Who Is Scott Parker? 5 Things to Know About West Ham’s New Manager
Scott Parker is set to return to West Ham United as the club’s new manager following the departure of Nuno Espírito Santo on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The former England international has emerged as the leading candidate to take charge at the London Stadium after West Ham ended Nuno’s spell following a disappointing start to their Championship campaign.
According to reports, Parker has reached an agreement with the club and could take charge ahead of Wednesday’s away fixture against Cardiff City.
The 46-year-old is no stranger to West Ham. He represented the club as a midfielder between 2007 and 2011 and has since built a managerial career that includes three promotions to the Premier League.
Here are five things to know about the Englishman.
1. Parker previously played for West Ham
Parker has a strong connection with West Ham, having spent four years at the club as a player.
He joined the Hammers in January 2007 and made 129 appearances before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur in 2011.
During his time in east London, he became an important figure in the midfield and captained the team during the 2010/11 season.
His performances earned him the club’s Hammer of the Year award in 2009 and 2010. He also won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award in 2011.
2. He has secured three Championship promotions
One of Parker’s biggest achievements as a manager is his record in the Championship.
He has guided three different clubs to promotion to the Premier League: Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley.
At Fulham, he secured promotion through the 2020 Championship play-offs after defeating Brentford in the final at Wembley.
He later led Bournemouth to automatic promotion in the 2021/22 season. His third success came with Burnley, whom he guided back to the Premier League in 2025.
Burnley finished second with 100 points and recorded an impressive 33-match unbeaten run during the campaign.
3. He has managed clubs in England and Belgium
Parker began his managerial career at Fulham, initially taking charge as caretaker manager in February 2019 before receiving the permanent job.
He later managed Bournemouth and Burnley in England.
In between those spells, he moved to Belgium to manage Club Brugge in December 2022.
However, his time there was short-lived. He managed just 12 matches before leaving in March 2023 after winning only two games.
His experience across different clubs has given him exposure to several playing environments and competitions.
4. His Premier League record has been challenging
Despite his success in the Championship, Parker has struggled to establish himself in the Premier League.
Fulham were relegated during the 2020/21 season after returning to the top flight.
His spell at Bournemouth also ended abruptly in August 2022, following a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool and a difficult start to the campaign.
At Burnley, he could not prevent another relegation in the 2024/25 Premier League season.
This contrast between his promotion record and top-flight results remains an important part of his managerial history.
5. He faces a promotion challenge at West Ham
Parker’s potential appointment comes at a difficult time for West Ham.
The club retained Nuno after suffering relegation from the Premier League last season. However, consecutive home defeats to Southampton and West Bromwich Albion increased pressure on the Portuguese manager.
The 3-1 defeat to West Brom on Saturday left West Ham eighth in the Championship, six points behind leaders Middlesbrough.
The club’s immediate objective is to return to the Premier League, and Parker’s record of winning promotion with three different teams makes him an attractive candidate.
If his appointment is confirmed, he will have the task of reviving West Ham’s campaign and delivering the promotion their supporters expect.