The Greatest: West Ham United

Eurosport - Mon, 06 Jul 11:16:00 2009

In our weekly series during the close season, we let you decide who is the greatest player to have played for some of England's top clubs. We continue with a selection of West Ham legends.

Bobby Moore - West Ham - 0

Here is our shortlist of eight greats with the Eurosport-Yahoo! top three at the bottom.

So leave your thoughts below, vote in the online poll and we'll give you the final joint verdict on Saturday.

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Billy Bonds (1967-88)

While Trevor Brooking was the flair player in the West Ham midfield, Bonds sat alongside him and proved to be the perfect foil with his tough tackling and strength. Bonds played an incredible 793 appearances for the Irons, which included one run of 124 consecutive matches. He was awarded the captaincy following Bobby Moore's departure in 1974, and had immediate success, captaining the club to the 1975 FA Cup and the 1976 Cup Winners' Cup Final. Bonds dropped back to defence in the late 70s and captained the club to one more FA Cup final victory. He was won the Hammer of the Year award four times.

Trevor Brooking (1967-84)

Brooking won two FA Cups with the Irons, scoring a headed winner against Arsenal in 1980, which is funny, because Brooking he didn't score many headers, as he never tires of telling us. Trev was never a player to get involved in the physical aspect of the game, being most at ease with the ball at his feet, scoring 102 goals in 636 appearances. He won Hammer of the Year award on five occasions.

Paolo Di Canio (1999-03)

The Italian arrived at Upton Park under a cloud of shame after shoving over referee Paul Alcock while playing for Sheffield Wednesday. He soon re-built his career and became one of the most popular players in the country. He had outrageous skill and flair and was the sort of player that you could not take your eyes off him. In 2000 he scored a spectacular scissor kick volley against Wimbledon which won the goal of the season and was probably the greatest goal in Premier League history. He won the Hammer of the Year award in his first full season at the club.

Julian Dicks (1988-93, 94-98)

If you were to stereotype an east-end hard man, you would get Julian Dicks, even though he was born in Bristol. He was nicknamed 'The Terminator' for his tough tackling ways, which usually led to him getting in trouble as his eight red cards and 112 bookings would testify to. But when his left foot wasn't kicking people, it was scoring goals. For a left-back he scored an incredible 61 goals, mainly free-kicks and penalties, and lies 17 on the all-time list of West Ham scorers. He played 315 times for the Irons, winning the Hammer of the Year award four times.

Sir Geoff Hurst (1959-72)

Hurst of course scored three goals in the 1966 World Cup Final, which means that he is guaranteed television face time at every England home international and on every unsuccessful English World Cup bid. His first Wembley goal was an equaliser in the Hammers' 1964 FA Cup final win. He then added the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup medal to his collection. He was successfully converted into a forward by Ron Greenwood, scoring 252 goals in 502 matches. He won the Hammer of the Year award on three occasions.

Alvin Martin (1977-96)

Martin was the scouser who the cockneys took to their heart. In the 80s, 'Stretch' partnered Bonds in the centre of the Irons defence and he picked up an FA Cup winners' medal in 1980. In April 1986, Martin achieved the rare feat of scoring a hat-trick against three different Newcastle United goalkeepers. He amassed 496 appearances for the Irons, winning the Hammer of the Year award on three occasions.

Bobby Moore (1958-74)

Moore's ability to read the game, time tackles and marshal his defence made him a world class defender and captain. In 1964 he successfully battled testicular cancer while leading West Ham to victory to FA Cup victory over Preston. That year, he was also named the Footballer of the Year and was awarded the England captaincy. The following year, his West Ham team beat 1860 Munich in the European Cup Winners' Cup. He won the Hammer of the Year Award on four occasions.

Phil Parkes (1979-90)

Parkes became the most expensive goalkeeper ever when John Lyall brought him to Upton Park for a fee of £500,000. The money was well worth it and Parkes was the Irons' number one for ten seasons. He kept a clean sheet in the 1980 FA Cup final in the Irons' 1-0 victory over Arsenal. Parkes lies 13 in the all-time West Ham appearance record, picking up the Hammer of the Year award in 1981.

Honourable mentions: Joe Cole, Tony Cottee, Alan Devonshire, Frank McAvennie, Ludek Miklosko, Martin Peters, Steve Potts, Ray Stewart, Carlos Tevez, Vic Watson.

Eurosport-Yahoo! verdict

How can it not be Bobby Moore? He captained both his club and country through their most succesful eras, and is the only West Ham player to have his shirt number retired by the club. For his silky skills, Trevor Brooking is in second place and for his longevity, Billy Bonds is in third.

1 - Bobby Moore

2 - Trevor Brooking

3 - Billy Bonds

Dan Rumens / Eurosport

Comment 5 - 24 of 44

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HERE WE GO AGAIN, STUPID YAHOO EUROSPORTS. THE BEST­ ENGLISH PLAYER(S) EVER TO PLAY:

    JIMMY GREAVES, MARTIN­ PETERS, AND BOBBY MOORE.

