Evening Standard correspondent Ken Dyer caught up with former Hammer Paulo Wanchope on his recent return to Chadwell Heath
Evening Standard correspondent Ken Dyer managed to snare elusive ex-West Ham United forward Paulo Wanchope
I was down at Chadwell Heath recently to interview James Collins for the Evening Standard.
As I walked across the car park I noticed a lone figure standing there. He smiled – I smiled back and walked on. You know the feeling, the one where you think the face looks faintly familiar – but you just can’t put a name to it. It was minutes later – the cogs turn a little more slowly these days – before I cracked it.
It was, I felt pretty sure, Paulo Wanchope, once of West Ham United, Derby County and Manchester City.
I took the opportunity to retrace my steps, introduce myself and confirm that it was indeed the 39-year-old former Costa Rica striker who spent the 1999/00 season with us, scoring 15 goals in 47 appearances and forging a fruitful and always entertaining partnership with Paolo Di Canio.
Paulo, who scored 45 goals in 73 caps for his country, joined West Ham following a successful spell at Derby. He moved onto Manchester City a year later and after spells in Spain, Qatar, Japan, Argentina and the United States, retired eight years ago.
Three weeks ago, following discussions with the Costa Rica Football Federation, Paulo resigned his position as Costa Rica head coach, which is why I found him keenly observing Slaven Bilic’s training session.
“I’ve been here for two weeks,” he explained. “I came here to watch some training sessions at clubs and talk about football with a few people I know. Hopefully I will have the chance to come over to England to work. I took all my coaching badges here in England.
“I had a few jobs in clubs back home then the Costa Rica FA gave me the opportunity to work with the Under-21s. I then became assistant coach of the senior team during the World Cup in Brazil.
“I was appointed national team coach after the World Cup for one year but resigned three weeks ago, so now I’m over here to see some old friends.
“I’ve been at Manchester City and also Everton because they have a Costa Rican player there – Brian Oviedo. I’m also going to see another Costa Rican, Joel Campbell, who is at Arsenal.”
So what does Paulo remember of his time at the Hammers?
“I have fond memories of my time here,” he says. “Harry Redknapp was the manager and his assistant was Frank Lampard. They were good days because there were some very good players here – Frank Lampard jnr., Rio Ferdinand, Paolo Di Canio, Trevor Sinclair – I really enjoyed it here.
“I improved a lot as a player here because I was around other very good players.”
I was down at Chadwell Heath recently to interview James Collins for the Evening Standard.
As I walked across the car park I noticed a lone figure standing there. He smiled – I smiled back and walked on. You know the feeling, the one where you think the face looks faintly familiar – but you just can’t put a name to it. It was minutes later – the cogs turn a little more slowly these days – before I cracked it.
It was, I felt pretty sure, Paulo Wanchope, once of West Ham United, Derby County and Manchester City.
I took the opportunity to retrace my steps, introduce myself and confirm that it was indeed the 39-year-old former Costa Rica striker who spent the 1999/00 season with us, scoring 15 goals in 47 appearances and forging a fruitful and always entertaining partnership with Paolo Di Canio.
Paulo, who scored 45 goals in 73 caps for his country, joined West Ham following a successful spell at Derby. He moved onto Manchester City a year later and after spells in Spain, Qatar, Japan, Argentina and the United States, retired eight years ago.
Three weeks ago, following discussions with the Costa Rica Football Federation, Paulo resigned his position as Costa Rica head coach, which is why I found him keenly observing Slaven Bilic’s training session.
“I’ve been here for two weeks,” he explained. “I came here to watch some training sessions at clubs and talk about football with a few people I know. Hopefully I will have the chance to come over to England to work. I took all my coaching badges here in England.
“I had a few jobs in clubs back home then the Costa Rica FA gave me the opportunity to work with the Under-21s. I then became assistant coach of the senior team during the World Cup in Brazil.
“I was appointed national team coach after the World Cup for one year but resigned three weeks ago, so now I’m over here to see some old friends.
“I’ve been at Manchester City and also Everton because they have a Costa Rican player there – Brian Oviedo. I’m also going to see another Costa Rican, Joel Campbell, who is at Arsenal.”
So what does Paulo remember of his time at the Hammers?
“I have fond memories of my time here,” he says. “Harry Redknapp was the manager and his assistant was Frank Lampard. They were good days because there were some very good players here – Frank Lampard jnr., Rio Ferdinand, Paolo Di Canio, Trevor Sinclair – I really enjoyed it here.
“I improved a lot as a player here because I was around other very good players.”
I improved a lot as a player here because I was around other very good players
In fact, Paulo’s partnership with Paolo produced 31 goals and helped the club to ninth spot in the Premier League table.
He was finally sold to Manchester City for £3.65m, following the arrival at West Ham of Croatia star Davor Suker and Mali striker Frederic Kanoute.
“I went from West Ham to spend four seasons at Manchester City. It was quite a good time there also, with good players and coaching staff,” he recalls. “I was also at Derby County with Jim Smith. I am always grateful to England and the clubs here because they helped me a great deal in my professional career.
“I was here eight years in all as a player and now I’m looking forward to working here as a coach. Football-wise England is incredible and everyone wants to work here.
“My family too, are looking forward to the possibility. We have two children. My daughter, who is 12, was born here and we also have a son, aged seven.
“I also have dual nationality so we feel we really have a close affinity with this country.”
As for the present Paulo is delighted with the way things have gone so far for his old club.
“It is incredible what West Ham are doing in the Premier League," he says. "I'm here to look at their training sessions, what they are doing on a daily basis. I'm interested to know the secret of their success!”
*This interview originally appeared in the Official Programme for the Barclays Premier League fixture with Norwich City. Order your copy online now here.
He was finally sold to Manchester City for £3.65m, following the arrival at West Ham of Croatia star Davor Suker and Mali striker Frederic Kanoute.
“I went from West Ham to spend four seasons at Manchester City. It was quite a good time there also, with good players and coaching staff,” he recalls. “I was also at Derby County with Jim Smith. I am always grateful to England and the clubs here because they helped me a great deal in my professional career.
“I was here eight years in all as a player and now I’m looking forward to working here as a coach. Football-wise England is incredible and everyone wants to work here.
“My family too, are looking forward to the possibility. We have two children. My daughter, who is 12, was born here and we also have a son, aged seven.
“I also have dual nationality so we feel we really have a close affinity with this country.”
As for the present Paulo is delighted with the way things have gone so far for his old club.
“It is incredible what West Ham are doing in the Premier League," he says. "I'm here to look at their training sessions, what they are doing on a daily basis. I'm interested to know the secret of their success!”
*This interview originally appeared in the Official Programme for the Barclays Premier League fixture with Norwich City. Order your copy online now here.