It is a year since Tomas Soucek adopted a spinning celebration and he had been reluctant to reveal its meaning until Monday.
The West Ham United midfielder cracked it out again when he scored from a set piece during the 2-0 victory against Newcastle United. Post-match, the 29-year-old had an infectious smile once he emerged from the away dressing room. The Czech Republic international was speaking on the phone, but stopped to reveal why he opted for a new approach.
“The celebration is about me enjoying my dream of being here (at West Ham),” he told The Athletic. “Every time I score, I want to show how happy I am by flying in the sky. There is also a deeper meaning behind it but maybe I’ll tell you next time!”
This season, Soucek has scored three goals in 11 league games. Against Newcastle, he showed why he remains a key figure. It was Pablo Sanz, the assistant head coach, who cited Soucek as a key offensive weapon for set pieces. The pair embraced after the game as their efforts on the training ground were finally rewarded. Since making his Premier League debut in February 2020, only Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal (16) and James Ward-Prowse, who is on a season-long loan at Nottingham Forest, (15) have scored more goals from set pieces than Soucek (14).
He may not be technically gifted like Lucas Paqueta, have ferocious pace like Michail Antonio, nor game-changing attributes like captain Jarrod Bowen. But that does not define Soucek. His redeeming qualities are his work ethic and unselfishness. He has scored 35 goals across 220 appearances since joining from Slavia Prague in January 2020. He had solidified his status as a cult hero but he is entering the realms of a club legend.
Earlier this week, The Athletic asked on social media whether the midfielder should be bestowed with such an honour. Over 2,000 votes were cast. The majority approved — 76.8 per cent voted yes, while 23.3 per cent disagreed. Those who had a difference of opinion suggested legend was an overused word in football.
Is Tomas Soucek a #WHUFC legend?
— Roshane Thomas (@RoshaneSport) November 26, 2024
But Soucek’s list of achievements are as long as his 6ft 4in frame. His arrival, along with the addition of Bowen, helped ensure West Ham’s Premier League status in the 2019-2020 season. He was part of the side that won the Conference League in 2023. Since February 2020, only Bowen (46) and Antonio (41) have scored more top-flight goals for West Ham than Soucek (30). His midfield partnership with Declan Rice is viewed as one of the best in the Premier League era for West Ham. He scored in the memorable, pulsating Europa League tie against Sevilla.
It was Soucek who scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Brentford in September. Post-match, he told Premier League Productions he loves the club, despite media in the Czech Republic reporting he was not liked by the fanbase. Although he may polarise opinion, those who were once doubters will have gravitated to Soucek’s penchant for bailing West Ham out in tough situations.
Cast your mind back to November 2023. Soucek scored a late winner in a laborious Europa League encounter against Serbian side TSC Backa Topola. The previous weekend, the midfielder scored a stoppage-time winner against Burnley. There was also his winner against Nottingham Forest, courtesy of a towering header. That year Soucek mastered the art of scoring in big moments.
In January, he signed a contract extension until the summer of 2027. He was a key player under former manager David Moyes and that has continued under head coach Julen Lopetegui. His midfield options consist of Soucek, Paqueta, Edson Alvarez, Andy Irving, Carlos Soler and Guido Rodriguez. Yet Soucek has only missed one match (the 3-0 loss against Nottingham Forest) — and that was through illness.
The midfield trio of Soucek, Soler and Paqueta impressed against Newcastle. Soucek showed his defensive traits by dropping into a back three alongside Maximilian Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo when the team were out of possession. Soler and Paqueta belatedly caught the eye with their ability to initiate attacks and carve out opportunities of their own.
“He played well and showed his quality,” Soucek told The Athletic when asked about Soler’s performance. “He hasn’t had that many minutes but I enjoyed playing alongside him. I just hope he gets more minutes and hopefully, he will be a success for this team.”
There is a lot to build on ahead of forthcoming fixtures against Arsenal, Leicester City and Bournemouth. As for Soucek, there is a realistic target of registering 10 goals this season. He registered double figures in 2020-21 and 2023-24. Soucek had an underwhelming 2022-23, with just three goals across 50 appearances. Sacrificing the offensive side of his game to allow Rice to transition into a box-to-box midfielder was the mitigating factor.
Soucek never once complained about his loss of form. Instead, he worked hard to redeem himself and the Soucek of old has returned. Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager, once joked that the midfielder was Moyes’ new Marouane Fellaini. There was an element of truth to the comparison. When it is all said and done, Soucek will be remembered for being the potato-salad-loving Czech, who cemented himself as a West Ham legend.
(Top photo: Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images)
