Angelo Ogbonna, affectionately known by Hammers fans as ‘Uncle Ange’ is set to leave West Ham when his contract expires at the end of the month. The 36 year old joined West Ham in the summer of 2015 and has gone on to make 249 appearances for the club.
The Italian international joined the team during West Ham’s final season at Upton Park. He had just returned from winning back-to-back titles, a Coppa Italia, and a trip to the Champions League final with Juventus. It’s safe to say that he had no idea how his relationship and love for the club would develop over the course of a nine-year period marked by many highs and lows.
Ogbonna would score an own goal in a Europa League qualifying match against Astra Giurgiu on his West Ham debut. Fortunately, his Premier League debut would turn out to be more memorable as the Italian played for West Ham in their season opening 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates.
The West Ham supporter community has elevated ‘Uncle Ange’ to the rank of a true cult icon. This is a result of his leadership abilities, his years of steady performance, his willingness to risk his life for his colleagues, and his amiable demeanour.
Among Ogbonna’s many unforgettable moments in claret and blue are his FA Cup winning goal against Liverpool during his first season with the team, his Carabao Cup winning goal against Tottenham in 2017, and his debut wearing the captain’s armband in a Premier League draw against Brighton in 2019.
The 36-year-old has played for West Ham in Europe recently, where he made an appearance off the bench in the historic Conference League final between the Hammers and Fiorentina. Even in the most recent season—his ninth with the team and West Ham’s third straight season playing in Europe—Ogbonna led the team twice through the Europa League group stages.
Ogbonna and his family will always have a particular place in their hearts for West Ham, given that he made just under 250 appearances for the team. His two children and his family are also ardent West Ham supporters.
Ogbonna, who earlier stated in an interview that “I can never really put in to words what West Ham means to me,” makes it evident from his remarks in interviews what his time in East London meant to him. This is the club where I was raised, developed into a man, and witnessed my kids grow up. That explains why I get so emotional whenever I talk about this club.
We at The West Ham Way would want to express our gratitude to Angelo Ogbonna for his outstanding dedication and contributions to West Ham over his nearly ten years with the team. We also wish him the best possible luck in his further endeavours.
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