It feels telling that the sadness which greeted Paco Jemez’s departure from West Ham United far outweighed the relief which accompanied the news of Nuno Espirito Santo’s extended stay at the London Stadium.
When the Hammers confirmed that Nuno would be remaining earlier this week, a statement posted on the club’s official website highlighted the fact that 25 points were secured in the final 17 matches of the Premier League campaign.
A tally which, if the season had begun following the 2-1 home loss by Nottingham Forest in early-January, would have been enough for a Europa League spot.
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It is surely no coincidence, meanwhile, that this 17-game stretch coincided with the appointment of Paco Jemez as Nuno Espirito Santo’s right-hand man at West Ham United.
Paco Jemez leaves West Ham United after four months
The stats tell quite a tale. Following Jemez’s arrival four months ago, West Ham’s points-per-game tally rose from 0.8 to 1.4. They scored more goals with Jemez on the touchline, and conceded far less; aided, of course, by the signing of Axel Disasi on loan from Chelsea.
So when Jemez confirmed on Friday that he will be leaving just days after their relegation was confirmed – what might’ve been had the sprightly Spaniard joined Nuno’s staff in September rather than in January? – one suspects the West Ham fans will not be alone in expressing their disappointment.
A cult hero in Spanish football, Paco Jemez was renowned at Rayo Vallecano for his attractive, possession-heavy football.
While taking Rayo to a best-ever La Liga finish of eighth over a decade ago, iconic purists such as Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique were queuing up to sing his praises.
Perhaps surprisingly, given his reputation for a swashbuckling, attacking gameplan, the 56-year-old was credited at West Ham with transforming a backline which had previously been leaking goals like a submarine made entirely out of sieves.
Dinos Mavropanos was a revelation following Jemez’s arrival
“He’s brilliant,” left-back Ollie Scarles said only weeks after Jemez’s arrival. “He’s a defensive coach, and he’s been really good at strengthening our back four.
“He’s a really good guy to be around, and he brings a good vibe to the team. All the coaches we have are vocal, and that’s good for the whole group.”
“He tries to help a lot, especially the backline,” agreed Dinos Mavropanos, who played the best football of his Hammers career with Jemez in the dugout.
“There were things, obviously, that were missing in our games. Sometimes, the basics. I think in the first half of the season, some basic stuff of defending in general was missing. [Jemez] is just trying to improve that individually and collectively, how we should work as a team.
“We’d got into bad habits, so we’re working on it daily in training which helps us a lot to improve and be more focused and more ready for the games.
“Paco obviously was closer with the defenders because he was the one showing us some things that we can improve and we have to improve. He helped us a lot.”
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“He’s had a massive impact, especially defensively,” Freddie Potts told The Athletic after Manchester United needed a last-gasp Benjamin Sesko spectacular to rescue a point at the London Stadium.
“We’re conceding fewer goals now. He’s a very good coach and smart with the defenders and us midfield players as well. That’s been reflected in our performances and results. He’s a great guy and an even better coach.”
Axel Disasi bid a gracious farewell to West Ham this week. He returns to Chelsea with his reputation greatly enhanced despite an eventual 18th place finish. Paco Jemez would say his own goodbyes only a few days later.
The pessimistic among you will no doubt be worrying that those defensive improvements from January onwards will prove to be as fleeting as Jemez’s short spell in East London.
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