The best remembered goalkeepers for West Ham in the Premier League
We, like most clubs, have had our fair share of decent goalkeepers and our fair share of the not so wonderful over the decades, but during our time in the Premier League, we have been quite fortunate in who has been our custodian.
In years gone by the likes of Gregory, Standen and Parkes have set a goalkeeping standard for others to follow and you have to remember that the goalkeeper is very much an integral part of the team. Very often the spine of the team starts with the man between the sticks. Not only should he be a more than capable keeper, he needs to command his area and be able to be heard.
Look at the best goalkeepers that we’ve seen. The defenders in front of him can trust and can rely on their keeper at those points in the game when he is most needed. If he can dominate and assert himself to his back line, the more confident that line becomes.
His stature within the team and with supporters will come from his displays of athleticism, fine saves, blocking the shot with any part of his body, almost the defiance that this ball will not pass me. From courageousness to sometimes sheer madness, the keeper can inspire, motivate and be the linchpin of the team.
So looking back over those past Premier League years, just which of our keepers are our best remembered?
In no particular order, gentlemen, gloves on and stand between the posts…
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Rob Green
So nearly became a Hammer again this season, but it wasn’t to be, even though he wanted to come back.
Green signed for us in 2006 as a genuinely credible stopper from Norwich City. His potential was massive and a full international call-up beckoned.
During his first full season with us, he was voted Hammer Of The Year as he helped the team to 10th position in the Premier League. Green had a penchant for saving penalties in his first three seasons and went on to earn a runners-up place as Hammer Of The Year behind Scott Parker in the 2010-11 season.
Green proved to be a reliable keeper over the six years with us and was a big part of the side that got back to the Premier League in 2011-12. His time with the hammers coincided with further call-ups for England and the majority of his 12 caps was gained whilst with West Ham.
In a strange twist, Green decided to move onto a bigger club and to win honours, but went to QPR, who were subsequently relegated. His debut for Mark Hughes’ team culminated in an opening day 5-0 home defeat by Swansea City before Hughes replaced him with the Brazilian, Julio Cesar. Once Hughes had gone, Harry Redknapp made Green his No. 1.
At Loftus Road he remains, yoy-yoing between divisions.
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Shaka Hislop
Another well remembered keeper from those days of 1998. Neil Shaka Hislop signed for The Hammers that year and was made the No. 1 by Redknapp.
By the time Shaka had joined our ranks, Ludek Miklosko had gone to QPR, Bernard Lama couldn’t extend his three month contract and only having Craig Forrest to call upon left us short of a top choice keeper. Sorry Craig.
So Harry went shopping and brought back the 6ft 6in Hislop from Newcastle on a free transfer. In his first season as a Hammer, he won Hammer Of The Year after a brilliant season, but it wasn’t to last.
After starting the following season well, Hislop broke his leg against Bradford City and young Stephen Bywater stepped in. That was it for Hislop until 2000-01, when he returned to a disorganised club. Redknapp had gone and so had Ferdinand and Lampard and in came the unlikely managerial choice of Roeder.
However, Roeder decided that despite excellent performances, he wanted David James and bought him from Villa. Ironically, James suffered a long-term injury during 2001-02 and Hislop was brought back in again.
At the end of the season, with James cited as the first choice keeper, Hislop once more moved on a free transfer to Portsmouth and to be reunited with Redknapp. Hislop now works on ESPN.
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Jimmy Walker
Jimmy never really made the jersey his own and was often consigned to warming the bench. West Ham signed the ex-Walsall stopper in 2004 on a Bosman.
He played a few games in the first team the following year, but largely became Bywater’s back-up. Walker gained notoriety for saving a Frank Lampard penalty at Stamford Bridge in a League Cup game and in front of the West Ham supporters end.
Despite his 5 years at Upton Park, he only made 15 appearances, but is also remembered for his part in the 2005 play-off final victory. Sadly towards the end, Walker was carried off after sustaining a serious knee injury, but he had done enough to help us back to where we belonged.
Once he returned, his games were limited and Walker picked up an F A Cup runners-up medal, before the club signed Roy Carroll and then Rob Green. With his chances further hampered, Walker moved on with a short-term contract to Spurs.
After just the one season, he returned to Walsall and is now a goalkeeping coach with Gillingham.
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David James
Or David James MBE. Signed by Roeder in 2001, he stayed just three seasons before moving onto Manchester City, Portsmouth, Bristol City, Bournemouth and then IBV Vestmannaeyjar and Kerala Blasters in the Indian League.
Remarkably, or maybe not, James is third on the list of all-time Premier League appearances having played in 536 top-level games. He also has the most Premier clean sheets with 173.
Capped 53 times by England, he joined The Hammers for £3.5m after falling out with former Villa boss, John Gregory.
Sadly, that season under Roeder’s stewardship, West Ham were relegated, but credit to the player as he stayed with the club before leaving in January 2004 for an undisclosed fee.
James played 102 games for West Ham in all competitions and now works on TV with BT Sport.
