Middlesbrough FC and Sheffield United's rivals West Ham United confirm Scott Parker appointment
Middlesbrough and Sheffield United's Championship rivals West Ham United have turned to an ex-England international
Sheffield United and Middlesbrough’s Championship rivals West Ham United have appointed Scott Parker as their new head coach.
Nuno Espirito Santo was relieved of his duties yesterday (November 3) with the Hammers sat eighth in the Championship table.
West Ham have wasted little time replacing him, turning to former Hammers and England midfielder Parker.
The 46-year-old was most recently employed by Burnley and has also managed Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and Club Brugge. He is something of a Championship promotion specialist having led all of his English employers into the Premier League.
Scott Parker takes charge of West Ham United
After taking the reins at the London Stadium, Parker said: “It is a very proud moment for me to step into this role and return to a club that means so much to me and my family. A lot of very fond memories of my time here - four years of probably the best football I played in my career.
“There was a warmth, a love, a feeling that I probably didn’t have anywhere else. There was something which stood out constantly and that was the relationship that I built up with the fanbase here. That rapport and respect, that I felt instantly.
“More than anything, this is an opportunity that I am very excited about. I feel privileged and honoured to be the guy that wants to lead us back to the Premier League and be the head coach of this football club at this moment in time.
“My energy levels, my enthusiasm, my desire, my passion - it’s absolutely running through and that's the feeling I had as soon as there was a conversation that this was possible. That's exactly why I'm here and why I want to be here.
“From my first calls with Karim [Virani] and Daniel [Křetínský], it was clear they have a shared vision and desire to return the club to the Premier League as quickly as possible. I share that ambition and I’m very confident we can achieve it.
“I’ve been in this division three times and I've got out of this division three times. This is a tough division, there is absolutely no denying it. And I will use every ounce of my experience, every ounce of my knowledge, to have an understanding of what we're going to need to bring consistency.
“And that's going to be the key word for all of us really. The consistency of what we do and the commitment levels that we go to will give us the best opportunity to get out of this division and be the team that we can be.”
West Ham sit level on points with ninth-placed Sheffield United and six points adrift of table-toppers Middlesbrough.