening four matches of the campaign, which saw the Hammers lose three times and ship 11 goals.
Areola played in West Ham’s next 20 Premier League matches – 19 of which came under Nuno.
West Ham won just four of those matches, with Areola conceding 37 goals and failing to keep a clean sheet.
Hermansen regained his place after West Ham’s 3-2 loss by Chelsea at the end of January, despite having led the game 2-0 at half-time.
Marrion accused Nuno of dropping her husband ‘for no particular reason’.
Marrion also placed the blame on Nuno for Areola missing out on France’s World Cup squad
‘Being dropped at the beginning of the season for no reason,’ Marrion wrote.
‘Being back after a very bad start and then has made 20 games and all of a sudden: “I’m really sorry – you won’t start”, “Why?”, “For no particular reason but I’m sorry.’
West Ham did enjoy an upturn in results in the next 10 games after Hermansen was restored to the starting line-up – winning four, drawing four and losing two to climb out of the relegation zone.
Nuno’s side conceded 10 goals in that run, with half coming in 5-2 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield.
West Ham ultimately suffered a costly end-of-season collapse with three straight defeats against Brentford, Arsenal and Newcastle leaving them heading into the final day in the relegation zone.
Marrion shared a post from December that stated Areola had the highest save percentage in the Premier League, before adding on the club’s relegation: ‘Very sad day for the fans. Very frustrated for the family. But always proud of you no matter what.’
She then placed the blame on Nuno for Areola missing out on France’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.
She shared highlights from Areola’s five appearances for France’s national team and wrote: ‘And NO World Cup this year, thank you Nuno’.
Jean-Clair Todibo, right, reportedly told Nuno he would not play for him again after he was substituted in their 3-1 defeat by Newcastle last weekend
According to the Athletic, the West Ham boss had also clashed with defender Jean-Clair Todibo following their penultimate match of the season.
Todibo had been substituted after 25 minutes as West Ham trailed 2-0 to Newcastle last weekend, with Nuno introducing forward Taty Castellanos in a tactical change.
The Frenchman reportedly had a heated exchange with Nuno post-match, which resulted him telling the West Ham boss that he would not play for him again.
Todibo was left out of West Ham’s squad for their victory over Leeds on the final day.
