Ludek Miklosko dies aged 64 as West Ham pay tribute to club legend with iconic chant

West Ham United legend Ludek Miklosko has died aged 64 following a battle with cancer. The club's former goalkeeper was diagnosed with the illness back in 2021 after discovering a small lump on his hip with the decision made a few years later to stop treatment after the cancer also spread to his stomach.

During the 1990s, he made nearly 400 appearances for the Hammers which saw him become a hugely popular figure within the fanbase.

For the last few years, he has been sporting director at Czech Republic side FC Banik Ostrava, who were among many to pay tribute on social media. He has also managed to attend a number of important West Ham over the last few years with their tribute particularly touching.

The article on their club website read: "Everyone at West Ham United is deeply saddened by the passing of Ludek Miklosko at the age of 64, following a courageous battle with cancer.

"The hugely popular former goalkeeper, known fondly as ‘Ludo’ to the Claret and Blue Army, made 373 appearances for the club during eight years as No1 between 1990 and 1997.

"The incredible impact he had on the club and the fondness with which he is remembered is heard every matchday, when supporters sing his iconic ‘My name is Ludek Miklosko, I come from near Moscow, I play in goal for West Ham’ chant.

"Miklosko was born in the small city of Prostejov, in what was then Czechoslovakia and is now the present-day Czechia, in December 1961.

"He started his career as a schoolboy with Baník Ostrava and, after spending two years with RH Cheb while on national service, Miklosko returned to Baník and spent nine seasons keeping goal for the Czechoslovak First League club.

"During the 1980s, Miklosko also became a regular member of the Czechoslovakia national team, making his debut in a friendly win in Denmark in 1982 and going on to win 40 caps.

"In 1989, as change swept through the former Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia experienced the Velvet Revolution and, after the former Communist country transitioned into a parliamentary republic, previous restrictions on Czechs and Slovaks to live and work abroad were removed.

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"The following month, Miklosko was invited for a trial at West Ham United, who had been relegated to the Second Division and were in need of talented players to boost their promotion bid. The big goalkeeper was one of them and he signed for a bargain £300,000 fee. Even then, though, with the European map being redrawn almost by the day, he would have to wait two months for the British Government to issue him with a work permit.

"When it was granted, in February 1990, Miklosko moved to London and kicked-off a career that no West Ham supporter will ever forget.

"In 1991, at the end of his first full season, he was voted Hammer of the Year and into the PFA Second Division Team of the Year as he helped Billy Bonds’ Irons win promotion to the top-flight.

"Over his time at the Boleyn Ground, Miklosko enjoyed winning two promotions, reached the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and Football League Cup, made hundreds of miraculous saves, and famously frustrated Sir Alex Ferguson when his man-of-the-match performance prevented Manchester United winning the Premier League title in 1995.

"In 1996/97, he made two farewell appearances for Czechia, before departing West Ham for Queens Park Rangers in 1998. He retired from playing in 2001 and returned to Chadwell Heath to take up the role as Hammers goalkeeping coach, which he fulfilled with safe hands until 2010.

"A hugely popular figure, an enduring image of Miklosko was taken in May 2005, when he carried injured goalkeeper Jimmy Walker around the pitch at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium following the Irons’ Championship Play-Off final victory.

"Miklosko returned home and worked with a sports agency developing young players, before returning to Baník Ostrava in 2022 as a Board member and Sporting Director.

"In June 2023, he joined his fellow Hammers in Prague as West Ham defeated Fiorentina to win the UEFA Conference League, and was moved to tears as the Claret and Blue Army sang his famous song at a fan zone in the Czech capital’s Letna Park.

"Ludek’s last visit to see his beloved Hammers came in December 2024, when he was Guest of Honour at London Stadium for our fixture against Liverpool, having confirmed publicly that he was taking the brave decision to withdraw from further treatment in his battle against cancer.

"Since then, his famous song has been sung at every single match, and in February this year a stunning tifo was displayed by Hammers fans in honour of the giant goalkeeper who will forever hold a special place in the hearts of the West Ham family.