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Jussi Jaaskelainen
Possibly one of Sam Allardyce’s better buys from his Bolton days. The Finnish international was a strong, reliable, but aging keeper, who signed for The Hammers in June 2012.
An ever present keeper that season, Jussi was runner-up in The Hammer Of The Year poll after sound and consistent goalkeeping made him a fans favourite.
Jussi extended his one year deal in 2013 and following further consistent form, signed a further extension for another year in 2014.
After losing his place to the younger, Adrian, Jussi played only once for West Ham in the 2014-15 season when he came on for Carlton Cole after Adrian had been sent off at Southampton.
In the summer, he was released and signed a one year deal with Wigan.
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Adrian
The current custodian in green is a top drawer keeper signed by Allardyce from Real Betis in 2013.
His abilities in goal have been fully realised already this season with outstanding saves and after last season’s steady and consistent form, surely it won’t be long before international honours come his way.
At 6ft 3in, he is a very dominant figure inside the box and particularly vocal. He strengthens a defensive unit that this year has the right personnel, but collectively, still concede. However, Adrian still shines and fully deserved his new contract this summer.
An excellent shot-stopper who produces the reliability that the team needs game after game must also watch his back, where his No.2, Darren Randolph has more than adequately deputised in recent matches.
You get the feeling that Adrian will be one of those players that will be around for a long time to come and will just get better with age.
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Ludek Miklosko
Fondly remembered as the big Czech signed by Lou Macari in 1990 from Banik Ostrava, Ludo became virtually a cult hero at Upton Park, especially for his huge kicks downfield. In today’s money frenzied world, the fee of just £300,000 is a bargain for the years of service Ludo gave the claret and blue.
After eight years of outstanding service and 374 appearances, Ludo will not be forgotten. There’s even a song about him! After Phil Parkes ended 11 years with the club, Ludo became the first choice keeper until 1997-98.
Another keeper to be named Hammer Of The Year in 1991, Ludo played in the team that were relegated and missed out on being a founder member team of the new Premier League. The following season that wrong was put right with promotion and the chance for Ludo to shine on the bigger stage.
Like everyone, Ludo had his off moments and I recall the only goal Aldershot scored against us in the early rounds of the FA Cup, when he seemed to just let the ball drift through his usually reliable hands. Even he couldn’t believe it. His fine performances were always going to come to an end and they did once Craig Forrest took over in goal.
Finally, for a nominal fee, the Czech international keeper went to QPR and then later retired due to injury.
He became a goalkeeping coach at West Ham and then mysteriously left to coach at QPR.
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The rest…
Peter Kurucz – The Hungarian stopper was with West Ham from 2009-2012, but only had one first team appearance. Is currently with Ferencvaros.
Ruud Boffin – Another goalkeeper having made just the one appearance during the 2010-2012 seasons. The Belgian is now with Turkish side Eskisehirspor.
Neil Finn – A product of The Academy and the then the youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League match in 1996, aged 17. Again, just the one appearance between 1995-98 before moving onto Dorchester Town.
Les Sealy – The experienced stopper signed from Manchester United was with us from 1994-1996 making two appearances. He then returned to The Hammers from Leyton Orient and stayed for five seasons making another two appearances. Sealey was employed as West Ham’s goalkeeping coach when he died of a heart attack at the age of 43. One of his proteges was Stephen Bywater, who wore the No. 43 shirt as a tribute to his former coach.
Roy Carroll – The Northern Ireland international is still plying his trade at Notts County at the age of 38 and still plays for N. Ireland. He was with The Hammers from 2005-07 and made 31 appearances before joining Rangers.
Stephen Bywater – Now playing for Kerala Blasters in India, Stephen came to West Ham as a 16 year old from Rochdale. He made 59 appearances between 1998 and 2006 and played for a number of clubs before the move to India this year.
Craig Forrest – The Canadian played 30 games for the claret and blue between 1997 and 2002. He worked on Canadian sport networks and is the Canadian FIFA Ambassador for SOS Children’s Villages.
Bernard Lama – After 12 appearances in a short-term 3 month contract in 1997-98, Lama didn’t extend that contract and returned to France with PSG. A France international, he has 44 caps. He is now a coach after managing Kenya’s national team in 2006.
Sasa Ilic – The Australian/Serb made the one appearance in a 4-0 defeat to Everton during a loan period in 2000 from Charlton. From us he went to Portsmouth and then moved from club to club making only a handful of appearances for the most part.
Ian Feuer – Now goalkeeping coach with L A Galaxy, Ian actually played 3 competitive matches for West Ham, but came in in 1994-1996 before going to Peterborough on loan. He re-joined The Hammers from Cardiff City in 2000 before leaving us for Wimbledon. Ian has one full international cap for the US in 1992.
Pavel Srnicek – The Czech made his name with Newcastle United in the early 90’s, but only joined West Ham on loan from Portsmouth in 2004. The move was followed up with a fee transfer until the end of the season, but after two matches covering for the suspended Stephen Bywater, West Ham took just one point from those two games and he played no further part that season. Srnicek moved to Portugal with Beira-Mar and now coaches the Czech first division club Sparta Prague.
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