Many West Ham fans were happy to see the return of Kevin Nolan at the club last year.
Former West Ham club captain and hero Kevin Nolan joined David Moyes’ coaching staff back in February along with Paul Nevin.
Initially, their contracts were set to expire at the end of last season, but their incredible work at West Ham did not go unnoticed – and since have been offered extensions.
“It feels incredible to be back,” he said back in February. “I’m delighted, proud and just really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Nolan, 38, made over 150 appearances for the Hammers – scoring 31 goals during his time in East London. He joined from Newcastle in 2011 and played a big part in helping us secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking under Sam Allardyce.
When he departed in 2015, he went on to fill player-coach roles at Leyton Orient and Notts County, which gave him valuable experience for the next chapter in his career.
His history at the club has helped him become a fan favourite and he is now a vital figure in the dressing room.
It is clear to see that he has made a great impression with the team and has continued to aid Moyes throughout his successful second spell.
Vital role
What has made West Ham stand out this season, is the team camaraderie and spirit. Kevin Nolan has played an integral part in building that within the dressing room.
Having been a player and a coach himself, he has a strong link to the squad members and the staff. Both he and captain Mark Noble have a great connection with the boss, which has improved communication and created a positive atmosphere around the club.
It is evident to see that because of this Nolan plays a vital role at West Ham. He is always communicating, joking around and working with the team and the staff.
It is clear in training, before matches, during matches and even post matches, which positively uplifts the team.
Media involvement
It is noticeable that David Moyes trusts Kevin Nolan to fulfill his duties to his best ability. More recently Nolan has been getting involved with media commitments as well.
One particular example was when he spoke out about the signing of Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United.
He said; “What we’re hoping that we’ve got is a lad who is coming hungry and ready to prove a lot of people wrong, in terms of ready to prove that he can still play for Man United,” according to the Evening Standard.
This kind of press-related involvement further proves how vital his role is at the club and how much faith the manager has in him.
You don’t often see first-team coaches expressing their and the manager’s opinions in the media, but this just highlights the good working relationship he has with Moyes.
Heading for more success
It is hard to take away any credit from David Moyes for the excellent job he has done this season. He has managed to turn us from a relegation-threatened side to Europa League contenders.
But suffice to say, he could not have done it without his right-hand man. Kevin Nolan has been an irreplaceable addition to the team and continues to provide an essential link between the players and the staff.
Having been there himself, he knows what it takes for the club to succeed. Nolan was the perfect mould for a club captain when he was a player and he is now taking that leadership role into coaching.
With David Moyes in charge and Kevin Nolan beside him, fans can take comfort from the fact that they are steering us in the right direction.
Who knows, maybe one day he could be in the manager’s seat himself…
