West Ham won the Conference League in style, beating Fiorentina 2-1 in the final via a last-gasp Jarrod Bowen winner.
It ended a 43-year wait for a trophy and captain Declan Rice joined legends Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds as skippers to lead the club to a title.
Here we take a look back at the Hammers’ unforgettable journey to success and the celebrations no fan will ever forget.
A recap of West Ham’s Conference League road to victory.
Things all started when David Moyes’ men made the semi-finals of the Europa League the season before, beating Sevilla and Lyon before losing to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt. It was heartbreak that time around and it led to a small hangover which caused West Ham to drop to 7th in the Premier League. It was where the club would finish, meaning Conference League qualification.
Qualifying Round vs Viborg (6-1 aggregate)
The road to the trophy began on a sunny day over in Denmark against little-known Viborg on August 25. West Ham got off to a fantastic start when Gianluca Scamacca netted to get the scoring underway. Said Benrahma and Tomas Soucek scored afterwards as the Irons took a 3-0 lead back to East London.
The job was done in the first leg but the second again the Irons flexed their muscles and superiority with a 3-1 win. Scamacca, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen got on the scoresheet as Maxwel Cornet impressed.
Group Stage
Match One vs FCSB (3-1)
West Ham begun the group phase at the London Stadium against Romanian side FCSB. Things got off to a nervous opening when the team found themselves 1-0 down after the visitors scored a shock first-half goal against the run of play. An unhappy David Moyes made three changes at half-time sending Bowen, Antonio and Lucas Paqueta on. It worked a treat as the ex-Hull winger, Emerson and Antonio got the goals in a fantastic second 45 minutes.
Match Two vs Silkeborg (3-2)
Another trip to Denmark awaited West Ham and fans enjoyed a frantic game. The Danes went into the lead after just five minutes before Manuel Lanzini converted a penalty. Scamacca then spun and fired in a sublime goal from outside the box with sheer power and Craig Dawson rose to head in from a corner. It was not vintage from the Hammers though who just about held on for victory after Silkeborg got a late goal.
Match Three vs Anderlecht (1-0)
West Ham’s toughest game of the group, away to Anderlecht. The Belgians put in a resilient display and it was a clash of few chances for most of the tie. However, it was Moyes who proved genius again, subbing on Paqueta and Scamacca in the hope to change a game heading for a 0-0.
The Brazilian star was still getting used to life in claret and blue back then in October but he oozed class in this cameo performance. Paqueta unleashed skill and creativity, flicking a ball behind the defence for Scamacca to chase. The Italian shot first time into the bottom corner 79 minutes in to continue his scoring run in the competition. Flynn Downes shone in the game and was named man of the match and received praise from Moyes. It was the Irons’ hardest match and to get three games in with nine points, fans knew their spot in the knockout rounds was nearly sealed.
Match Four vs Anderlecht (2-1)
Take a bow Said Benrahma. The Algerian whipped in a sublime free-kick and Bowen smashed in an Emerson pull back to put the Irons in control. The Brussels-based side got their goal via a soft penalty given away by Ben Johnson. The headlines were grabbed by crowd trouble started by rowdy Anderlecht supporters. The clash behind the goal saw flares and chairs be thrown between the separation between fans. The Belgian side were consequently not allowed fans at their next away match after starting the ugly scenes.
Match Five vs Silkeborg (1-0)
With 12 points, West Ham were looking to confirm top spot in the group and get a bye threw to the last-16 stage. A Lanzini penalty was the only goal in a rather boring game as the Hammers eased to victory.
Match Six vs FCSB (3-0)
West Ham had already topped the group and took a youthful side to Romania in front of thousands of travelling fans from East London. It was a special night for the likes of Ollie Scarles and Divin Mubama, who both started the game. And more academy stars came on off the bench. But Pablo Fornals grabbed the headlines with two fantastic finishes. Mubama believed he’d scored only for it to go down as an own-goal, horrible UEFA!
Play-Off Round First Leg vs AEK Larnaca (2-0)
Over to the party town of Ayia Napa to face Larnaca, no surprise to see the loyal fans enjoy a wild night out or two. It was more joy on the pitch as Antonio got a brace, one was a fantastic curling strike from outside the box.
