Joe Hart might not have enjoyed his brief spell under Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham Hotspur, but the former Premier League champion knows exactly what the new boss will bring to West Ham United.
While the fate suffered by Hart following the appointment of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City is the stuff of legend these days – bombed out immediately in favour of a more possession-orientated option in Claudio Bravo – he would find himself facing a similar scenario when Tottenham Hotspur hired Nuno Espirito Santo in June 2021.
Just over a month later, Joe Hart was unceremoniously shoved out the door to Celtic.
It’s fair to say the two-time Premier League champion did not agree with Nuno digging the grave and giving him a firm whack on the head with a shovel.
“[Nuno said] ‘Let’s be absolutely clear. No matter what happens, you’ll not kick a ball this year’,” Hart told the In The Stiffs podcast a few months ago.
‘”I would not feel comfortable with you playing one minute for me. The ball’s too quick for you, you’re too old, you’re not moving, you’ve got no strength in your body’.
‘He literally buried me and I’m laughing because, whether I’m deluded or not, I was like, ‘I don’t agree with any of that!’”
Yet, the former West Ham United goalkeeper is mature enough to put those differences aside while talking up Nuno’s appointment at the London Stadium.
One-time England teammate Jermain Defoe labelled Nuno the ‘obvious choice’ for a Hammers side who needed to make vast, and quick, improvements in the defensive side of the game. And Hart certainly agrees that West Ham have got the better end of the deal, with Ange Postecoglou stepping into Nuno’s shoes at Nottingham Forest.
Joe Hart knows what Nuno Espirito Santo will bring to West Ham United
Across a combined nine matches, both Nuno and Postecoglou are still awaiting their first wins in their new jobs.
Yet, never has context been more important than it is right here.
Nuno feels West Ham are making progress already under his stewardship. Arsenal needed a rebound and a contentious penalty to beat their London rivals at the Emirates.
In contrast, Postecoglou was greeted by a tide of Nuno-themed chants by a furious Forest fanbase as he hit rock bottom only weeks into his tenure at the City Ground.
“Ironically, I think Nuno is a better appointment to come in mid-season than what Nottingham Forest have made [in Postecoglou],” Hart said. “Because he’ll make them solid. You know, he knows what he wants. He’ll be very hard [with his players].
“You know, I’ve experienced a little bit of time with him. My time wasn’t great with him, but it’s not about me. I know that he’s a good coach. I know that he will bring stability.”
Nuno took Nottingham Forest into Europe last season while conceding only five fewer goals than champions Liverpool. He worked similar wonders at Wolves. In fact, the much-maligned Max Kilman credits Nuno for getting the very best out of him at Molineux. West Ham will hope that relationship will prove just as fruitful a few years on.
“West Ham have got some really good forward players,” Hart adds. “So, if [Nuno] can organise the defence how he does…
“He needs everyone on side at West Ham. That’s the key, you know, you need everyone believing in what he’s doing. But I think he can bring some stability there.”
Hart reflects on Nuno joining the Hammers and Ange Postecoglou joining Nottingham Forest
Nuno’s arrival did not sit well with Sam Allardyce, given that Potter’s departure had only been confirmed a few hours previously on a dramatic Saturday in late-September.
Hart, though, feels that fast-moving merry-go-round is simply the nature of modern football.
“Football has become a whole lot more ruthless,” he argues. “I think during my career, especially the [early days] of my career, if someone lost their job that was huge, you know. It would it would haunt them for a long time. Maybe two, three years.
“They wouldn’t necessarily get picked for other jobs. But I think now, the merry-go-round, it goes on. I think Ange and Nuno are great examples. Both left their clubs and, within a couple of weeks, both are getting good jobs in the Premier League.
“So, I think we’re just going to get used to this more kind of fluid interaction between managers and probably having to check which badge they’re wearing!”
