West Ham star Declan Rice is celebrating his 22nd birthday today, and despite being so young, he has had some brilliant career moments.
Declan Rice came through the West Ham academy. Since breaking through Rice has developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League. The now 22-year-old has solidified himself in both the Hammers and England first teams.
After being released by Chelsea as a 14-year-old boy, the player found a new home across London. Rice was one of the last members of his year group to be offered a scholarship and has repaid the club immensely for their faith in him.
First Goal
Rice opened his account for West Ham in the best way possible. After cementing himself as first-team regular Hammers, fans were waiting for Rice to notch his first goal for the club. The moment came against London rivals Arsenal in a tense local derby.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side were enjoying their best season since moving to the London Stadium and were targeting a win against the Gunners. The game was poised at a tense 0-0 scoreline and could have gone either way.
It was Rice who became the match-winner; however, the midfielder put in a man of the match display and dominated the Arsenal midfield. The youngster got his reward for his hard work early in the second half.
Arsenal half-cleared a cross from Felipe Anderson to former gunner Samir Nasri. The Frenchman laid the ball off to Rice who smashed the ball home with a powerful side-footed shot. The whole stadium was jubilant in celebration as Rice ran to the corner flag to celebrate. The goal would prove to be the winner for the Hammers.
Silencing the Toon
Rice managed to double his tally for the season against Newcastle soon after the goal against Arsenal. The significance of the goal against the Magpies was because of a young English midfielder on their roster.
Sean Longstaff had broken through and, like Rice, was impressing in the Premier League. The duo caused a weird rivalry between the two sets of fans. West Ham fans were adamant that Rice was the superior player while Newcastle fans believed the Longstaff would pocket Rice and prove to be the next England player.
As the game came around, Rice was quick to silence his doubters from up north. Inside seven minutes the Englishman scored his second goal for the Hammers with a header from a Snodgrass corner.
Rice celebrated in brilliant fashion, running across the Newcastle fans while holding his index finger up to his mouth as he sshh’d them. The player had put up with a week of criticism on social media from the travelling fans. Rice, however, had the last laugh has he quite literally silenced their voices.
The goal also created a small part of West Ham history. Rice’s header against Newcastle was the first-ever goal scored at the London Stadium after the Billy Bonds stand was named and officially opened.
Stinging the Hornets
Rice does have an interesting record at the moment. The 22-year-old has never been on the losing side of the team when he has scored. The most important goal Rice scored for the Hammers was, in fact, his most recent goal and only one of the last season.
West Ham were stuck in a relegation battle after a difficult season that saw David Moyes return to the club. The Hammers had given themselves some hope after beating Chelsea at the London Stadium. A win was needed against Watford to give themselves some breathing room from the drop-zone.
Moyes’ side were imperious against the Hornets and raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek. Watford wasn’t out of the game and were pushing back to try to get themselves a goal.
Upstep Rice. In the 36th minute, Rice received a pass from captain Mark Noble out on the left-wing. The midfielder cut-inside a couple of yards before unleashing a beautiful serving shot from 30-yards. The effort flew by Ben Foster in the Watford net.
The goal put the Hammer’s 3-0 up and out of sight. The goal was the moment that the players and fans believed that they would stay in the Premier League. Rice also scooped Hammer of the Year for the 2019/20 season.
The defensive midfielder was the lynchpin that kept the Hammers in the league as he played every minute of the season. Now he is has earned the right to the captain on the pitch as and when Noble is unable to play.
On The Biggest Stage
It was only a matter of time until Rice’s performances earned him a call-up to the Three Lions. There was a little controversy as he had been previously called-up by Ireland, Rice switched his allegiance to England and has not looked back.
Rice was at first criticised by some for his performances in an England shirt. Many fans and pundits did not respect the job he was brought into to do. Rice does the nitty-gritty, the dirty jobs, and he does it brilliantly. West Ham fans saw this and were proud of their superstar every minute he is on the pitch.
Scoring his first and only goal to date for England against Iceland. The midfielder scored by flicking the ball with a combination of his head and shoulder into the bottom corner. The goal gave England the lead in the match that they would go on to win comfortably.
Rice is, without a doubt, going to be on the plane for the Euros and is fully deserving of his place. Too many times in his career has he been compared too or challenged by other players. Rice every time has come out on top whether it be against Longstaff, Scott McTominay or Kalvin Phillips.
With interest growing in the midfielder from elsewhere in the country and probably abroad people are finally starting to see the player for what he truly is, World-class. For now, Rice is in the best place to learn and play his trade.
Rice has made over 100 appearances for the Hammers in the Premier League and is arguably the best player in the team. If the birthday boy stays at the club, then there is no doubt he could become a legend in the same vein as Bobby Moore.