Declan Rice has been able to lead West Ham to a European Glory in what appears to be his final game for the club
Declan Rice, who is the captain of West Ham, held the Europa Conference League trophy and thought about the conclusion of a 43-year journey and the probable beginning of a new phase in his inspiring tale.
On Wednesday, Rice played arguably his final game for West Ham and it ended in a fairytale-like manner as they secured a thrilling 2-1 win against Fiorentina in Prague, thanks to a last-minute goal from Jarrod Bowen.
Chelsea dismissed Declan Rice as a weeping adolescent and he was also questioned by the club where he eventually gained recognition. However, Rice will be remembered as the third person to lead West Ham to a significant trophy.
Bobby Moore lifted the FA Cup final in 1964 and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965, whereas Billy Bonds led West Ham to victory in the FA Cup in 1975 and 1980.
Bonds and Moore are considered as iconic figures in West Ham’s history, and Rice has now joined their ranks after leading the team to a much-needed trophy win in the Conference League on Wednesday.
“I’m still in shock. It’s incredible. I love this club, they’ve made me one of their own,” Rice said.
“There is interest from other clubs. Let’s wait and see. Who knows.”
After shedding tears of happiness at the end of the game, Rice realized that he would be facing a crucial moment in his career as he left the Czech capital.
Recently, West Ham manager David Moyes acknowledged that there is a high possibility of selling the English midfielder before the next season begins. Rice has expressed his desire to play in the Champions League, which is currently an unattainable goal for West Ham, who finished 14th in the Premier League this season.
Despite being valued at approximately £100 million, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich are still interested in signing him. Rice’s departure from West Ham, even if it results in a significant financial gain, will not diminish the impact of his painful exit from Chelsea at the age of 14.
However, this experience has motivated him to achieve greater success. Rice’s journey to becoming a star player began with disappointment when he was released from Chelsea’s youth academy after eight years in 2014.
Despite being the only player in his year group at West Ham to receive a scholarship without a guaranteed professional contract, Rice has since made over 200 appearances, won three club player of the year awards, and earned a Europa Conference League medal, proving his critics wrong.
Although Rice’s emotional reaction to the win against Fiorentina was understandable, his typically reserved manager expressed his own sentiments following a victory that may have saved his job. Recent reports suggested that Moyes could be fired if West Ham lost the final, given their troubled domestic season.
However, Moyes has likely earned a reprieve due to winning the first major trophy of his 25-year managerial career. Prior to this win, Moyes had only won the third-tier title with Preston in 2000 and the Community Shield with Manchester United in 2013.
Unfortunately, his otherwise impressive career was overshadowed by his disastrous nine-month stint as Alex Ferguson’s successor at United.
“This is fantastic. I’ve had a long career and you don’t get many moments like this,” said Moyes, who celebrated on the Eden Arena pitch with his 87-year-old father.
The relationship between West Ham and Moyes is similar in many ways. West Ham is known for developing talented players like Moore, Hurst, Ferdinand, and Lampard, but they have always been considered underachievers.
However, Moyes and his team can now celebrate a moment of triumph, which is the first time since Brooking’s header in the 1980 FA Cup final. In the West Ham dressing room in Prague, there was a poster of Moore holding the Cup Winners’ Cup with the words ‘Never Give Up’.
This message was particularly relevant to Rice, Moyes, and everyone associated with West Ham on a night they will always remember.
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