Throughout the 2024/25 season, we're taking a look at some of the best players to have worn a range of squad numbers for West Ham United, since they were introduced for the start of the 1993/94 campaign.
Vote for your favourite No21 from the four chosen nominees below!
All West Ham No21s since 1993/94 | ||
|---|---|---|
1993-1994 | 2004-2005 | 2011-2012 |
1994-1995 | 2005-2006 | 2012-2014 |
1996 | 2006-2007 | 2014-2015 |
1996-1998 | 2007-2008 | 2015-2024 |
1999-2002 | 2008-2011 | 2024-present |
2002-2004 | 2011 |
|
Michael Carrick
DOB: 28.07.81 WHU: 1999-2004 Apps: 159 Goals: 6
While Michael Carrick and Rob Green were both contenders to be shortlisted in a second edition of WHU Wore It Best this season, the former just sneaks onto this list on the basis he wore No21 for a longer period before switching to a lower squad number.
Indeed, the Wallsend native had the No21 on his back when he stepped off the bench to make his senior league debut in a 3-0 away win at Bradford City in August 1999, having progressed through the youth ranks and won the FA Youth Cup earlier that year.
Among his nine appearances during 1999/00, either side of loan spells at Swindon and Birmingham, midfielder Carrick celebrated the start of a new millennium with his first West Ham start in a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle, close to his roots, before scoring his first goal in a 5-0 hammering of Coventry in April.
The now 43-year-old, who is currently manager of EFL Championship side Middlesbrough, established himself as a regular at Upton Park in 2000/01, and after switching to No6 ahead of 2002/03, spent two more seasons in east London before departing for Tottenham Hotspur in summer 2004.
Valon Behrami
DOB: 19.04.85 WHU: 2008-2011 Apps: 63 Goals: 5
Following a tenth-place finish in the Premier League in 2007/08, West Ham signalled their intent for success when beating off competition at home and abroad for the signature of versatile Switzerland international Valon Behrami in July 2008.
The then 23-year-old had just featured in all of his country’s matches at UEFA Euro 2008, after playing in the UEFA Champions League for Lazio in the previous campaign, and he made a quick impression at Upton Park when starting the first eight Premier League games of the season, notching two assists.
Behrami scored his first goal for the Hammers to clinch a valuable 1-0 win away at Sunderland in November 2008, but a serious knee injury sustained in March 2009 then kept him out of action for six months.
After making 36 further appearances in the following season-and-a-half, the Lugano youth product moved on to Fiorentina in January 2011, while he would later turn out for the likes of Napoli, Watford and Genoa, and rack up over 80 caps for his country.
Mohamed Diamé
DOB: 14.06.87 WHU: 2012-2014 Apps: 79 Goals: 7
As part of their preparations for their return to the Premier League, following the 2012 Championship Play-Off final win over Blackpool, West Ham turned to Senegal international midfielder Mohamed Diamé, who had impressed during three seasons in the top flight with Wigan Athletic.
After making his debut for the Irons in the opening-day 1-0 win over Aston Villa, the Lens youth product scored his first goal against Arsenal in October, and in total tallied three strikes in 34 appearances in all competitions during a 2012/13 campaign which yielded a tenth-place finish in the Premier League.
Four goals in another 41 matches the following term signalled Diamé’s importance to Sam Allardyce’s squad, however the arrivals of Cheikhou Kouyaté and Alex Song preceded the former’s departure to Hull City on deadline day in summer 2014.
Diamé, now 37, later featured for Newcastle, Al-Ahli, Fuenlabrada and Al-Sailiya, and earned over 30 caps for his country, before hanging up his boots in 2024.
Angelo Ogbonna
DOB: 23.05.88 WHU: 2015-2024 Apps: 249 Goals: 13
The occupant of the No21 shirt for almost nine years, Angelo Ogbonna formed a special relationship with the Claret and Blue faithful during a memorable spell with the Club that was full of highs and lows.
The Italy international was signed after winning back-to-back titles and a Coppa Italia, and reaching a UEFA Champions League final with Juventus, but he endured a tough start to life in east London when scoring an own-goal on his debut, in a Europa League third qualifying round tie against Astra Giurgiu in July 2015.
Completing 90 minutes of a 2-0 away win at Arsenal on the opening day of the 2015/16 Premier League campaign quickly got things back on track, and while playing a significant role in that ‘Farewell Boleyn’ season, with one goal in 34 appearances, Ogbonna would later be named Hammer of the Year runner-up in 2019/20, and feature eight times en route to Europa Conference League glory in 2022/23.
A popular figure among his teammates, managers, coaches and supporters alike, who fondly christened him ‘Uncle Ange’ in recognition of his experience, leadership and warm personality, the now 36-year-old left London Stadium in summer 2024, before signing for Watford.
