West Ham United has made a notable addition to their coaching setup with the arrival of Paco Jémez as a men's First Team Coach, announced on January 15, 2026. The experienced Spanish tactician joins Nuno Espírito Santo's backroom staff at a critical juncture for the club, as the team battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Jémez, 55, brings a wealth of experience to East London. A former Spain international centre-back capped 21 times, he enjoyed a distinguished playing career with clubs including Deportivo La Coruña, Real Zaragoza, and Rayo Vallecano. He transitioned into coaching in 2007 and has since managed over 500 matches across Spain, Mexico, and Iran. His most notable spell came during five years at Rayo Vallecano, where he guided the Madrid side to a club-record eighth-place finish in La Liga in the 2012/13 season. Known for his charismatic, attacking-minded philosophy—often dubbed "suicideball" for its bold, high-risk style—Jémez has also led teams like UD Las Palmas, Granada, Cruz Azul, and, most recently, UD Ibiza (until his dismissal in October 2025).
"The coaching staff has more numbers. More numbers mean more ideas, more energy."West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo
The appointment comes amid West Ham's turbulent season. The Hammers sit 18th in the Premier League table (or 17th in some reports), seven points from safety, having won only three of their opening 21 league games and enduring a 10-match winless run in the top flight—their longest in nearly two decades. Recent back-to-back defeats to relegation rivals Wolves and Nottingham Forest intensified speculation over Nuno Espírito Santo's future, with the Portuguese manager—appointed in September 2025 to replace Graham Potter—facing heavy scrutiny.
This is not the first move that shows support for Nuno with significant January investments, including over £50 million spent on strikers Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe. The addition of Jémez, pending a successful work permit application, signals continued support for the head coach rather than an imminent change at the top. Some fans and observers even speculated (mistakenly) that Jémez might replace Nuno, but official statements confirm he will serve as a first-team coach alongside Mark Robson, Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville, and goalkeeping coaches Rui Barbosa and Billy Lepine.
"This speaks to the team's commitment to Nuno," a club source said. "There may be speculation that Nuno could be let go, but he has everyone's support. We are working with him to find the players he needs before the transfer window closes, but he also knows he can bring in more staff familiar with his system if he needs to."
Jémez's arrival injects fresh expertise and a contrasting tactical perspective to Nuno's typically more cautious, defense-oriented approach. His reputation as a bold innovator has earned admirers, including Pep Guardiola (a known fan of his style) and former Spain teammate Luis Enrique. West Ham hope this blend of experience helps steady the ship, starting with a crucial London derby at Tottenham Hotspur this weekend—Jémez could even be on the bench if his paperwork clears in time.
Whether Jémez's attacking flair rubs off on the squad remains to be seen, but in a season of struggle, West Ham are clearly willing to try new ideas to turn things around. "It's one more person to help us," Nuno said. "The coaching staff has more numbers. More numbers mean more ideas, more energy. He is an experienced coach, and he will bring new things to us."
While Nuno and Jémez have never worked together in the past, they were teammates when they both played for Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna.