West Ham have named Scott Parker as their new head coach, bringing the 46-year-old back to east London 15 years after he departed the club as a player.

Parker has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo, who was dismissed on November 3 following just over 13 months in charge at the London Stadium.

Familiar faces in the backroom

Parker will be supported by first-team coaches Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville, and Billy Lepine. The club confirmed that club legend Mark Noble — a former team-mate of Parker's — will also work closely alongside the new manager.

Parker takes charge for the first time on Wednesday evening, when West Ham travel to Cardiff City Stadium to face Cardiff in a Sky Bet Championship fixture with a 7.45pm kick-off.

A proven Championship operator

The appointment carries considerable weight given Parker's track record in the second tier. He has won promotion from the Sky Bet Championship on three separate occasions: guiding Fulham up in 2019/20, Bournemouth in 2021/22, and most recently Burnley in 2024/25.

He had been without a club since April, when he parted ways with Burnley by mutual consent.

West Ham currently sit eighth in the Championship table, six points adrift of leaders Middlesbrough, giving Parker an immediate challenge to close that gap.

A homecoming with history

Parker left West Ham in August 2011 after spending several seasons as a player at the club. During that time, the former England international made 129 appearances for the Hammers, contributing 12 goals.

His return will be watched closely by a fanbase eager to see whether the man who built promotion-winning sides at three clubs can replicate that success in east London.