Former West Ham United midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger is the latest guest to join the Club’s official podcast, Iron Cast!
The midfielder spent just one season with the Hammers between 2010-2011, scoring three goals in 13 appearances, most memorably netting a trademark 25-yard thunderbolt against Burnley in the FA Cup on his debut.
After the lowest point of his career with Serie A side Lazio, Hitzlsperger revealed how a move to Upton Park appealed as the perfect opportunity to rediscover his finest form and love for the game, despite an eventual relegation to the EFL Championship.
LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST HERE!
Speaking to Iron Cast co-hosts Chris Scull and James Collins, he said: “I almost thought about walking away from football after Lazio, it was that bad. I wasn’t physically injured, but mentally it was tough.
“I didn’t make it to the World Cup in South Africa, which was a low spell, but my agent phoned me and told me that West Ham were interested. I was certain that it wasn’t true, but the whole package was an opportunity for me to restart my career, and it was the sort of club I was looking to hear from.”
Hitzlsperger arrived in east London in June 2010, but his competitive debut was delayed until February after sustaining a thigh injury while on international duty with Germany.
“I had such a good pre-season and absolutely loved every day training with the lads”, he said. “It felt like a restart for me, and I couldn't wait for the season to get going.
“I got called up for the German national team and was captain that game. But I ruptured my tendon and was out for six months. It was horrible, it really was. I was devastated. I had arrived here and was buzzing, to then get pulled back again.
“It made me realise that I needed to make some changes in my life, but first, get fit, and get back playing for West Ham as I had a three-year contract.”
West Ham were relegated to the Championship in 2011 after throwing away a two-goal lead at Wigan Athletic.
And Hitzlsperger - who is a current German director of football - still can’t believe a squad of that calibre failed to avoid the drop.
He said: “I came back from injury and was in and around the team again. We were still in contention to stay in the league and believed we would, but the more I played, the more I realised how difficult it was going to be. We had so many good individuals but couldn’t get it together as a team. It was hugely frustrating.
“Scott Parker was Player of the Season in the year we got relegated, which was really bizarre. I didn’t know much about Mark Noble at first, but he is one of those unsung heroes and is a legend. Every season players came and went, but he was always there. He was a top player.
“Matthew Upson, Rob Green and Demba Ba were all there as well. I knew Demba from Germany at Hoffenheim - he was a really good character to be around and a fantastic striker.
“We went into the Wigan game knowing we had to win. We were 2-0 up and thought it was going our way. I loved being out there that day. It went 2-1, and then we lost 3-2 in injury-time. It summed up the entire season. You’re in the dressing room after the game thinking it’s an absolute disgrace, and we shouldn’t have been in there as a relegated side.
“We were all part of it and Avram [Grant] has to take some of the blame as do we. Sometimes, if the manager isn’t doing everything as he should, the players will look to put that right, and we didn’t.
“It was so wrong for the fans, who had been loyal to us. That’s why it’s not good memories for me.”
However, Hitzlsperger still looks back on his time with the Irons fondly, admitting he was willing to stay despite relegation disappointment - and was even looking to spend the rest of his career in Claret and Blue.
“The club had an option to terminate my contract if we got relegated, but I told them I wanted to stay as I was happy here,” he said.
“I was part of the group that took the club down, so wanted to do everything I could to get us back up. Sam Allardyce came in and wanted his own group of players, so I made up my mind to go elsewhere. It was really frustrating as I was beginning to settle and was hoping to get promoted and finish my career with West Ham.”
You can check out the whole episode - in which Hitzlsperger also discusses being the first high-profile footballer to come out as gay and his now very busy life in and out of the game - in the video player above, or you can download and subscribe to Iron Cast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and RSS here now!
