West Ham have had every kind of hero over the years.
There are the legends — players who defined eras like Mark Noble, Geoff Hurst, Billy Bonds, and Bobby Moore.
Then the icons, short-lived but unforgettable talents such as Paolo Di Canio, Dimitri Payet, Joe Cole, and even Declan Rice, who left for Arsenal just as he was reaching his peak in claret and blue.
And then there are the cult heroes — the ones who came and went quickly, yet left a mark that still lingers in East London folklore.
Alessandro Diamanti was one of those figures.
The charismatic Italian playmaker spent just a single season at Upton Park, but his flair, passion and unpredictability made him a firm fan favourite. Now, 15 years later, he’s revealed he still thinks about his time in East London — and admits he wishes he’d stayed longer.
Diamanti Reflects on His Short West Ham Spell
Diamanti’s time at West Ham may have been brief, but it was memorable. In just 30 appearances, he scored eight goals, often lighting up games with his audacious left foot and infectious energy.
He even finished runner-up to Scott Parker in the 2010 Hammer of the Year vote.
Speaking to Fanpage.it, the now 42-year-old reflected fondly on his year in England — and admitted he found it difficult to adjust at first.
“I struggled a lot with the language. I didn’t know any English, and the English don’t like it when you can’t speak it — unlike Australians! At my first interview in Australia, the journalist told me not to learn English because he liked my Italian-English!”
Having later gone on to become a cult hero in the A-League with Western United before retiring in 2023, Diamanti insists he has few regrets about his career — but leaving West Ham so soon is one of them.
“I have no regrets,” he said. “But if I had to find one small one, it would be leaving West Ham too early.
“I’d had a fantastic year. I was in the fans’ hearts, and perhaps I should have continued my journey there. But the hardest thing in life is making choices. It’s easy to live and play with the mindset you have ten years later.”
For many West Ham fans, the feeling is mutual. In a season where goals and creativity have been in short supply, a maverick like Diamanti — unpredictable, fearless, and adored — wouldn’t go amiss right now.
