The Truth About When Lopetegui Will Likely Be Sacked by West Ham May Anger Fans

Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian is known for his direct contact with West Ham co-owner David Sullivan, lending credibility to his claim that Julen Lopetegui could face the sack if the Hammers lose their upcoming matches against Newcastle and Arsenal.

According to Steinberg, Sullivan may decide to pull the trigger on Lopetegui’s tenure, particularly if West Ham suffers a heavy defeat to Newcastle at St James’s Park on Monday night.

This has sparked speculation, with some cynical West Ham fans believing the owners are setting up the manager for failure.

Given the team’s poor form over the past year, let alone this season, the idea of expecting the Irons to avoid defeat against Newcastle and Arsenal seems almost like a kiss of death. Yet, the truth is that Sullivan is in a conflicted position.

Despite some public pressure, the majority owner holds Lopetegui in high regard.

Sullivan has described the former Wolves boss as a “real pro,” and the two speak on a weekly basis.

While most anticipate tough losses in the next two fixtures, the club’s owners still hold out hope that Lopetegui can somehow turn things around.

However, there is little concrete evidence suggesting that the manager is on the brink of being sacked.

Even if he were to secure a surprising victory, many West Ham fans remain unconvinced that Lopetegui is the right man to lead the club forward.

In fact, doubts about his managerial abilities have persisted from the beginning.

When West Ham faced Everton in what was billed as a “must-win” match for Lopetegui, the resulting 0-0 draw was uninspiring, leaving supporters questioning whether the players were truly fighting to save their manager.

This match, along with public displays of discontent from some players, cast further doubt on the manager’s future.

Despite the heavy criticism, Lopetegui has managed to retain his job, though the pressure continues to mount. Currently, he faces a new two-match ultimatum, with a heavy defeat potentially prompting a change.

However, sources close to the club suggest a different scenario is more likely to unfold, one that might frustrate many fans hoping for a swift resolution.

According to insiders, Lopetegui’s position will be under review not just after matches against Newcastle and Arsenal, but also if West Ham fails to secure a victory against Leicester.

A loss in all three games—against Newcastle, Arsenal, and Leicester—would put his job in serious jeopardy.

However, sources suggest that even if this worst-case scenario occurs, Lopetegui may still be given a chance to manage the December 9th game against Wolves, depending on the nature of the defeats.

Lopetegui has publicly requested to be judged in May, asking the owners for time to assemble his strongest lineup for a run of games.

With key players like Mohammed Kudus returning for the Leicester match, and potentially Niclas Füllkrug as well, there’s a hope that the team can turn their fortunes around.

This could give Lopetegui a bit more breathing room.

Sullivan’s typical approach to manager contracts includes a termination clause that allows for sacking a manager—either with no compensation or a reduced pay-out—if the team finds itself in the relegation zone after a certain number of games, usually around the halfway point of the season.

This clause was triggered when Manuel Pellegrini was dismissed, with the decisive factor being a December loss to Leicester.

If West Ham is near the relegation zone after their match with Leicester, it is unclear whether such a clause will apply to Lopetegui’s contract, and whether it can be activated after 14 or 15 games.

If not, the manager would be entitled to a pay-out, estimated at around £5 million for the remainder of his two-year contract.

A small faction of West Ham supporters still believe Lopetegui deserves more time, and this perspective will bring some comfort to that minority.

However, for the broader fanbase, the continued speculation around his job security is creating tension.

In any case, fans should be cautious of the growing narrative that Lopetegui will be sacked if West Ham loses to Newcastle and Arsenal.

As things stand, he is likely to still be in charge for the Leicester game, with his position truly up for review only if the team suffers a catastrophic run of results.