Scott Parker
Three-time Hammer of the Year, PFA Player of the Year winner during his time at the club. Scott Parker is arguably one of the best midfielder West Ham have had since the turn of the millennium.
Parker led the Hammers during a difficult time in the club’s history but was the shining light from the Boleyn Ground. The Englishman scored twelve goals and assisted eleven in 129 appearances for the Hammers. Parker might have only scored twelve goals, but each strike was as memorable as the last, special mentions to his clever flick against Liverpool in a famous 3-1 win.
The midfielder was also a leader of the pitch, the famous story of him taking charge from Avram Grant during a half-time team talk while 3-0 down away at West Brom. The team came out for the next 45 minutes and put in a top performance and came back to draw the game 3-3.
This form saw him deservedly called up the England Squad and be voted the PFA Player of Year in 2011, the first time someone has won the accolade despite finishing bottom of the Premier League.
Parker’s departure was felt hugely as he left to join bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a transfer worth only £5 million. The fee was less than half of what Parker was valued at during the time according to TransferMarkt.com. The pain of losing Parker was lessened by the arrival of Kevin Nolan for £4 million, Nolan captained the club back to the Premier League and scored plenty of goals along the way.