Scott Parker has returned to West Ham United as manager, a return to the club he spent over four seasons at after signing from Newcastle in June 2007 until he left for Tottenham in August 2011.
The former Hammers favourite replaces Nuno Espírito Santo and returns to the club where he became a fan favourite, this time with one clear job: guiding West Ham United back to the Premier League.
Promotion Specialist
Promotion Specialist
At 46, Scott is far from a rookie; in fact, few managers in England can match his record in the Championship.
Though he’s less than seven years into his managerial career, he’s already won promotion to the Premier League three times, with three different clubs on each occasion doing so in his first full season.
He took Fulham up through the 2020 Championship play-offs, beating Brentford at Wembley . Bournemouth went up automatically in 2021/22. At Burnley, he guided the Clarets to 33 league games unbeaten, kept 30 clean sheets, conceded just 16 goals in 46 matches and finished with 100 points.
Per Transfermarkt, across his whole Championship career, he has won 78 of 141 games and averages 1.94 points per match. A record for a coach who knows how to get out of the division.
Coming Home
Coming Home
This one is personal. Parker spent four seasons at West Ham United as a player, captained the side and won Hammer of the Year three times.
He was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 2011, and supporters have never forgotten his performances for the club. Now back, he has another opportunity to write a new chapter in his Hammers story.
All to Play For
All to Play For
Parker takes over a side sitting eighth after 13 games, six points off leaders Middlesbrough and four from the automatic promotion places. With over 70% of the regular league season left to play for, he has every chance of adding another promotion to his CV.
He inherits a squad with plenty of talent, including Captain and talisman Jarrod Bowen and star defender Konstantinos Mavropanos. It’ll also be fascinating to see how the former midfielder coaches the likes of Mohamadou Kanté, Arne Engels and Divine Mukasa.
Straight Into Action
Straight Into Action
There’s no settling-in period. West Ham United travel to Cardiff on Wednesday night.
Interestingly, Cardiff City are the side he’s managed against most often in his career, and he boasts an impressive record guiding his side to seven victories, one draw and only two defeats across his spells with Burnley, Bournemouth and Fulham.
The Betting
The Betting
West Ham United remain second favourites for promotion, currently 11/4 for outright promotion, only behind Middlesbrough at 13/8
The Hammers want to go straight back up. Scott Parker might just be the man to take them there.
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Bill is as passionate about Irish football as they come, with an agonising longing to see his country grace a World Cup stage. A League of Ireland devotee and lifelong Man United fan, he knows better than most what sporting heartbreak feels like, and brings that perspective to the BOYLE Sports Blog. With roots in greyhound racing and a curiosity spanning politics, snooker, WWE and beyond, there is rarely a sporting conversation he cannot add to.
