As the new Premier League season approaches, the question of who will succeed Declan Rice as West Ham United’s captain has been a subject of much speculation and debate, writes the Hammer.News. With inspirational leaders like Mark Noble and Rice departing in successive summers, the responsibility of leading the team has become a significant talking point for Hammers fans.
Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, and Angelo Ogbonna served as joint vice-captains to Rice last season. However, Cresswell is rumored to be linked with a move to Wolves, and Fabianski and Ogbonna might not be guaranteed starters in the upcoming season.
The role of the club captain, while not necessarily a guaranteed starter, holds immense importance. David Moyes, the manager of West Ham, acknowledged that he has not yet made a final decision on the new captain but emphasized that there is still time to sort it out.
However, during a friendly match against Dagenham and Redbridge in Australia, Moyes dropped a significant hint regarding the new captain. He named Tomas Soucek, the trusted and selfless midfield workhorse, as the captain for the friendly.
Soucek, an experienced Czech player, enjoys a massive fan following and is highly valued by Moyes. His consistent presence in the starting lineup and his leadership qualities make him a strong contender for the captaincy role. The midfielder’s unwavering work ethic, determination, and commitment to the team have earned him respect and admiration from fans and teammates alike.
Moyes experimented with Soucek’s role in the team during the 2021/22 season, allowing Rice more freedom to roam the pitch. However, the manager later admitted that the experiment did not work as intended, as Rice’s goal threat diminished compared to Soucek’s goal-scoring prowess.
With Rice’s departure, many supporters believe that Soucek will return to his best form and lead the team both on and off the pitch. The midfielder’s performance during the friendly could be seen as a clear sign from Moyes that he is considering Soucek as the official captain of West Ham United.
As the new season inches closer, all eyes will be on David Moyes to see if he indeed appoints Tomas Soucek as the leader to carry the Hammers forward in the upcoming Premier League campaign.