"So long, farewell": West Ham player's wife celebrates Nuno Espírito Santo's sacking

Nuno Espírito Santo's departure from West Ham quickly brought to light the deep-seated divisions and unrest brewing behind the scenes in east London. Just minutes after the Hammers confirmed the Portuguese manager's dismissal, social media became a platform for pointed jabs and celebrations that exposed dressing room tensions.

The most vocal reaction came from Marrion Areola, wife of backup goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. Taking to Instagram, she made no secret of her relief at the board's decision across a series of posts. In one clip, she is seen smiling as she walks down the street to Sam Phillips' track Happy; in another, she shared an excerpt from The Sound of Music where the children sing So Long, Farewell.

This is not the first time Marrion has taken aim at Nuno. Following the club's relegation to the Championship at the end of last season, the French shot-stopper's partner publicly hit out at the Portuguese coach—as well as his predecessor Graham Potter—accusing Nuno of dropping Areola to the bench "for no apparent reason" in favor of Mads Hermansen.

On another occasion, she directly blamed him for Areola missing out on France's World Cup squad, writing at the time: "And no World Cup this year... thank you, Nuno."

The reactions were not confined to players' families. On West Ham's official post announcing the manager's exit, Mexican international Edson Álvarez notably left a "like". The midfielder has been among the most sidelined figures in the squad, failing to register a single Championship minute this season. Former academy product George Earthy, who has since moved to Reading, also reacted to the announcement.

Nuno's exit, prompted by a 3-1 home defeat against West Bromwich Albion that left the team eighth in the table, now paves the way for former Hammers midfielder Scott Parker. The promotion specialist has reached an agreement in principle with the club as they look to revive their primary objective: an immediate return to the Premier League.