West Ham have a host of high profile overseas and domestic stars – the trio of Lucas Paquetá, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus often attract the headlines as the Hammers ‘Crown Jewels’. One less lauded player often divides opinion at the club – and certainly amongst Claret and Hugh readers – into those who love him or those who would drop him in a heartbeat.
The footballing equivalent of Marmite then, Czech Hammer Tomas Soucek often goes under the radar in East London for the workmate and distance he covers in undramatic style.
However his contribution seems much better received in his homeland where he has again – now for the fourth time – been voted Czech footballer of the year. “Tornado Tom” is captain of his national side and guided them to promotion into League A in the Nations League, in addition to his many crucial performances in Claret and Blue and vital goals for West Ham.
Now the Czech is leading his countries’ attempt to qualify for the World Cup next year – which would be the first time since 2006 that the Czechs have made it to the World Cup finals. Soucek now sits third in the all – time list of Czech winners of the award, behind Ivo Viktor with five and Petr Cech with nine. Seems that on occasion his international exploits are better received by Czech fans than some of his Hammers critics!
Famous for telling his national team head coach to ‘wait outside’ as he gave a dressing down to his international team mates after a poor performance in Georgia, Soucek leads from the front and was many Hammers’ fans choice as captain: He deputised well for Jarrod Bowen when injured and looks to be finally receiving the recognition he deserves for his tireless, fearless often battling performances for both club and country.