Play-Off Round First Leg vs AEK Larnaca (4-0)
Larnaca had a man sent off and Fornals pleaded with the referee not to dismiss him as West Ham eased to a win. Scamacca poked in the first, Bowen flicks header was number two and he then got another with a composed strike. Mubama then came off the bench and scored from a set-piece. No taking that one off the FA Youth Cup winner.
Quarter-Final First Leg vs Gent (1-1)
The only game West Ham did not win. The Hammers played poorly away in Belgium but went into the lead when Vladimir Coufal thought quickly and took a throw-in while Gent had switched off. Danny Ings tapped in from close range. However, Hugo Cuypers levelled things, all to play for in London.
Quarter-Final Second Leg vs Gent (4-1)
West Ham were on the ropes, that man Cuypers again put the visitors ahead. A hero was needed and there were many as the lads turned it on. Antonio headed home and Paqueta converted a penalty in stylish fashion and danced, scoring his first home goal.
Gent were then blitzed and torn apart by a surging run from Rice, who picked up the ball and charged the length of the pitch before finishing coolly. Goal of the Conference League maybe? Antonio then got the fourth in a memorable night. The dream started to feel real.
Semi-Final First Leg vs AZ Alkmaar (2-1)
Again, a bad start when Alphonse Areola let in a long-shot. A feeling of panic hung over the ground. West Ham lost last year their home leg in a semi-final and it could not happen again if they wanted to make the showpiece in Prague.
AZ time-wasted to the frustration of everyone and players fumed at a poor refereeing performance. West Ham’s luck seemed to be out but keeper Mat Ryan punched Bowen as both contested for the ball. Benrahma kept his nerve in the key moment and scored. It was a must-win clash and we did it when Antonio tapped in from yards out. One foot in the final.
Semi-Final Second Leg vs AZ Alkmaar (1-0)
Moyes believed AZ didn’t have enough to hurt West Ham and parked the bus in Holland. The boys gave the Dutch as taste of their own medicine, time-wasting and killing the game. West Ham defender well with Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma, Aaron Cresswell and Thilo Kehrer all standing strong under the protection of Rice and Tomas Soucek.
Nerves grew but Fornals wrapped our final spot up with a wonderful solo goal. Jubilant celebrations began and continued long into the night with wild dressing room videos posted online.
The match was marred by crowd trouble as ultras tried to attack our players’ families sat behind the dugouts. A hero named Knollsy fought off the attackers and got legendary status. Downes and Paqueta jumped in to protect their families too, getting involved in fights.
Final vs Fiorentina (2-1)
30,000 fans travelled to Czech Republic for the big occasion. Fans partied in the Old Town of Prague in the night leading up to the game and in the hours prior. More went to the fanzone to sink pints and sing with pop legend and Hammers fan Chesney Hawkes who performed for supporters.
With the final taking place in the 20,000 capacity Eden Arena, only a few lucky ones had tickets and the rest stayed in Letna Park to watch on big screens.
Atmosphere built in the stadium before tension grew when the match began. West Ham started well and tactically looked to restrict captain Cristiano Biraghi, who was hit on the head with an object thrown by Hammers fans in the early stages and is one of the Serie A’s side most creative forces with crosses.
Benrahma and Bowen worked tirelessly on the wingers supporting the defence and the opening period ended goalless after Luka Jovic’s strike was disallowed for offside.
The second-half was West Ham’s half. Biraghi handled the ball and after a scary VAR wait a penalty was give, Benrahma showed his character to step up and score, sparking mass celebrations. But there was more drama to come as Giacomo Bonnaventura equalised.
The game was heading to extra-time but 89:44, the moment Bowen’s shot hit the back of the net after Paqueta played him in. Bowen showed composure with his finish and Prague and East London irrupted with joy as Moyes ran down the pitch. West Ham had done it.
Rice lifted the cup and every player got their hands on the trophy as fans partied all night. A night to remember. Moyes danced with Paqueta and the boss put his medal around his father’s neck. Rice was serenaded by fans in potentially his last game for the club. Bowen’s on fire could be heard all night and I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles could be heard until Thursday morning.
No time to rest from celebrating, our heroes came home with the trophy as thousands lined the streets for the open-top bus parade. Kehrer started chants on the mic as did Rice and Cornet. Paqueta and Emerson danced while Benrahma and Aguerd went mad. Let’s end on a few snaps from the parade.
