Graham Potter accepts new job before possible return to Premier League football
Graham Potter has become a course co-director at the PFA Business School. The former Chelsea and Brighton manager is widely expected to become the next West Ham boss after the club decided to sack Julen Lopetegui. Potter hasn’t held a managerial job since being sacked at Chelsea in April 2023Getty Potter, who is also thought to be attracting interest from Everton, has been out of management since being axed by Chelsea in April 2023. The 49-year-old was announced into a new job on Tuesday – albeit not in the Premier League. Potter will work with the PFA Business School on their certificate in Football Psychology, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership. The Englishman took an unusual route into football management, working at various universities and completing a Masters in Leadership: Personal & Professional Development – which focused on using emotional intelligence. Before developing a reputation for attractive football at Brighton, Potter was known for his unconventional off-field methods at Ostersund, even encouraging players to take part in a stage production to take them out of their comfort zone. On accepting his new role with the PFA Business School, Potter said: “In the end, education helped me become a better person and a better player. “In football, sometimes you just lose a game and you prepare all week and you lose a game and it doesn’t feel very good, whereas studying just gave me a sense that you can work and achieve something and no one can necessarily take that away from you. “You always have that qualification, you always got it, so it was quite a nice balance to the volatile world of football. “It’s very exciting, I think, that the PFA are doing this. Very exciting that they’re providing the opportunity for young players, for old players to improve, to get qualifications, to tackle what comes at them in the next part of their lives in a positive way, so I’m happy to support this. Potter is tipped to take the reins from Lopetegui at West HamGetty He had previously been involved in an Ostersunds’ performance of Swan LakeÖstersunds FK Facebook “It gives you knowledge, it helps you have clarity in thought. “It’s an investment not just in the now, in terms of how you are, it’s an investment in your future because my degree that I got, through the PFA or through the PFA’s help, was a foundation for me, my career in management, because without that degree I wouldn’t have got my first job as a graduate, as a graduate position. “So I think education, education, education – somebody’s probably said that before, but that’s something I would really advise.” Potter recently admitted he was ready to return to management after 20 months out of the game. The Englishman is thought to be keen on the Hammers job, having been lined up for weeks amid questions over the future of Lopetegui. West Ham are yet to formally announce the sacking of their current boss, who was only appointed in May. Lopetegui is set to be shown the exit door after just eight months in chargeGetty Lopetegui has lost nine of his opening 20 league matches in charge, conceding 39 goals in the process. Club legend Tony Cottee told talkSPORT he believes Potter is the right man for the job. Cottee said: “I think they’ve got to go with him. He did well at Brighton, did the Chelsea job which as we know was a difficult job, and it could have ended a lot better for him, we all know that. “I think West Ham need someone to come in, I think they need a British manager from the fans’ point of view and someone who’s gonna give them a bit of hope. “I’m pleased they’ve done it today because at least it gives the new manager, if he comes in quickly to have a go at the FA Cup because there’s nothing else left for West Ham. “They’re in the bottom half of the table, they’re not gonna get in Europe. Have a go at winning the FA Cup and play your strongest team.”
Graham Potter has become a course co-director at the PFA Business School.
The former Chelsea and Brighton manager is widely expected to become the next West Ham boss after the club decided to sack Julen Lopetegui.
Potter, who is also thought to be attracting interest from Everton, has been out of management since being axed by Chelsea in April 2023.
The 49-year-old was announced into a new job on Tuesday – albeit not in the Premier League.
Potter will work with the PFA Business School on their certificate in Football Psychology, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership.
The Englishman took an unusual route into football management, working at various universities and completing a Masters in Leadership: Personal & Professional Development – which focused on using emotional intelligence.
Before developing a reputation for attractive football at Brighton, Potter was known for his unconventional off-field methods at Ostersund, even encouraging players to take part in a stage production to take them out of their comfort zone.
On accepting his new role with the PFA Business School, Potter said: “In the end, education helped me become a better person and a better player.
“In football, sometimes you just lose a game and you prepare all week and you lose a game and it doesn’t feel very good, whereas studying just gave me a sense that you can work and achieve something and no one can necessarily take that away from you.
“You always have that qualification, you always got it, so it was quite a nice balance to the volatile world of football.
“It’s very exciting, I think, that the PFA are doing this. Very exciting that they’re providing the opportunity for young players, for old players to improve, to get qualifications, to tackle what comes at them in the next part of their lives in a positive way, so I’m happy to support this.
“It gives you knowledge, it helps you have clarity in thought.
“It’s an investment not just in the now, in terms of how you are, it’s an investment in your future because my degree that I got, through the PFA or through the PFA’s help, was a foundation for me, my career in management, because without that degree I wouldn’t have got my first job as a graduate, as a graduate position.
“So I think education, education, education – somebody’s probably said that before, but that’s something I would really advise.”
Potter recently admitted he was ready to return to management after 20 months out of the game.
The Englishman is thought to be keen on the Hammers job, having been lined up for weeks amid questions over the future of Lopetegui.
West Ham are yet to formally announce the sacking of their current boss, who was only appointed in May.
Lopetegui has lost nine of his opening 20 league matches in charge, conceding 39 goals in the process.
Club legend Tony Cottee told talkSPORT he believes Potter is the right man for the job.
Cottee said: “I think they’ve got to go with him. He did well at Brighton, did the Chelsea job which as we know was a difficult job, and it could have ended a lot better for him, we all know that.
“I think West Ham need someone to come in, I think they need a British manager from the fans’ point of view and someone who’s gonna give them a bit of hope.
“I’m pleased they’ve done it today because at least it gives the new manager, if he comes in quickly to have a go at the FA Cup because there’s nothing else left for West Ham.
“They’re in the bottom half of the table, they’re not gonna get in Europe. Have a go at winning the FA Cup and play your strongest team.”
