Łukasz Fabiański went through the full range of emotions when he departed West Ham United in the summer - and it was a similar story when he rejoined the Club on Wednesday!
Having shed tears in May, when his seven-year spell as a Hammer had seemingly come to an end, Fabiański did so again on returning to Rush Green training ground.
There were hugs, slaps on the back and smiles on every face, including Fabiański’s, as he was welcomed back into the squad, having signed a contract until the end of the 2025/26 season.
The vastly experienced former Hammer of the Year and UEFA Europa Conference League winner, who will wear the No22 shirt, is ready to take on a new role in the squad alongside Mads Hermansen and Alphonse Areola and work under new goalkeeper coaches in Casper Ankergren and Linus Kandolin.
Fabiański is also looking forward to being back at London Stadium and hearing the Claret and Blue Army in full voice again.
For a family man who is happily settled in Essex, becoming a member of the West Ham family again represents the perfect reunion…
Welcome back, Łukasz! How does it feel to be a Hammer again?
“This is a nice surprise for me, if I’m honest, because everything happened so quick. I found out about the whole situation [with Wes Foderingham potentially departing] just at the end of last week. So, for me, it was a big surprise, which I’m actually really happy about as well. So, I’m really, really, really happy to be back because this Club obviously means a lot for me and the people at this Club as well. Seeing them again, it felt nice and beautiful.
“So, I think that’s why I got really emotional [on arriving at Rush Green training ground], because it was actually a lot to take in when I arrived and I saw Charlie and Stu [from the Player Care department] coming out to meet me at the car park and then seeing [administrators] Kim and Andy and Andrew [the Club Secretary] at the front door. So, it just suddenly hit me that it’s actually happening, and I think that’s why I got emotional.”
It says so much about how well thought of you are within the Club, and among the supporters, that you received such a warm welcome back from everyone?
“I think the people around the Club, we’ve always treated each other with a huge respect, and we always try to create a really nice bond as a team.
“I’ve always been, and I will be for sure, a player who is always putting the team above my personal goals. I think then maybe people see me as a good person to be around, a good person to have in the team in terms of what I bring and so it’s not only about me, it’s about the team. I understand that. I’ve always been trying to be kind to people and to be supportive and respectful as well, so I’m guessing because of that they were really pleased to see me as well.”
You come into a slightly different dynamic now, with Mads Hermansen and Alphonse Areola, and in a slightly different position in the group of goalkeepers, but it’s one you are happy to be part of?
“Yes, I’m so happy to be back and I understand my position, I understand my role and I’m here to support, to obviously keep the standards high as well, to help. I have huge experience as well, so I think it can be useful. For sure, I’ll continue to work the way I’ve always been doing, which is always hopefully at a good level but, at the same time, I understand that my role is completely different.
“I’m here to help, really to help the group, to help Fonzy and Mads. So, I get that and I’m happy to do it as well.”
You also get to work with two new goalkeeper coaches as well in Casper Ankergren and Linus Kandolin, and you have always said you want to learn new things and to keep improving?
“Yeah, it’s different, it’s a change, obviously, because the whole time I spent here before was with Xavi [Valero]. So now I’ll experience working with Kasper and Linus, so that’s good as well, because I always try to learn new things. Now, having two new, different goalkeeping coaches, for sure, there will be some things that they will try to implement and develop in my game and I’m happy to do it as well. I’ve always been, I think, very coachable as a person, and always try to learn as much as I can, so I’m really looking forward as well to this.”
You probably thought you’d heard ‘Super Fab’ being sung for the final time at Ipswich Town in May, but now you’re probably going to hear it again when you warm-up at London Stadium on Saturday ahead of our Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur!
“I don’t know! When we recorded the farewell clip in May, I got a very positive response, I think, because I’ve been seeing all the fans and meeting all the fans as obviously I still live around the place. It’s not like I moved back to Poland, so I still live in the area and my place is full of supporters. So, for me, every time when I met somebody, they were always very courteous and thankful for what I’ve done for the Club.
“So, I’ll just continue to do what I’ve been doing before and try to represent this Club in the best way possible. So, again, I’m really, really happy and really excited about being back and I can’t wait to be out there and hopefully for the warm-up on Saturday!”
Final question. You and your family are settled in this area, and your son Jan is enjoying his school, so returning to West Ham is a perfect situation?
“My family situation was the main reason why I didn’t even consider moving abroad. I’ve been asked by different teams, clubs around Europe and even the world, but I had to strongly say no because we as a family, we are settled here.
“My boy is settled here, so that obviously was a big consideration and a big point of us actually staying here [in Essex] and we said, as a family, if I continue in football, it had to be around here.
“It’s crazy how life is beautiful and I’m so happy that I’m actually here again. Come on you Irons!”
