Silver service! West Ham’s Europa Conference League heroes pose for triumphant photos after winning their first European trophy in 58 years
West Ham‘s Europa Conference League-winning stars stepped into the photo booth to pose with their trophy after the final whistle on Wednesday evening.
Fresh from beating Fiorentina 2-1 at the Fortuna Stadium in Prague, the players revelled in showing off their achievement as they sought to capture a moment in history.
Jarrod Bowen looked particularly pleased to have been handed the Man of the Match award, after the England international scored the match-winning goal on the stroke of the 90th minute.
Fiorentina’s pacey dominance had held West Ham back for much of the final, but the east London side were the first to break the deadlock when Said Benrahma scored from the spot in the second half.
Just five minutes later, Giacomo Bonaventura levelled proceedings with a gracefully-struck shot that had Alphonse Areola beaten.
West Ham brought their 58-year wait for European glory to a halt in style on Wednesday night
The players brought the trophy home to be greeted by a sea of supporters in east London
But victory in the Czech capital saw the Irons break their 58-year duck in Europe in spectacular fashion and provide a pitch-perfect send-off for outgoing captain Declan Rice.
Just hours into their newly-minted status as European champions – and before the all-nighter and raucous open-top bus parade – the men who made a difference in the final got to grips with the latest addition to West Ham’s trophy cabinet.
Cup keeper Alphonse Areola (left) held his place in the starting XI with Lukasz Fabianski relegated to the bench, while Vladimir Coufal (right) played a key role in securing the Hammers’ opening penalty
An experienced head amongst the pack, Kurt Zouma (left) said he had come to West Ham ‘to win trophies’. Nayef Aguerd (right) scrapped well to combat Fiorentina’s high press
Emerson Palmieri (left) became the first player to ‘complete’ UEFA competitions with his fifth trophy. Tomas Soucek (right) had a dream homecoming to Slavia Prague’s ground after coming up through the club’s academy
In his last performance in West Ham’s colours, Declan Rice (left) excelled in defence on an emotional night. The captain claimed he never doubted team-mate Jarrod Bowen (right) wouldn’t score the match-winner – Bowen’s 90th-minute strike inked his name in the history books and saw him named Man of the Match
Lucas Paqueta (left) justified his club-record move last summer setting up Bowen’s winning goal, while Said Benrahma (right) was nerveless from the spot to almost tear the netting of Pietro Terracciano’s goal
Michail Antonio (left) was a dogged attacking presence for much of the match, stretching Fiorentina’s defence. Thilo Kehrer (right) had a bright cameo for the side after starting the game from the bench
Pablo Fornals (left) stepped into Benrahma’s shoes with 20 minutes to play as West Ham hunted down their equaliser, and Angelo Ogbonna (right) had the briefest of cameos after Bowen’s late heroics
Sporting director Mark Noble (far left) could finally celebrate European glory after losing out on a Europa League final spot as captain in 2022, and although Aaron Cresswell (left) failed to make it onto the pitch, the defender has made valuable contributions all season. David Moyes (right) has scarcely stopped smiling and dancing since the final whistle after securing West Ham’s first European trophy in 58 years
Lukasz Fabianski was unlucky not to keep his place at No 1 after Moyes’ stuck to his guns and kept in Areola. Unused substitute Danny Ings made the move to West Ham last summer, winning his first career trophy on Wednesday night