Declan Rice has become the ninth-youngest player to make 200 Premier League appearances.
West Ham United’s outstanding captain reached the landmark in Saturday’s fixture at Crystal Palace at the age of 24 years and 105 days.
Rice also became the fourth-youngest player to achieve a double-century of Premier League games for a single club, following Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) and Michael Owen (Liverpool).
The only other players to reach 200 Premier League games faster than the midfielder are fellow England internationals Wayne Rooney, who was the youngest at 22 years and 346 days, James Milner, Raheem Sterling, fellow Academy of Football graduate Joe Cole and Emile Heskey. Next on the list after Rice come two more West Ham products, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.
Rice joined West Ham’s Academy of Football at the age of 14 and, after signing his first professional contract at 17, then captained the development squad to promotion and made his first-team debut at 18 in a 2-1 Premier League victory at Burnley in May 2017. He was also named Young Hammer of the Year.
Three months later, Rice made his first Premier League start at Southampton, totaled 26 top-flight appearances and ended the 2017/18 season as Young Hammer of the Year for a second time.
The 2018/19 campaign saw Rice fully establish himself as a Premier League player with 34 starts and a maiden goal in a 1-0 home win over Arsenal in January 2019. Two months later, he made his senior England debut in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying win over Czech Republic at Wembley. The following season, 2019/20, he was an ever-present, helped the Hammers stave off relegation amid the COVID pandemic and was voted Hammer of the Year for the first time.
The 2020/21 season kicked-off with Rice’s 100th Premier League appearance against Newcastle United at London Stadium. Overall, it was another successful one as Rice played 32 times as West Ham finished sixth in the Premier League to qualify for Europe. At international level, he helped England finish as runners-up at the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 finals in July 2021.
Then, in 2021/22, he stood in as on-field captain in support of Club captain Mark Noble, made 50 first-team appearances as West Ham finished seventh in the Premier League and qualified for Europe again. He scored three goals as the Irons went all the way to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, and he was named in the competition’s Team of the Season. In recognition, Rice was also voted Hammer of the Year for a second time.
After being appointed as full-time Club captain in summer 2022, the current campaign has been challenging at times, but Rice has led by example again, starting all 33 Premier League matches and scoring three important goals. For England, he started all five games at the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar.
“It’s incredible, it’s absolutely amazing and down to all the people around me who have kept me level-headed and pushing me to do even better, so hopefully it’s 200 now and here’s to the next 200!” he smiled.
“In four years, things have happened so quickly. You hear a lot of ex-footballers say that ‘your career goes so quick, so enjoy every moment’ and for me it’s absolutely flown by to get to 200 appearances. Obviously I’m only 24 and have such a long way to go, but it feels like a real milestone to hit because some top players don’t even get to play 100 or 150 games [in the Premier League].
“It’s a real honour [to be captain of West Ham United], especially at this Club. If you look at the history of this Club and the captains they’ve had, to be able to do that this season, it’s fallen on my shoulders and I’m relishing it. I really love it and, like I said, it’s just an honour to wear the armband to this Club.”
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Declan on reaching 200 Premier League appearances for the Club!
