Kurt Zouma will lead West Ham United this season, according to manager David Moyes.
Zouma has started all four Premier League games for the Irons, leading them to three victories, a tie, and fourth position in the table ahead of Saturday’s visit of champions Manchester City to London Stadium.
Since joining the Irons from Chelsea in August 2021, the 28-year-old has been a tremendously prominent and popular member of the group. He has also thrived on the field, scoring four goals in 68 appearances and playing a key role in West Ham’s Premier League and European victories, beginning the UEFA Europa Conference League final victory over Fiorentina in Prague in June.
“Kurt will continue as captain,” Moyes said in his pre-match press conference. He did an excellent job. We’ve won three and drawn one of our first four games, therefore he’ll keep the captaincy.
“At the Club, we have a strong set of leaders. We have Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, ukasz Fabiaski, Michail Antonio, and now James Ward-Prowse, all of whom are seasoned players who understand what is necessary and how we operate. They’ve all stepped up and will be a huge assistance to Kurt, as will Mark Noble, who is also present.”
Zouma replaces Declan Rice, who captained the team last season before leaving for Arsenal, and joins a distinguished group of 36 players who have held the position since Scottish defender Robert Stevenson was appointed the first captain of Thames Ironworks FC in 1895.
Before West Ham United was created in 1900, Walter Tranter, Harry Bradshaw, and Charlie Dove all captained Ironworks. Another Scot, half-back Roddy McEachrane, who had migrated to east London at the age of 20 to work at the Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Company, was named West Ham’s first captain.
Since then, 31 other players have been named as West Ham United’s Club captain, while many more, including Englishmen, Scots, Welshmen, Irishmen, an Italian, and an Australian, have worn the armband in an unofficial capacity.
Bobby Moore led the Hammers for 13 seasons between 1961 and 1974, winning the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Billy Bonds succeeded him as manager from the spring of 1974 to the summer of 1984, winning two FA Cups and the Second Division title.
Noel Cantwell, an Irish fullback born in Cork, served as West Ham’s first non-British-born captain during the 1957–1958 season, leading the Irons to the Second Division title. Paolo Di Canio was not the club’s first non-British-born captain; instead, it was Steve Potts, an American born in Hartford, Connecticut.
born in Canning Town Prior to turning over to Rice, a fellow Academy alumnus, Mark Noble led the Club from 2015 until his retirement in 2022, succeeding first-team coach Kevin Nolan.
Kurt’s hiring has the support of everyone at West Ham United, and we wish him the best of luck in the 2023–24 campaign.
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