West Ham United have had many heroes but also many villains. There have been some Hammers favourites who have been hated as much as they were once loved. This is often due to them leaving in bad times or going to a rival club. Some ex-players such as Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick would get a great reception when they returned to face West Ham. However, this was not the case for many.
West Ham fans' most unpopular ex-players
5. Mohammed Kudus
Moving to Tottenham Hotspur is a big no-no in the eyes of West Ham fans. Scott Parker did it back in 2011, but some Hammers fans have forgiven him for his duty to the club. The transfer was never done again until Kudus did it in 2025. Kudus has provided West Ham with some memorable goals. However, these have been tarnished by his transfer to Spurs.
4. Dimitri Payet
Payet was a hero at Upton Park as he lit up the final season at the ground. He also had a few moments of brilliance at the London Stadium. However, personal issues affected him, and he refused to play for the club.
The Frenchman wanted to return to his homeland and eventually rejoined Marseille. Hammers fans were furious with the player and stamped on replicas of his shirt at the London Stadium. The game after, Slaven Bilic revealed that Payet was on strike; Andy Carroll scored a great bicycle kick against Crystal Palace.
Payet's image outside the London Stadium was replaced with one of Carroll scoring his goal against Palace. Luckily for Payet, he never had to return to the ground to face the Hammers.
3. Frank Lampard
Lampard was never really taken to by West Ham fans when he played for the club. This was because many thought it was nepotism that he was in the team, as his uncle, Harry Redknapp, was the manager. Also, his dad, Frank Lampard Snr, was his assistant.
When Redknapp and his coaching staff left the club, the midfielder also decided to move on. Lampard joined Chelsea, where he became a legend at Stamford Bridge. The player was abused every time he faced West Ham, with Hammers fans calling him 'big fat Frank.'
It is a shame it turned out like this for Lampard, as he grew up a West Ham fan and his father is a club legend. Lampard is now a manager, but it is unlikely he will ever coach the Hammers due to his history with the club.
2. Jermain Defoe
Often after relegation, many players want to leave a club. Defoe took drastic measures after the Hammers were relegated in 2003 by handing in a transfer request the next day. He was badly advised by his agent at the time, but many West Ham fans still have not forgiven him. Also, the fact that he went to rivals Tottenham did not help.
1. Paul Ince
Ince came through West Ham's academy and looked to be the replacement for Billy Bonds. However, the Hammers were relegated in 1989. Ince was then photographed in a Manchester United shirt before completing his move to the Red Devils.
The midfielder was regularly called 'Judas' for this. The abuse from West Ham fans continued to his son, Tom Ince. He became a player himself and was booed in the 2012 Championship playoff final. The younger Ince played and scored in that game before Ricardo Vaz Te got the winner.
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