West Ham coach confirms he’s quitting the London Stadium – ‘It’s been tough’
Paco Jemez has said his time at West Ham United has “been worth it”, as the Hammers’ first-team coach appears to confirm he’s leaving.
The 56-year-old was appointed to Nuno Espirito Santo‘s coaching staff in January 2026, but was unable to help him guide the team to Premier League safety.
With West Ham now preparing for a 2026-27 campaign in the Championship, a deep summer clear-out looks to be on the agenda.
Evidently, this is going to extend to the coaching department as well as the playing squad, as the fallout to their 2025-26 season continues.
West Ham are in for a busy summer of transfers, with Jemez now seemingly one of the first out the door at the London Stadium.
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What did Paco Jemez say in West Ham exit announcement?
West Ham chiefs were reportedly split on keeping Nuno, suggesting there’s a fair amount of division within the Hammers camp going into the summer.
Clearly, 2025-26 didn’t end in the way anyone connected with the club wanted nor expected it to, with reputations, and potentially egos, damaged as a result.
| Paco Jemez fact file | Answer |
| Full name | Francisco “Paco” Jemez Martin |
| Place of birth | Las Palmas, Spain |
| Spain caps | 21 |
| Began coaching career in | 2007 |
There will be a number of casualties due to the Hammers’ relegation over the coming weeks, and Jemez is set to be one of them.
Writing to his X account on Friday morning, the Spanish coach confirmed that he is leaving his role as a first-team coach at West Ham, but it’s clear that the football club has gotten under his skin.
“It’s been tough, but it’s been worth it,” Jemez wrote.
⚒️ It's been tough, but it's been worth it.
— PacoJemezCoach (@PacoJemezCoach) May 29, 2026
Thank you Nuno!
Thank you @WestHam !
Thank you Hammers!
From now on I'm just another Irons pic.twitter.com/ELQqiS9DqB
“Thank you, Nuno! Thank you, West Ham! Thank you, Hammers!
“From now on, I’m just another Irons.”
How should West Ham replace Jemez?
If this is indeed a goodbye from Jemez, then it will be a sad day for West Ham, as the Spaniard had become a well-liked figure among many Hammers fans.
The side began playing better shortly after his arrival in January, and perhaps had he been at Nuno’s side from the very beginning, their 2025-26 story may have had a happier ending.
Alas, that isn’t the case, and now the Hammers hierarchy seemingly need to set about getting a replacement for Jemez sorted, and it probably should be one with Championship experience.
🇪🇸🗣️ West Ham's new first team coach Paco Jemez: "Nuno brought me to England not to be quiet, but to say what I think. The final decision is always his and I will respect it."
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 28, 2026
"The substitution video? It's a football situation in which he tells me something and I answer that… pic.twitter.com/PfYaOkV8gG
English football’s second tier is unlike any other league around, with the intensity of the 46-game regular season combined and so many other facets combine to make it one of the pound for pound most testing divisions in world football.
So, having as many coaches who understand the league on your bench as possible is a huge advantage, especially when the Hammers are going to be getting everyone’s best next season.