Next West Ham Manager Odds: Scott Parker Odds-On to Replace Nuno
West Ham have sacked head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, with Scott Parker expected to take over at the London Stadium.
According to The Athletic, a deal is already in place with the 46-year-old, who left Burnley by mutual consent on 30 April and has been out of work since.
Nuno's final match was Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to West Brom, West Ham's second consecutive loss at the London Stadium.
The result leaves the Hammers eighth in the Championship, six points behind leaders Middlesbrough.
Parker could be in the dugout for Wednesday's trip to Cardiff City, with sporting director Mark Noble overseeing preparations in the meantime.
Parker had already emerged as the favourite with football betting sites to become the next West Ham manager, with odds ranging from 10/11 to 5/4 before news of the reported agreement emerged.
Punters can also check out the latest free bets before getting involved.
Next West Ham Manager Odds
Here is how the market looked before West Ham announced that Nuno was leaving his post, and you can compare the best betting sites for current prices.
| Candidate | Paddy Power Odds |
|---|---|
| Scott Parker | 5/4 |
| Rob Edwards | 3/1 |
| Kieran McKenna | 2/1 |
| Thomas Frank | 5/1 |
| Craig Bellamy | 5/2 |
| Steve Cooper | 12/1 |
Odds correct as of 3 November 2026, before Nuno's sacking was confirmed
Who Is Scott Parker?
Scott Parker is a former England midfielder with a strong connection to West Ham, having played for the Hammers between 2007 and 2011.
He captained the club during their 2010-11 relegation season and was named Hammer of the Year in both 2009 and 2010.
In 2011, he became only the second West Ham player, after Bobby Moore in 1964, to win the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award.
Parker retired as a Fulham player in 2017 before moving into management.
He initially took charge of Fulham as caretaker in February 2019 and was appointed permanently that summer.
A Proven Promotion Record
Parker has secured promotion from the Championship with three different clubs, achieving the feat in his first full season at each.
He guided Fulham to the Premier League via the 2020 play-offs, beating Brentford in the final at Wembley, before leading Bournemouth to automatic promotion as runners-up in 2021-22 after joining the club that summer.
His third success came with Burnley in 2024-25, when they finished second with 100 points.
The Clarets also recorded a 33-match unbeaten run and kept 30 clean sheets during that campaign.
The Premier League Problem
Parker's record becomes less impressive when his teams reach the Premier League.
Fulham were relegated straight back to the Championship in 2020-21, while Bournemouth dismissed him in August 2022, just 25 days into the new season, following a 9-0 defeat at Liverpool.
His next spell at Club Brugge lasted only 12 games, with just two wins before he was sacked in March 2023.
At Burnley, he managed only four Premier League victories before leaving by mutual consent after relegation was confirmed.
For West Ham, however, the immediate priority is promotion rather than Premier League survival.
That is where Parker's track record offers the strongest argument in his favour.
Why West Ham Want Him
Parker has been linked with a return to the London Stadium before.
TEAMtalk reported in May that he was the leading candidate to replace Nuno following relegation, with former midfield team-mate Mark Noble said to be pushing for his appointment.
The report claimed co-chairman Daniel Kretinsky favoured keeping Nuno instead.
With Nuno now gone, speculation has resurfaced that the board could revisit its original interest in Parker.
West Ham made a strong start to the season, reaching the top of the table in September after a 6-0 victory over Wrexham.
However, consecutive home defeats against Southampton and West Brom have since seen them slip to eighth.
Parker's First Fixtures
If appointed in time, Parker could make his debut away to Cardiff City on Wednesday 4 November, before West Ham travel to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 7 November.
Our football betting tips cover both fixtures, with expert selections ahead of each game.
