West Ham United have paid tribute to former goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko, who has died at the age of 64 following a long battle with cancer.
The Czech shot-stopper kept 126 clean sheets across eight years at the club and is best remembered for a string of inspirational saves that denied Manchester United the league title in 1995.
West Ham signed Miklosko from Banik Ostrava for £300,000, and he went on to make 373 appearances for the club before later returning as goalkeeper coach. Fans have continued to sing his name for many years since his playing days ended.
West Ham's players held a moment of silence before training on Monday, and the club said it will honour Miklosko before Wednesday's Carabao Cup third round tie against Fulham. The Carabao Cup is English football's League Cup, contested by clubs across the top four divisions.
There are also plans for a tribute at next month's Championship fixture against Queens Park Rangers, the club where Miklosko spent the final three years of his playing career.
"Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man," West Ham said in a statement released on Monday.
International career and illness
Miklosko won 42 caps for Czechoslovakia and represented the country at the 1990 World Cup. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and announced three years later that he had decided to withdraw from further treatment.
His son, Martin, said the family was heartbroken to announce his father's passing following a brave and courageous battle with cancer. On behalf of his mother and the rest of the family, he thanked the fans and everyone at West Ham United for the kind wishes, thoughts and prayers sent during his father's illness.
Family's tribute
Martin said the messages and wishes from his father's former teammates and fans had brought him huge comfort during his battle with cancer and had given him the strength to keep fighting for as long as he could. He said the family was heartbroken at the loss but took huge comfort from the immense support Ludek received, along with the knowledge that he was now at peace and no longer suffering.
Martin added that his father simply loved West Ham United, especially hearing his name sung loud and proud at every game, and said the club and its fans were, and always would be, part of the family. He thanked supporters from the bottom of the family's hearts.
