English Championship side, West Ham United, have confirmed the appointment of former midfielder, Scott Parker, as their new first team coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The club, in a statement on Wednesday, said the 46-year-old, who replaces 52-year-old Portuguese Nuno Espírito Santo sacked on Tuesday, will take charge of the team, later in the day, in their English Football League Championship away fixture at Cardiff City.

The club said, “West Ham United can confirm that Scott Parker has agreed a deal to become the Club’s new men’s first-team Head Coach.

“The former Hammers captain, 46, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract at London Stadium, and will take charge of the team for Wednesday evening’s EFL Championship fixture at Cardiff City.

“Parker will be assisted by first-team coaches Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine, while Mark Noble will also be working closely with his former team-mate. 

“Further details on the permanent structure of Parker’s backroom staff will be announced in due course.”

West Ham are hoping Parker replicates with them his achievements of guiding Fulham in 2020, Bournemouth in 2022 and Burnley in 2025, from the Championship into the English Premier League, 

Parker also won the EFL Championship Manager of the Season award in 2024/25 with Burnley.

Parker as a West Ham player, made 129 appearances between 2007 and 2011, during which time he was their player of the tear three times in a row and also won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award in the 2010/11 season, becoming only the second player in the club’s history, after Bobby Moore, to receive the prestigious honour.

West Ham United interim CEO, Karim Virani, while welcoming Parker and his family back to the club, said, “He is someone who is held in high regard at West Ham United and throughout the game, and he was the unanimous choice of the Board to become our new Head Coach.”

Speaking about his new appointment, 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.

“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.”