Vladimír Coufal could not picked a better stage on which to lift his first piece of European silverware.
Prague’s Eden Aréna, where the West Ham United No5 won two league titles during his time with Slavia Prague, was the venue where the Hammers would end their 43-year wait for a major title.
They did it in the most dramatic of circumstances too, with Jarrod Bowen streaking clear to latch onto Paquetá’s through ball and slot home in the final minute of the 90.
Bowen’s dramatic winner ensured the UEFA Europa Conference League final would end 2-1 in West Ham’s favour, with Fiorentina’s equaliser following Saïd Benrahma’s 62nd minute penalty rendered meaningless.
Coufal, understandably, struggled to take it all in.
“Wow! I am full of emotion,” he said. “To celebrate at this stadium, where I won a lot of games, a lot of trophies [is amazing], but this is the special one.
“This is the European trophy. It means so much for me to lift it at this stadium. For the West Ham fans, I saw how dedicated they were when two days before the game, they travelled to Prague, even without tickets. So this is for all of them and we are making history now. The party is going!”
Bowen’s goal was his sixth of a glorious continental campaign and the crowning moment of West Ham’s run to the title.
Coufal could not have been happier for his teammate, particularly with how dramatic the moment was.
“Jarrod has scored very important goals this year and our fans sing he is on fire, so it’s absolutely perfect,” he continued.
“We scored very late, so that makes it even better because they didn’t have enough time to react from this goal.
“I think all West Ham supporters and every member of staff, all people at the Club, they deserve this beautiful trophy.
“We have a beautiful group of players and to win this trophy, to lift it above our heads, was absolutely massive.
“I’m also really grateful for Declan because like I’ve said many times he’s saved our season the way how we’ve played in the Premier League and all the years, so it’s absolutely deserved for him and for everyone.
“I still cannot believe we won this trophy. It’s absolutely amazing.”
Thoughts soon turned to the celebrations, with an open-top bus parade in the diary for later on Thursday.
Coufal cannot wait to share the feeling with the Claret and Blue Army at home too.
“It won’t just be one day of celebration, it will be madness and I’m really looking forward to bringing this trophy to London,” he added.
“The open bus parade, it’s going to be amazing.”
