“Who surprised me? At West Ham, i was so excited when he came in because he was the Golden Boot winner but at end his hip was so bad”- Joe Cole says West Ham used to have a World Cup icon who disappointed him greatly
Joe Cole Recalls His Disappointment Over Davor Suker’s West Ham Spell
West Ham United, one of England’s most storied football clubs, has produced a long line of legendary players.
From iconic figures like Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds to modern-day heroes such as Mark Noble, many have proudly worn the claret and blue.
But for every club legend, there have also been players who failed to live up to expectations—despite arriving with great promise.
Joe Cole recently reflected on one such case, expressing his surprise and disappointment over the short-lived West Ham career of Croatian striker Davor Suker.
Cole Had High Hopes for Suker
Speaking about his time at the club, Cole revealed that he was particularly excited when West Ham signed Suker, who had just won the Golden Boot at the 1998 World Cup.
Suker joined from Arsenal in 2000, but his impact was minimal—managing only 14 appearances and three goals during his sole season.
“Who surprised me? At West Ham, I was buzzing when Davor Suker signed,” said Cole. “He was the World Cup Golden Boot winner. But, mate, his hip was gone.
Every time he got through on goal in training, he’d just try to chip the keeper. I was thinking, ‘Why isn’t he shooting?’ We signed him when his hip was finished.”
Fellow former Hammer Carlton Cole chimed in with a tongue-in-cheek comment: “That was West Ham—we used to sign anything that moved.”
Joe Cole added, “He really shocked me. He was a Golden Boot winner, but his body had already given up. It was such a West Ham move.”
Suker Looked Back Fondly on His West Ham Days
Despite his underwhelming stint at the club, Suker himself spoke positively about his time at West Ham. In 2014, during a Croatia vs.
Argentina friendly at the Boleyn Ground, Suker reflected on his time in East London.
Speaking to West Ham’s media team, he said: “I remember when I came here, West Ham had a great history.
I remember the big players, the gaffer Harry Redknapp—it was a lovely, family club. I just had some bad luck that year.”
Suker revealed he suffered a groin injury during that time—his first major setback as a player. “I had never been injured before, and that year I struggled a bit.
But coming back here and seeing the fans again made me proud to be part of West Ham’s history.”
A Case of What Might Have Been
While it’s unfortunate that Suker’s time at West Ham didn’t go as planned, it’s heartening to know he still holds the club in high regard.
His brief spell may not have delivered on-field success, but he remains a small part of the club’s rich and colorful story.
