David Sullivan rejected manager who was nominated for Ballon d’Or award as incompetence reaches frightening new level
While Graham Potter’s West Ham side continues to struggle this season, David Sullivan remains under fire from the fans.
After a dismal start to the 2025/26 campaign, West Ham fans gathered to protest against chairman Sullivan before their game against Crystal Palace.
Pressure is mounting on Potter with the side having only won once in the Premier League this season, while Nuno Espirito Santo is linked with the West Ham job.
Sullivan’s decisions continue to be questioned, as it seems it’s been one mistake after another since the sacking of David Moyes.
David Sullivan snubbed Ballon d’Or nominee Hansi Flick for West Ham role
After Sullivan’s shocking decision to sack Moyes, two candidates emerged in Julen Lopetegui and former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick.
West Ham and Sullivan opted for Lopetegui over Flick, in what also turned out to be a disastrous decision.
- Lopetegui won just seven of his 18 games in charge of West Ham
- West Ham sacked him on 8 January
- He broke Lou Macari’s record (40) for managing the fewest West Ham matches by a permanent manager
Flick was the glaringly obvious pick, and till this day, it beggars belief as to why Sullivan opted against a serial trophy-winner.
On Monday night at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, Flick was a runner-up for the Johan Cruyff Trophy, narrowly beaten by none other than last season’s Champions League winner, Luis Enrique.
David Sullivan’s biggest mistake was not appointing Hansi Flick
Flick is the current manager of Barcelona, and last season led them to the La Liga title, developing stars like Lamine Yamal and Raphina, who were also in the running for the Ballon d’Or this year.
After Lopetegui, Sullivan tried to make amends by appointing Potter, and that mistake has now led to West Ham looking to re-appoint Slaven Bilic – yet another truly baffling decision.
Hansi Flick in his first year at Barcelona:
- La Liga
- Spanish Super Cup
- Copa del Ray
All this mess is down to Sullivan, and he has to take accountability for his mistakes.
While West Ham and their fans continue to suffer, they will only dream of what could’ve been with Flick at the helm.
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