As West Ham United reportedly close in on the appointment of Nils Koppen, who better to ask than fans of Rangers as those in East London look to acquaint themselves with an all-new name?
It initially appeared that Steve Nickson would become the first director of football of the Daniel Kretinsky era. But with ambitious, deep-pocketed Wrexham seemingly going all in on the former Newcastle chief, a less familiar name has appeared in West Ham United’s sights over the last 12 hours.
According to Sky Sports, Nils Koppen will be appointed by the Hammers in the near future.
Nils Koppen helped build PSV’s title-winning squad! What do you want from him at West Ham?
He will not be the club’s director of football, but instead the director of player recruitment. A more specialised role which highlights the Dutchman’s impressive record when it comes to unearthing diamonds in the rough.
West Ham United to hire ex-Rangers and PSV chief Nils Koppen
Koppen masterminded the £1.7 million signing of Hamza Igamane at Rangers, for instance.
He also helped construct a PSV Eindhoven side who would go on to win three successive Eredivisie titles, overseeing the arrivals of Johan Bakayoko and the Bayern Munich-bound World Cup sensation Ismael Saibari among others.
The noises from north of the border, meanwhile, suggest that West Ham may be on to something good.
“He was actually decent for Rangers,” one Gers supporter writes on X when talking about a man who described his approach to recruitment as ‘creative’ and ‘outside of the box’.
“He wasn’t working with a big budget at all and did find a few good players.”
Igamane was undoubtedly the jewel in his Ibrox crown; a bargain buy snapped up from Moroccan football who would join Lille for a substantial profit following 16 goals in Rangers blue.
Jefte at £800,000 was another highlight – the Brazilian left-back departed a year later for £4 million – alongside Mohamed Diomande; an Ivorian midfielder who joined via Denmark.
There were some misses too, of course. Robin Propper flopped after following Koppen over from the Netherlands, Fabio Silva was underwhelming, and Nadim Bajrami was never suited to the physicality of Scottish football.
But give Koppen the freedom to do what he does best – identify young, hungry talents from far-flung markets – and West Ham might just have their own Saibari or Igamane before long.
“Considering we were cost-cutting like mad for sale of club, I thought he did very well for shopping in the bargain bucket market of football,” another fan adds.
“Great guy, great at finding talented players.”
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Some at Ibrox would welcome the West Ham-bound Koppen back at Ibrox
Koppen’s copybook does have its blemishes.
But it is no coincidence that most of Rangers incomings after his 2024 departure flopped. Last summer was not only most expensive since the big-spending Dick Advocaat era in 2000, but also one of the most disappointing in hindsight.
Koppen’s eye for a bargain is keenly missed.
“Would love him back at Ibrox,” one Rangers fan pines.
“[Koppen was] decent, operated for us whilst we were a basket case, signed some good players and learned about the unique requirements of the league pretty quickly. If he was with our new board I would be confident of incomings.”
“Was at the club briefly, at a time where we were mostly downsizing in terms of wage and money spent in preparation for the takeover, but he still made some decent moves. I imagine he’ll do well with West Ham granted the budget you will have in that league.”
“Good eye for talent. Definitely gambles on a few ‘project signings’ which don’t always work out but without a doubt he can spot a player who will develop and be sold for huge profit. Was held back here by a lot of other issues but don’t have much bad to say about him.”
“Decent. Made some good signings at decent prices, but they weren’t all suited to the Scottish League. He has an eye for young players with potential. Hope he does well.”
In truth, there are not many at Ibrox who have a bad word to say about him.
At a time when West Ham are without the lure and the financial riches of Premier League football, Koppen’s ability to find low-cost bargains in unexpected places – see Morocco, Brazil, Denmark and particularly the academies of Belgium clubs – should come in very handy.
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