Nuno Espirito Santo has already dropped a hint about the job he wants once his spell at West Ham is eventually over.
It is fair to say Nuno Espirito Santo is looking like being a big hit at West Ham after a rollercoaster first six weeks in the job.
Taking over West Ham following the disastrous tenures of Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter would be no easy task for any manager.
Potter was sacked as the worst permanent manager in West Ham’s 130-year history and looked almost certain to take the club down.
After impressing fans with his bullish approach, aura and team selection in the first two games, Nuno then faced criticism with some curveball calls for damaging defeats to Brentford and Leeds.
Nuno already has Hammers on the up
But Nuno has turned things around in the last week, visibly uniting the West Ham dressing room and leading his side to back-to-back wins over Newcastle and Burnley.
That has reignited West Ham’s season and hopes of survival.
Nuno looked like a sure thing for the Hammers given the remarkable job he did at Nottingham Forest before his controversial sacking after a fallout with owner Evanglos Marinakis.
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West Ham’s board clearly felt he was too, giving Nuno a three-year contract – longer than many of his predecessors.
The Hammers’ hierarchy also agreed to Nuno’s demand that super agent Jorge Mendes has an input on West Ham’s recruitment.
Nuno Espirito Santo celebrates during West Ham's win over Newcastle United
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
talkSPORT presenter Sam Matterface recently revealed top West Ham sources believe Nuno is ‘the one’ to get the club back competing for Europe.
Clearly the hope is that Nuno does so well at the London Stadium he stays beyond his initial three-year deal.
Given the job he did getting Forest and Wolves into Europe, turning around a West Ham side that had all but hit rock bottom would undoubtedly see Nuno coveted by other clubs.
In a way the Hammers should be hoping elite clubs come knocking as it will mean Nuno is working wonders in east London.
But Nuno has already suggested there’s a job he wants when his time at West Ham eventually comes to an end.
What’s next for Nuno Espirito after West Ham?
The Hammers boss has made it clear which role he dreams of taking in the future — and it might surprise some.
Nuno has managed Rio Ave, Valencia, Porto, Wolves, Spurs, Al-Ittihad, Forest and now the Hammers.
During his career as a top level goalkeeper, Nuno played for Porto and Deportivo La Coruna among his clubs as well as Portugal’s youth sides and B team.
Nuno was born in Portuguese Sao Tome and Principe.
The people of Sao Tome and Príncipe are predominantly of African and mixed European and African descent.
West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo during the match with Newcastle United
Photo by Harry Murphy – Danehouse/Getty Images
The legacy of Portuguese rule is also visible in the country’s culture, customs, and music, which fuse European and African influences. São Tomé and Príncipe is a founding member state of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
And Nuno has admitted his heritage is calling him if the job as manager of the Sao Tome and Príncipe national football team came calling after his time at West Ham.
Nuno told More Than The Score that being the only black manager in the Premier League currently is a ‘privilege’ not a ‘burden’.
That led on to talk of what may come next for Nuno in his career.
Nuno says one job would be an ‘honour’
And the Hammers boss admitted he would be ‘honoured’ to manage his native Sao Tome.
“Would you ever like to coach Sao Tome?” Nuno was asked on the podcast.
“I know you’ve only just got your feet under the table at West Ham, but does that appeal?
“Because we’ve seen what Cape Verde have done with a plan and with long-term and suddenly they’re at the World Cup.”
In response, Nuno said if the offer came he would find it hard to turn down.
“We never know, we never know,” Nuno said.
“But if I can be a part of something, I’ll be honoured.”