After enjoying his summer holidays, Tomáš Souček returned for football’s equivalent of the first day of a new school year on Monday ready to start studying under Head Coach Julen Lopegetui.
The West Ham United midfielder arrived in Florida to link up with his Clubmates after enjoying a welcome, relaxing three-week break with family and friends. That break came at the end of a relentless eleven-month, 59-match, eleven-goal season that included a run to the UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup quarter-finals and climaxed with a change in the West Ham dugout and the Czech Republic team Souček captains being eliminated from UEFA Euro 2024 in unfortunate circumstances.
On touching down in Tampa, four years to the day since singing for the Club, the 29-year-old met up with new boss Lopetegui and his coaching staff for the first time. Understandably, the 72-cap international is eager to show the Spaniard the all-round qualities that he possesses and were so evident during this summer’s tournament in Germany.
While Souček has become best-known for his goalscoring ability, stamina and aerial ability, he is also keen to show his range of passing, vision and willingness to take on more responsibility offensively and in the pressing game under Lopetegui, who is himself expected to utilise a possession-based approach at London Stadium.
Speaking at the Hammers team hotel in Tampa, the recharged and focused No28 is ready to pull on his Claret and Blue shirt for the new term, head out onto the playing fields and show exactly what he can do.
“I feel good because I had three weeks’ break and it was lovely to spend time with family and with friends in my country,” he smiled. “I also went on holiday for a week to Turkey with my wife and kids and had a nice time in the resort with a beach and pool and it was lovely.
“Now, I feel like I'm stoked to be back and full of energy. Now, obviously, everything is new with a new manager, a new staff and a few signings as well. The guys are all excited, so I just came with a great mood and am happy to start again with another pre-season.”
While some players enjoy a six or seven-week summer break, for Souček a much shorter period of rest has become the norm, with summer tournaments taking up time which non-international players spend on holiday.
He explained: “I’m used to it because I’ve played international football for nearly ten years, so I don't know anything else than three weeks in the summer! So, for me, longer will be very unusual, but it was enough time because we know that we have to come to get ready for the first game of the Premier League because it’s in four weeks, so it's coming very quickly. We all want to be ready and we know how the start is important. We know that we came back at the right time.”
Aside from his family holiday, Souček also took the opportunity to return to his homeland, where he was presented with the prestigious Golden Ball trophy for the fourth time by the Czech media. The midfielder has now received the accolade in four of the previous five seasons and only legends Petr Čech (12) and Pavel Nedvěd (six) have won it on more occasions.
“I'm happy for this award, because it always gives you something you can be proud of and says that you are working in a great way and people appreciate your work,” he explained. “If I see players who I supported when I was child are the only two in front of me, that's unbelievable. It's great that I got it and gives me more strength for the next season.”
The Golden Ball was also recognition of just what an important presence Souček is for his national team, who he captained to qualification for UEFA Euro 2024, then led by example during the tournament itself, scoring in the unfortunate defeat by Turkey that ultimately knocked them out.
Now, he is hoping to show West Ham fans another side to his game under his new Head Coach, but knows he must first convince Lopetegui he is worthy of a place in his team.
“It’s true that sometimes people don't see or don't appreciate all of the work I try to do on the ball,” he observed. “They speak about me about goals or assists, but that’s not all I want to do.
“I have a different role with Czech Republic than I did before at West Ham, and it's similar to the role I had at Slavia Prague, so I love this role. It's a lot with the ball, I like to play from the goalkeepers and be the heart of the team, so that's what I love.
“Now there is also a new manager here and I'm here just for the first few hours, but I hope that I will get to connect with him and also he will tell me the job he wants to do, and I will be the right choice for him.
“I think every player likes to keep the ball and then, when they lose the ball, they run in the first four or five seconds to press to get the ball back and this is the best way to do it, so I hope that this new coach will keep focusing on this condition and if we will play the ball, I would love it.
“I will do the maximum to show him that I'm the right choice for West Ham in these positions to play in the midfield, so I look forward to the fresh [start] because it's always something different.
“The messages I have had from the guys said all of them are enjoying the sessions and enjoying how the football will be, so I hope that it will be like that from now with me as well and we go for it. We have four weeks to go for and obviously the results will come as well.”
Before the Premier League season kicks-off on Saturday 17 August with the visit of Aston Villa to London Stadium, Souček and his fellow Hammers will prepare with a two-week Sunshine State Tour of Florida, where conditions are hot and humid and pre-season opposition will come in the shape of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace. For the Czech, who admits he does not enjoy long-haul flights, this is his first visit to the United States, but one he knows will be worthwhile!
“I’ve never been in America!” he smiled. “It's the first time as I’m more of a Europe person. I don't like to fly that far so I go somewhere where it's nice but still only two or three hours for me to go from Czech Republic or from England.
“It’s really humid here, but we know why we are here. We have pre-season here and we will have double sessions here, so I hope that we will do maximum work with the team. We all know that we are not here for a holiday, we are here for the work and to get ready for the first game of Premier League.”
West Ham will face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 27 August in Jacksonville, before a London derby Stateside against Crystal Palace on Saturday 3 August in Tampa. Both matches will be available to watch worldwide on West Ham TV via whufc.com and our official mobile app – with passes available for both matches now!
We have two options for supporters, with individual match passes available for £4.99, or you can double up to watch both for only £7.99!
Alternatively, if you are in the United States, come along and watch West Ham live and in-person! Tickets for both games are on sale now HERE.
