If the Hammers end up ascending the same heights as Nuno Espirito Santo\u2019s<\/a> old employers, well, even the biggest critics of the David Sullivan regime would have to accept this had been a pretty inspired decision.<\/p>\n As former Upton Park striker Jermain Defoe puts it, Nuno was the \u2018obvious choice\u2019 for West Ham<\/a>. A proven Premier League operator with a track record for building solid defensive foundations and creating overachieving sides far greater than the sum of their parts. <\/p>\n There are similarities with the job Nuno did at Wolves, meanwhile, to that of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United<\/a>. Reinvigorating a sleeping giant who had fallen on hard times, dragging them back into the big time before masterminding a top-half finish with a squad made up largely of players out of the Championship.<\/p>\n Speaking to the Daily Mail<\/a>, former Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani admits that everything went downhill following Bielsa\u2019s emotional departure in early-2023. How differently things would have turned out if Elland Road had snared Julen Lopetegui \u2013 a year before his appointment at West Ham \u2013 is anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n Radrizzani admits that, before the ill-fated decision to hire Jesse Marsch, Leeds had initially planned to replace Bielsa with the likes of Unai Emery, Andoni Iraola and even Arne Slot. <\/p>\n Given what they would go on to achieve in English football soon after \u2013 Emery took Aston Villa into the Champions League, Iraola has transformed Bournemouth into a brilliant footballing outfit, while Slot won the title at Liverpool \u2013 Leeds were certainly ahead of the curve in their post-Bielsa pursuit.<\/p>\n Lopetegui, a pre-West Ham Lopetegui, was another the Yorkshire outfit placed on their wishlist.<\/p>\n \u201cWe spent a lot of time trying to find someone with a similar style of play as Marcelo,\u201d Radrizzani says. \u201cWe could have had Unai Emery or Julen Lopetegui but we missed that window. <\/p>\n \u201cThen, we tried with Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola after the World Cup but it was too late. It was my responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n While Lopetegui did keep Wolves safe from relegation in the 2022\/23 season, his forgettable six-month stay at West Ham does little to suggest he would have built upon Bielsa\u2019s success.<\/p>\n Losing nine of his 20 Premier League matches in charge and with the football ranging from plodding to downright abysmal, Lopetegui broke a record set by Lou Macari by becoming the West Ham manager to take charge of the fewest-ever games.<\/p>\n Joe Hart backs Nuno Espirito Santo for West Ham success<\/p>\n Now, they say the greatest tacticians are those who can turn raw ingredients into Michelin star meals. See Bielsa at Leeds, and Nuno at both Molineux and the City Ground. <\/p>\n Former Wolves stalwart Max Kilman credits Nuno<\/a> for turning him into a solid top-flight centre-half, for instance. And as Nuno eyes a reunion with Chris Wood<\/a> in the January window, it was he who coaxed a 20-goal season out of a 33-year-old striker whose best days were supposed to be behind him.<\/p>\n Anthony Elanga, Conor Coady, Elliott Anderson, Murillo, Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez, Morgan Gibbs-White; they all played arguably their best football under Nuno as well.<\/p>\n Getting the extras in post-training \u26bd\ufe0f<\/p>\n \u2014 West Ham United (@WestHam) October 10, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n Joe Hart did not enjoy his brief spell at Tottenham<\/a> during the short-lived Nuno reign. But, putting those differences aside, the former West Ham goalkeeper believes that the 51-year-old Iberian is an inspired appointment for a club in their position.<\/p>\n More so, anyway, than his successor at Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n \u201cIronically, I think Nuno is a better appointment to come in mid-season than what Nottingham Forest have made [in Ange Postecoglou],\u201d Hart told TNT Sport<\/a> last week. \u201cBecause he\u2019ll make them solid. You know, he knows what he wants. He\u2019ll be very hard [with his players].<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve experienced a little bit of time with him. My time wasn\u2019t great with him, but it\u2019s not about me. I know that he\u2019s a good coach. I know that he will bring stability.<\/p>\n \u201cWest Ham have got some really good forward players. So, if [Nuno] can organise the defence how he does\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHe needs everyone on side at West Ham. That\u2019s the key, you know, you need everyone believing in what he\u2019s doing. But I think he can bring some stability there.\u201d<\/p>\n ![\"Julen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-1246013963-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Marc Atkins\/Getty ImagesAndrea Radrizzani wanted Julen Lopetegui at Leeds before West Ham United got him<\/p>\n