Co-owner Daniel Kretinsky has lifted the lid on why he chose West Ham and made a vow for the Euro final against Fiorentina.
Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky became West Ham’s second biggest stakeholder when he purchased 27 per cent of the club for £150m back in November 2021.
But in keeping with his ‘secretive’ persona, West Ham fans have barely heard a word from him since.
There were quotes from Kretinsky on West Ham via the official channels when he first arrived.
And he penned an open letter to fans via The Evening Standard around the same time.
Secretive Kretinsky makes rare public comments on West Ham
But that has largely been that. Until now.
When West Ham started out in the Europa Conference League this season, it was obviously a goal from the outset to reach the final.
For Czech mates Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal, though, there was extra incentive.
The fact the final was being held in Prague, at the home of their former club Slavia Prague, provided genuine extra motivation.
For their compatriot Kretinsky, though, it throws up a very different dilemma.
Co-owner Daniel Kretinsky lifts the lid on why he chose West Ham and makes vow for Euro final
The ‘Czech Sphinx’ – as he is known in his homeland – is the owner of Slavia’s fierce rivals Sparta Prague.
And he has never set foot in their stadium, even when the national team have played there on occasion.
Now Kretinsky has lifted the lid on why he chose West Ham and made a vow for the Euro final against Fiorentina.
Speaking an interview with The Times, Kretinsky says the Czech links to West Ham – both past and present – and the colour of the kit were big factors.
‘You need that emotional connection or it never works’
The Hammers co-owner will be attending West Ham’s massive final against Fiorentina at Slavia Prague’s ground on June 7th, though, with his son.
He also cites the longstanding Czech connection as a key motivation behind his decision to invest in West Ham with the likes of legend Ludek Miklsko followed by Tomas Repka, Radoslav Kovac, Soucek, Coufal and – less successfully Alex Kral.
“I had a huge mental/moral reservation (about going to Slavia’s ground),” Kretinsky says.
“I simply love the colours and the jersey,” Kretinsky added, laughing.
“There has always been that affinity (between the Czech Republic and West Ham).
“If you invest in a club, you need to have that emotional connection. If you don’t, it never works.”
Kretinsky’s comments on West Ham’s kit colour are undoubtedly a nod to the claret connection between the Hammers and Sparta.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
Related Topics
Have something to tell us about this article?
