Where does Michail Antonio rank among West Ham’s greatest modern-day legends?
Michail Antonio is leaving West Ham after more than ten years with the Hammers.
In his time in East London, Antonio has become a modern-day legend, amassing more than 250 appearances with the Irons and now ranks alongside the likes of Mark Noble as one of West Ham’s biggest legends.
Graham Potter elected to bring in more attackers this summer, with Callum Wilson the latest to join, leaving former Nottingham Forest forward surplus to requirements.
Antonio’s toughest period came in the last few months, after he was involved in a car crash, but it will be the better on-pitch moments that he will be remembered for.
1. Mark Noble and West Ham
Mark Noble became known as Mr. West Ham during his time in East London.
Noble made more appearances than any other West Ham player in the Premier League era.
He was born in Canning Town, just a few miles from Upton Park, and lived and breathed the club’s culture and community.
In a football world filled with transfers and short-term careers, Noble’s long-term commitment stands out.
2. Paulo Di Canio
Paolo Di Canio became a West Ham legend after he brought a rare mix of genius, passion, unpredictability, and unforgettable moments that left a lasting imprint on West Ham and its fans.
Even though his time in East London was relatively short, he had some iconic moments for the Irons, most notably scoring a scissor-kick volley vs Wimbledon in March 2000.
He may not have captained the club or won trophies, but he gave fans moments they’ll never forget.
3. Michail Antonio
Antonio had an eye for the spectacular during his time with the Irons.
It was a shame that there was no crowd to witness the 35-year-old’s athletic overhead kick during their 1-1 draw with Manchester City in October 2020.
The London Stadium stood empty due to COVID, when Antonio latched onto Vladimir Coufal’s cross to guide the ball home with his back to goal.
The goal provided West Ham with an important point, as they qualified for European football.
In August 2021, Antonio scored twice to take sole possession of the club’s Premier League scoring record, surpassing Paolo Di Canio.
In true Antonio fashion, he proceeded to hoist a cardboard cut‑out of himself into the air in yet another memorable celebration.
Moments like these cement him as one of West Ham’s best players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j9EUWp4ETU4. Declan Rice
Rice became a modern-day legend with the Hammers after leading them to the Europa Conference League trophy.
He captained the Hammers to their first trophy in 43 years and stayed with the Irons despite the threat of relegation during the 2019/20 season.
Rice may not have been a lifelong Hammer, but he provided the club with much-needed funds when he departed for more than £100million to Arsenal.
5. Aaron Cresswell
Cresswell wasn’t a flashy player for the Hammers, but he provided plenty of consistency down the left-hand side.
The defender joined in 2014 from Ipswich and made over 300 appearances in a claret and blue shirt.
He became known for his consistency, loyalty, professionalism, and long-term contribution during a transformative period in the club’s history.
Having left the Hammers this summer, he has now joined Championship side Stoke City.
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