Luis Brown is no ordinary Hammer. Wearing the Claret and Blue of West Ham United is special for any player, but for Luis, it’s in his blood.
As the third generation of his family to represent the Club, football and West Ham have been a part of the his life from the very beginning. Son of former Hammers defender and current Academy Manager Kenny Brown, and the grandson of the Club’s oldest-living player, Ken Brown Sr, Luis and his family are steeped in West Ham history.
It comes as no surprise that Luis took a liking to football from a very young age.
“Football has always been a part of my life,” Luis shared. “Our whole family lives and breathes the game. That being said, I never felt pressured to play. I just wanted to follow in their footsteps. I started with my local Sunday League club, then joined a few Academies before deciding where to go at Under-9s. My Dad has been at the top, so whenever I need advice, I know I can turn to him.”
Despite his affinity for the Irons, Luis earned his stripes in Academy football at Arsenal. Captaining the Gunners through the age groups, Luis believes that experience has shaped him into the vocal leader he aspires to become on the pitch.
“I’ve always seen myself as a leader,” he explained. “Captaining Arsenal at every age group was an amazing experience. I hope I can get to that point here. I think my leadership skills are key to my game. Whether that’s with the armband or without it, I know I can help the team.”
After spending the best part of a decade in the Arsenal youth set-up, Luis returned to his roots. Reuniting with teammates he played alongside with at West Ham from the ages of six to nine, and familiar faces he often went up against during his time with the Gunners, Luis is delighted to be back where it all began.
“I played for West Ham in the entry level age groups, so I knew a lot of the boys,” Luis recalls. “I used to play against them all the time when I was at Arsenal. We’ve also kept in touch through social media. Coming back felt natural. Everyone was very welcoming. My Dad also helped me get to know all the coaches. It feels like home, especially being the Club that I’ve supported since I can remember.”
The 18-year-old centre-back spent the latter half of 2023/24 with West Ham, making seven U18 Premier League appearances under Kevin Keen before signing his first professional contract at Rush Green in July. As he embarks on his first season with the U21s, Luis is focused on earning his place in a competitive squad.
He observed: “The competition for places in the back line will be tough; they’re all great players. I watch how they play and think about what I need to do to get into the team. I know my strengths and weaknesses, and as a centre-half, consistency is key. I want to show that in training and, when I get my chance, in games too.”
Any Questions
Most famous person whose number is your phonebook?
Jack Wilshere. He was my U18s coach at Arsenal. I worked with him for two years. He was a great coach, and a fantastic player. Sometimes he’d join in during training, he was unbelievable.
Best moment in football?
Captaining the England team at U15s. It was the first game in that age category for the 2005 group. We played against Turkey and the gaffer picked me as captain. Although we lost, it was an amazing experience.
Favourite clothing brand?
Uniqlo. They’ve got a decent range of clothing, you can go smart with some of their items, but also casual with tracksuits and such.
Name a stadium you'd love to play in?
Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu. It’s unbelievable. I was born in Spain and grew up as a bit of a Real Madrid fan so I would love to play there.
Worst thing about being a footballer?
Knowing that one day it will come to an end.
First app you look at in the morning?
Teamworks to see what the training schedule is for the day and Spotify once I get in the car.
Favourite quote?
It’s actually from a children’s book… “I can't see a way through," said the boy. "Can you see your next step?" "Yes." "Just take that," said the horse.”
First memory of football?
When my Dad was the manager of Jávea [in Spain], I was basically the little mascot. I would run on the pitch at half-time, I used to have a dance. All the fans loved me!
One person from history to have dinner with?
Bobby Moore. He played with my Grandad, so would love to speak to him about that. Then, there’s the fact that he’s one of the best centre-halves ever, captained England to our only ever World Cup. I’d just like to learn from him.