By Martin Graham
Graham Potter’s career trajectory has shifted dramatically. Once regarded as a leading candidate to succeed Gareth Southgate with the England national team, he now finds himself dealing with the aftermath of two rapid dismissals at Chelsea and West Ham.
His time in east London came to an abrupt end after only eight months, with West Ham placed 19th in the Premier League and having lost four of their last five matches. That followed an earlier seven-month stay at Stamford Bridge, where he was also relieved of his duties.
Turmoil at Chelsea
Potter attributed his Chelsea struggles to what he described as a “perfect storm.” His arrival in September 2022 came after the new owners dismissed Thomas Tuchel and immediately embarked on a spending spree worth £323m in the January transfer window.
Known for his structured methods that brought success at Brighton, he found himself overseeing a squad so large that the dressing room could not hold all the players. By April 2023, his time at Stamford Bridge was over, ending a period marked by instability.
West Ham disappointment
Potter’s spell at West Ham proved just as difficult. After 637 days away from management, he had considered the club a well-judged opportunity to re-establish himself. He even described the appointment as feeling like “Christmas for the adults.”
Reality proved different. He secured only six wins from 25 matches after replacing Julen Lopetegui, and his understated approach did little to win over the club’s supporters, who grew increasingly frustrated as results worsened.
The manager’s dismissal came one day after he had carried out press duties for the upcoming match against Everton, raising questions about the club’s timing. Meanwhile, protests from fans were not directed at Potter alone but also at chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady. The home defeat to Crystal Palace became his final match in charge.
