Fairytale ending as Declan joins Bobby in pantheon of all-time greats
DECLAN RICE sprinted 10 yards, then 20, then 30. He got faster, and faster, and faster. Until finally, West Ham’s favourite son was in front of the fans and on his knees, unable to contain his emotions.
He had captained the club he loves to a European title, something they had not managed since 1965. The legend that is Bobby Moore (right) was the skipper then, someone who went on to be immortalised in bronze by West Ham.
It is hardly bad company that Rice is keeping and he too might have his own statue someday, even if he is leaving for a new challenge in this summer’s transfer window. Rice hoped for a great goodbye rather than a sorry swansong.
As did the sentimentalists out there who wanted to see one of football’s good guys leave West Ham on a high.
As he celebrated with his teammates at full time, it felt like a deserved reward for the years of service he has given to the Hammers.
It says a great deal about Rice’s standing that there is zero bitterness towards his impending exit from inside the club. Instead there are only well wishes, thankfulness, acceptance that the time is right for their cherished captain to leave after turning down a contract extension.
They know they have been privileged to watch this talent develop. They know he wants to show it in the Champions League. They know Arsenal are favourites to hand over the £100million wanted by West Ham but if not, Manchester City or Manchester United might. Rice could have left last year but agreed to stay as Mark Noble was departing the dressing room. He wore the captain’s armband while progressing into one of the world’s greatest midfielders, known for his tackling and intercepting but now with a growing goal threat to boot. Before kick-off here, there was one last intake of breath from Rice as he readied himself for the biggest night of his life to date. There were 25 seconds on the clock when he won his first ball as if it was any other game. In the 13th minute, when the ball fell kindly to Rice at the edge of the Fiorentina box, his eyes lit up. Sadly the shot was sent wide rather than into the top corner.
The rest of this final was a hard-fought battle. West Ham led, then Fiorentina equalised, and Rice’s role was to protect the back-four at all costs. Rarely does he look flustered and in the face of such pressure here, Rice kept calm. Until the final whistle, that is. That was when the emotions came pouring out and if this is the end, what a fairytale it turned out to be.