By Salma El-Sakka
Scott Parker has been appointed head coach of West Ham United on a two-and-a-half-year deal, returning to the club where he played from 2007 to 2011. The announcement comes one day after Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed, with the team sitting eighth in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League last season.
Promotion pedigree
Parker, 46, has previously guided Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley to the Premier League at the first attempt. However, his Fulham and Burnley sides were relegated the following season, and he was sacked by Bournemouth early in their top-flight campaign. He most recently left Burnley in April after their return to the Championship was confirmed.
Immediate challenge
The new head coach's first match in charge will be away to Cardiff City in the Championship on Wednesday night, following a 3-1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion last Saturday.
Parker's return
Parker, who was voted Hammer of the Year three times as a player, described the appointment as a proud moment and expressed confidence in achieving promotion. He cited a shared vision with interim chief executive Karim Virani and joint-chair Daniel Kretinsky to return the club to the Premier League quickly, emphasizing the need for consistency in the demanding second tier.
