Graham Potter has shared his pride, enthusiasm and excitement at being named Head Coach of West Ham United.
The 49-year-old is relishing the opportunity to take charge of a Club he has admiration for its history and traditions, working for a fanbase and a community he has great respect for, and with a talented squad of players.
Speaking to West Ham TV in his first interview following his appointment, Potter shared his passion for fielding well-coached teams capable of playing entertaining, adaptable, innovative and, ultimately, winning football.
Potter also spoke energetically about the prospect of blooding promising young players from the Academy of Football, and strengthening the already close relationship between the Club, its players and the millions of passionate supporters who cheer them on from the stands at London Stadium and across the world.
The respected Head Coach has enjoyed an incredible journey from leading Östersund from the Swedish fourth tier to the UEFA Europa League, Brighton & Hove Albion to a record-high Premier League finish and Chelsea to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, and he is now ready to embark on another successful adventure in east London.
Returning to the place and role in which he feels most at home after a break during which he shared his knowledge as a respected pundit, Potter is recharged and ready to go again, starting with Friday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round tie at Aston Villa, followed by back-to-back Premier League London Stadium derbies with Fulham and Crystal Palace next week.
Watch the new Head Coach's 's first home game against Fulham on Tuesday night. Tickets for Adults start from £20 - buy now HERE.
Graham, welcome to West Ham United! How does it feel to be appointed Head Coach of a football club with a rich heritage, history and tradition?
It’s a very proud day, and I’m really excited. I’m looking forward to meeting the players, to getting out on the training pitch and working with them, and then I’m looking forward to working in front of the supporters.
As an away manager [managing against West Ham], the fans here have always been incredibly supportive [of their team], and I’m looking forward to meeting them as well.
Something that’s always struck me about West Ham is that it’s a passionate, ambitious Club, with loyal supporters and a family feel, as well. I’ve always thought that. I’m really looking forward to getting to know everybody, and to being part of the family.
West Ham United is a massive Football Club, with a massive, committed fanbase. You’ve considered many offers so what is it about us in your own words, that has you returning to coaching with us?
There were lots of different factors that made this job the right one.
There’s the history, tradition, the family feel of the Club and the incredibly loyal and passionate fanbase. There’s an exciting squad and a brilliant Academy that produces good, young players who I want to get to know and work with, so there are many different things that make this opportunity really interesting.
I was patient for a reason, to wait for the right opportunity, and I just felt this was the right move for me.
Your ambitions and objectives clearly align with those senior figures at the Club you’ve spoken to - talk to us a little bit more about that?
I want to keep improving as a coach. I’m really pleased with the career I’ve had so far, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved during my 12 or 13 years as a coach. Going from the fourth tier of Swedish football to the quarter-finals of the Champions League is a journey that doesn’t come for free.
I’ve enjoyed the break I’ve had, but now I’m looking forward to the next 12 years. I’m delighted to be at a Club that I think has an ambition to compete in the Premier League and move towards being back involved in those European nights that the supporters have really enjoyed over the last few years.
There’s always an ambition for all of us to really test ourselves at the highest level. At the moment the start point is the team and the group we have, and again I can’t wait to meet everyone and to start working with everyone, because there’s so much talent here.
You clearly have a love and passion for coaching football teams, so presumably you can’t wait to get out on the training pitch and down to business?
When you’ve had a bit of time off you have some time to think about why you really want to do something, and about your real ambitions, and I think it’s always to work with players, and to help them, the team and the Club improve.
I’ve had some wonderful experiences with different clubs, and it’s about connecting the team with the supporters. I think if you’ve got that connection, and you’ve got that trust, you can achieve amazing things.
It doesn’t happen overnight of course, but I’m really looking forward to starting, for sure. I’m really looking forward to the first training session, and I’m just buzzing to get going.
Your enthusiasm for the game is evident whenever you speak. Are you excited to be returning to the Premier League and coaching a talented squad of players?
It’s certainly an exciting squad, and I’m looking forward to getting to work. It’s a squad that had investment in the summer, and it’s probably been a transitional phase, so we have to understand where everybody’s at, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
We have to really try to build a team that the supporters can be proud of, that they can recognise, and that really represents the values and quality of this Club. Then, we just need to keep looking forward, work really hard and earn our results.
I think that’s what the fans want and demand - hard work, and leaving everything on the pitch - but with some quality as well, which I think there is plenty of here.
Your football has thrilled and entertained supporters wherever you have coached. It must be such a thrill to put smiles on the faces of players and supporters alike?
I think if you ask most supporters, they would say they want to be entertained, and I think that’s the case at West Ham with all the Club’s history and tradition. With all of that, and with my experiences, that’s something we’ll be looking to do.
Enjoyment is important, and I think if the players are enjoying themselves, that can help transmit enjoyment to the terraces. You have to look like you want to play football, because at the end of the day we’re in a fantastically privileged position. That’s something I’ve believed in through my entire career.
I think football’s about balance though, and I don’t think you can talk about attacking football if you’re not stable at the back or defensively sound. So, we need to make sure we’re doing that.
Ultimately, you have to look at the players and think about how you can get the best out of them, and play to their strengths. Nobody’s perfect, so we have to cover each other, work as a team and work as a unit.
We have to get that team, group and Club mentality, and I think enjoyment is a big part of that. I think we should smile when we’re playing and when we’re in training, but we also know there’s a lot of hard work to put in, because we want to improve, and we want to win.
At Östersund and Brighton, in particular, you made sure your club was deeply ingrained in the local community. How important is that close and united relationship to building a successful football club?
I think the relationship between the team and the supporters and the community is the most important one at a football club. We need the supporters - it’s as simple as that.
If we can provide the direction for them and the product on the pitch, if we can show our passion and desire, and if we can show our quality, then I think the supporters will get behind that.
I think the fans will just want to see something they believe in and identify with. It takes some time, of course, because like everything you have to go through some ups and downs together, but I think if you do that you become stronger for it.
Trust is something you have to work hard at to get, but once you have it you can achieve massive things.
With half a season to go it's straight down to business! An FA Cup third-round tie at Aston Villa, then your first home game under the London Stadium lights against Fulham - I bet you can't wait to hear that 62,500 roar?
I can’t wait to get started on Friday night, in what promises to be a great FA Cup tie at Aston Villa. Villa Park is always a great place to go. It’s an opportunity for us to learn about the team, and to try to win the game. We want to get through to the next round - that’s the aim and the ambition.
Then, the first game at London Stadium against Fulham is going to be a really proud evening for me. I’m really excited to meet the supporters and to be the West Ham Head Coach here for the first time, rather than someone coming here trying to beat the home team.
I’m excited, but at the same time it’s not about me. I want to help the players, and start that journey of creating a feeling of connection between the team and the supporters, which is the most important thing.
Speaking directly to the Claret and Blue Army, what is your message to our supporters?
All the West Ham fans I’ve met have been very supportive. I think they’re very fair and knowledgeable, so I’m really looking forward to interacting with them and getting to know them.
I’m looking forward to getting to know the local community and local area. There’s been a lot of development and change here over the years, but I think there’s been a consistent character, personality and attitude here, and it’s a huge privilege to be here.
Being responsible for putting a bit of joy into people’s lives in a fantastic opportunity. I’m going to try my best to help the team, and put out a team that they recognise and are proud of, and I just want to thank everyone who has wished us well.
