West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek has been crowned Czech Footballer of the Year for the fourth time in his career.

The award comes off the back of an impressive 2023/24 season for both club and country. The midfielder scored 13 goals in 52 appearances, last season also saw the 30 year old play eleven times for his national team.

Captain of the Czech Republic, Soucek helped his national side secure promotion to League A in the Nations League, he also scored against Turkey at Euro 2024.

Since the start of last season, Soucek has also produced a number of key performances for West Ham, popping up with many important goals which have helped the Hammers secure countless points.

Soucek’s previous awards have come in 2019, 2020 and 2023. The West Ham man is now tied with former Lazio and Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved who has also won four Czech Footballer of the Year awards. The only Czech footballers with more than Soucek’s four are Ivo Viktor with five and Petr Cech with nine.

During the international break, Soucek and his international teammates will face the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar, as Ivan Hasek’s side looks to kick off their qualifying campaign with a strong start in the hopes of securing a place at next year’s World Cup finals. Should the Czech Republic qualify for next year’s tournament, it would be their first appearance at a World Cup since 2006.

The Hammers midfielder being crowned his country’s best footballer of the year for a fourth time is a phenomenal achievement. To be level with a true footballing icon such as Pavel Nedved, who has also won the award four times, is testament to Soucek’s impact at both club and international level. It also highlights how loved he is by his nation and his growing legacy within Czech football.

Soucek’s goal scoring exploits for West Ham often grab the headlines, but his work rate off the ball and his defensive contributions can tend to go unnoticed. His distance covered, aerial dominance and ability to win second balls, alongside his ability going forward and the threat he offers in front of goal, have played an important part in West Ham’s success in recent years.

It’s time that the loveable 6″4 inch midfielder and captain of his country was given the credit he deserves by all sections of the West Ham fan base.