Few players have been able to experience West Ham’s recent run of modern-day landmarks as Michail Antonio.
The Hammers forward enjoyed a ten-year spell in east London during which time he was present for the emotional farewell to the Boleyn Ground and subsequent move to the London Stadium, while he was also there as the club won their first major trophy in four decades.
During this time, Antonio has a wealth of memories with the club that will stay with him long after he hangs up his boots.
Antonio on his favourite West Ham memories
“Our final game at the Boleyn Ground,” Antonio tells FourFourTwo when asked, Conference League win aside, what his favourite memory with the Irons is.
“That atmosphere when we went out on the pitch and the way we won against Manchester United was unbelievable.
“It’s between that or the game where we had to win in Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. The atmosphere in those two games was amazing.”
When it comes to his favourite goal, the 36-year-old needs time to think before answering.
“Probably scoring West Ham’s first goal in the Premier League at the London Stadium,” he says. “Just because it made me the first.”
Another special moment for the Jamaica international was his team-mate Jarrod Bowen’s goal in the Conference League final.
“Unbelievable,” he recalls. “In three years we got to the semi-finals of the Europa League, the final of the Conference League and the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
“I knew Jarrod was going to score and the stadium just erupted. That feeling was unbelievable.”
Antonio has previously spoken of his mixed feelings on that evening, given that he was going through a divorce at the time, with the Hammers’ win acting as something of an emotional release value.
“I was going through a difficult time, so even though I was on a high in my football career, personally I was on a low. Once we won, I went over and hugged my brother – we cried in each other’s arms.”
Michail Antonio’s autobiography 'Humans Not Robots', published by HarperCollins, is available now
