Published May 27, 2026, 7:10 AM GMT+1

Emilio is an experienced football journalist who has worked at Football FanCast for over six years.

After graduating with first-class honours from the University of Central Lancashire in 2019, it didn't take long for Emilio to clinch his first job in journalism at Snack Media, now Valnet.

Emilio has written for a host of the company's biggest past and current football news websites - Vital Football, The Transfer Tavern and Football FanCast. 

Emilio's strengths include the intricacies of football transfers, while he particularly enjoys writing about the business side of football. He has covered Tottenham Hotspur on a weekly basis for a number of years now, developing a deep understanding of the culture and what Lilywhites fans engage with.

In his spare time, you can find Emilio travelling the world, or even in a boxing ring.

It brought an end to the club’s 14-year stay in the top flight and intensified scrutiny on the direction of the club under owner David Sullivan.

One of the biggest calls now surrounds manager Nuno Espírito Santo.

The Portuguese coach only arrived in September after Graham Potter’s dismissal, but West Ham have won just 12 of his 37 matches in charge and struggled badly for consistency during the relegation battle.

Nuno did spark a major revival from January at one point, but it was too little, too late, and the Irons failed to capitalise on major opportunities to leapfrog Spurs in the final weeks.

Reports suggest club officials have already held internal discussions over his future, with a final decision expected very soon.

Behind the scenes, there appears to be some division over what happens next.

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan

The Guardian has reported that Sullivan is less convinced about keeping Nuno, while shareholder Daniel Křetínský is believed to be more supportive of retaining him for a Championship rebuild.

But as uncertainty continues around Nuno’s position, attention has already shifted towards possible replacements, and one familiar name is now back in the frame.

David Sullivan keen on Slaven Bilic reunion at West Ham

According to talkSPORT, Sullivan is personally keen on bringing Slaven Bilic back to the London Stadium if West Ham decide to make another managerial change.

Bilic remains a popular figure among many supporters because of his first spell in charge between 2015 and 2017.

The former Croatia manager guided West Ham to a seventh-place Premier League finish in his debut season, overseeing memorable away wins against Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City.

That 2015/16 campaign is still widely viewed as one of the club’s strongest modern Premier League seasons.

Although his second and third seasons became more difficult, Bilic still left with a respectable Premier League record at West Ham, particularly because of the success of his first season.

Since leaving the club in 2017, Bilic has managed in several countries, including spells with West Brom, Beijing Guoan, Watford and Al-Fateh in Saudi Arabia.

However, he has not managed in the Premier League since his brief time at Watford ended in 2022.

The possibility of a return would represent another emotional move from Sullivan, who has often looked towards experienced or familiar figures during difficult periods at the club.

Bilic is understood to still hold strong affection for West Ham and would likely welcome the chance to return if formally approached.

Other candidates are also believed to be under consideration.

Scott Parker has emerged as one of the frontrunners after recent promotions with Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley, while Gary O’Neil has also been linked.

For West Ham, though, the challenge stretches far beyond the dugout.

The club are facing financial pressure following relegation, with significant outstanding transfer payments and uncertainty over several key players.

That means the managerial appointment could shape the entire rebuild.

West Ham need someone capable of handling the pressure of the Championship while also steadying a club that has fallen sharply after years of Premier League stability and European football.

Whether Sullivan ultimately turns back to Bilic remains to be seen, but with Nuno’s future hanging in the balance and tensions growing behind the scenes, the possibility of a familiar face returning to east London is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.