West Ham United cult hero Julien Faubert sat down with Chris Scull and James Collins for the latest episode of Iron Cast.
The now 42-year-old visited the iconic Boleyn pub to share some fascinating insight into a storied career that featured spells in France, England, Türkiye, Scotland, Finland and Indonesia, as well as a famous stint at global giants Real Madrid.
Having made his name at boyhood club Cannes and then Bordeaux in his homeland, Faubert embarked on a move to east London in summer 2007, having previously been in negotiations over a switch to Scottish side Rangers.
After enduring a tough start to life in Claret and Blue, which involved rupturing his achilles tendon in a pre-season friendly against Czech outfit Sigma Olomouc, the Le Havre native eventually made his first-team debut against Fulham in January 2008, before really establishing himself during the first half of 2008/09.
Such impressive form prompted Real Madrid to make a shock January loan move for Faubert, who returned to the Hammers in summer 2009 having made two appearances for Los Blancos, and shared a dressing room with the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos and Raúl.
A series of twist and turns would unfold for the former France and Martinique international and his West Ham teammates over the next three seasons, including Premier League survival, relegation to the EFL Championship and finally, Play-Off success.
Incidentally, the unforgettable May 2012 Wembley triumph over Blackpool was Faubert’s 121st and final match as a West Ham player, and he maintains that such an experience was one of the best he ever had in the game.
Having moved on to Elazığspor that summer, he enjoyed further stints across Europe and Asia before hanging up his boots in 2020, three years before watching on fondly as the Irons lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy in Prague.
Reflecting on his time at West Ham, Faubert said: “I spent five years at the Club, and one of my sons was born in London, so I’ll always look back at that time with a smile.
“The relationship I had with the fans was crazy. I never felt a connection like that before or after. As a player, I always felt like I was ready to die on the pitch, and I think that’s the mentality of the Club and the fans, so I’m still a big fan, for sure.
“When Ricardo [Vaz Tê] scored against Blackpool, I think that was one of the best experiences I ever had on the pitch. The atmosphere and noise was incredible, and after knowing how the fans felt when we went down, we knew what it meant to them to go back up. That was an incredible day.”
Enjoy the latest episode of Iron Cast by clicking on the video player above or by watching on our official YouTube channel.