    From starman_123, on Tue 7 Jul 1:30AM

  2. watched bobby Moore from 67-74. He was the one true­ God, there will never be anyone to even approach him as­ a player or a man. He was as dignified off the pitch as­ he was brilliant on it, the fact that there is a statue­ to him at Wembley tells you everything

    From RAYMOND, on Mon 6 Jul 10:28PM

  3. i think that if that bobby moore is the best player, he­ won the world the world cup and is the only player to­ have a shirt retred after him at west ham. they also­ play an anual competittion for him every year now

    From luke, on Mon 6 Jul 7:56PM

  4. I can't believe two people have mentioned either­ Lampards. Got to be Brooking for me. Only remember­ seeing Moore on film after he had gone (although my mum­ said I cried like a baby when me left in 74, but then I­ was only seven) Sir Trevor IS Mr West Ham United. ­ first, plays loyally for the club his entire career­ even when we were relagated (did you hear that Frank,­ Jermaine and Paul), scores the goal that won us the FA­ cup in '80 and then comes back to manage the club­ and time of need. True hero.

    From Martin G, on Mon 6 Jul 7:20PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Frank Lampard?

    From castle.road, on Mon 6 Jul 6:37PM

  6. Moore, Brooking, Hurst, Di Canio, Bonds, Devonshire,­ Dicks, in that order.

    And for those who have mentioned­ WHU players scoring all 4 goals in the World Cup final­ and our captain being the only Englishman ever to lift­ the cup, you should not forget we also had 3 assists!

    From Sally, on Mon 6 Jul 6:22PM

  7. The 8 players mentioned have all been awesome players­ for the club along with the other players listed but­ this is one case where I have no doubts at all and that­ is Bobby Moore can never be surppased for his­ skill,ability,poise and total commitment to the­ Hammers.I was at the 1975 Cup Final and although­ pleased we won felt very sorry for him.I was also lucky­ enough to bump into him in Valentines Park,Ilford, with­ his family one sunday afternoon in the summer of 1966­ when they had just won the world cup and he gladly gave­ me his autograph (which I still have on an old piece of­ school exercise paper)-unfortunately lesser players are­ unlikely to give you the time of day now.

    From seagray5, on Mon 6 Jul 5:56PM

  8. Bobby Moore should of been Knighted, he was the­ greatest player ever to put on the West Ham shirt, he­ was supreem in every thing he did as a player either in­ the West Ham or England shirt, followed by Sir Geoff­ Hurst then followed by Paolo DiCanio. Bobby Moore is­ the greatest player every and also a supurb sportsman,­ he was never given the ackalade he deserved.

    From KATHY, on Mon 6 Jul 5:28PM

  9. Bobby Moore should of been Knighted, he was the­ greatest player ever to put on the West Ham shirt, he­ was supreem in every thing he did as a player either in­ the West Ham or England shirt, followed by Sir Geoff­ Hurst then followed by Paolo DiCanio. Bobby Moore is­ the greatest player every and also a supurb sportsman,­ he was never given the ackalade he deserved.

    From KATHY, on Mon 6 Jul 5:27PM

  10. Bobby Moore should of been Knighted, he was the­ greatest player ever to put on the West Ham shirt, he­ was supreem in every thing he did as a player either in­ the West Ham or England shirt, followed by Sir Geoff­ Hurst then followed by Paolo DiCanio. Bobby Moore is­ the greatest player every and also a supurb sportsman,­ he was never given the ackalade he deserved.

    From KATHY, on Mon 6 Jul 5:27PM

  11. Bobby Moore should of been Knighted, he was the­ greatest player ever to put on the West Ham shirt, he­ was supreem in every thing he did as a player either in­ the West Ham or England shirt, followed by Sir Geoff­ Hurst then followed by Paolo DiCanio. Bobby Moore is­ the greatest player every and also a supurb sportsman,­ he was never given the ackalade he deserved.

    From KATHY, on Mon 6 Jul 5:20PM

  12. Who will ever forget that all of England's goals in­ the 1966 World Cup Final were scored by West Ham­ players?

    Of the current crop I am a great admirer of­ Dean Ashton who would have played 100 times for England­ had he stayed fit.

    I can only remember the back end of­ Moore, Peters and Hurst but in the 1970's and early­ 80's Brooking and Devonshire formed a great­ midfield partnership.

    From rblackhurst2004, on Mon 6 Jul 4:39PM

  13. funny no one is mentioning frank lampard or his dad or­ martin peters or michael carrick the ferdinand brothers­ freddie kanoute.

    From STEVEN, on Mon 6 Jul 3:42PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    any girls 13 2 15 wanna chat by text text me im 14 m­ stanford le hope nd white l0l

    From callme07762499178, on Mon 6 Jul 3:20PM

  15. essexgirl64 call me lol

    From callme07762499178, on Mon 6 Jul 2:56PM

  16. Mooro for suro :D

    From garybillingham, on Mon 6 Jul 2:41PM

  17. I saw both di Canio and Bobby Moore - di Canio was­ superb, but Bobby Moore was sublime - he would have got­ into a World team - and hence I feel he was the­ greatest player AT West Ham! However, for his­ leadership, service and sheer blood-and-thunder guts I­ feel that Billy Bonds was the greatest player FOR West­ Ham.

    From Paul, on Mon 6 Jul 2:31PM

  18. Bobby Moore was a ledgend but in my eyes Di Canio was­ the best!

    From scottulsk, on Mon 6 Jul 2:20PM

  19. WOW you even need to ask, BOBBY MOORE

    From clare, on Mon 6 Jul 2:07PM

  20. super bob,dicksy and di canio.........different sausage­ them boys.....would just like to say enjoyed watching­ cottee,mcavenie,bishop and jonny moncur.....but top of­ the shop would be di canio.....world class

    From barry, on Mon 6 Jul 1:16PM
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