The pride of the capital, David Moyes and Declan Rice hailed West Ham United’s players, staff and supporters after collecting London Football Awards on Thursday evening.
On a celebratory evening at the Roundhouse, Moyes saw off competition from Sutton United’s Matt Gray, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel and Crystal Palace’s Patrick Vieira to be named Manager of the Year for a second consecutive season.
Rice, meanwhile, picked up 2022’s Premier League Player of the Year trophy – the second London Football Award of the 23-year-old’s career, after a Young Player of the Year win in 2019.
The England international came out on top in a category which also included teammate Jarrod Bowen, and Jorginho, Antonio Rüdiger and Thiago Silva of Chelsea.
Collecting his award, Moyes smiled: “Thank you very much. It’s a great honour.
“I won the award last year as well, so I think the biggest thing it probably shows is the consistency West Ham have demonstrated.
“I’ve got a great group of players and a great staff, and I’ve got to say great supporters as well. It’s been a really good season for us, and we’re hoping we can keep it going.
“I’m really fortunate that I’ve got a great group of players who have been fantastic, not just this year, but last year also. A lot of congratulations must go to them.
“I really appreciate it and it’s a really proud moment. I’ve now won it twice in a row as a Scotsman coming to London, that’s something not easy!”
🏆 A special night at @theLFAOfficial for these two Hammers... pic.twitter.com/tAcRDLAlLe
— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 4, 2022
Moyes also reiterated that the key aspect of his Club-record setting success since returning to West Ham in 2020 has been his players’ endeavour.
“There have been so many special moments since I came back to West Ham,” the manager recalled. “When I came back, we had to avoid relegation, and I think the team spirit, which grew round that period to get us through it, gave us something to build on again.
“I have to say, for the West Ham supporters, to get them European football again was something special. I took more from that than I did from anything else. To qualify for Europe through the Premier League is so difficult.
“We’ve got a great group of players. We’ve got some special players, but we’ve also got some old players who are really good – and I mean ‘old’ in a good way!
“Mark Noble has epitomised West Ham with what he has done for this Club. He’s so good in the dressing room and round the other players.
“He’s great for me as a manager and he’s also good for me round the Football Club. I’m really fortunate I’ve got another superstar in Declan Rice as well who, not only for West Ham but for England, has made great strides and epitomises everything I want from a West Ham player.
“Quite often, when you have a good year, you can see yourself dropping off, but we’re not. We’re keeping it going.
“It’s tough. We’ve got a small squad, but I’ve got a really good group and a great team spirit, which makes a big difference.”
Rice, meanwhile, was delighted to be named Premier League Player of the Year, also taking the opportunity to pay tribute to the rest of his teammates.
In addition to Moyes, Rice and Bowen, three further Hammers received London Football Award nominations this year: Łukasz Fabiański for Goalkeeper of the Year; Mackenzie Arnold for Barclays FA Women’s Super League Player of the Year; and Mel Filis for Women’s Young Player of the Year.
“It’s a massive night for West Ham,” Rice smiled.
“Obviously the manager’s fully deserved his award for what he’s done with our squad and our team, and of course to win this as well, with so many great players up for nominations, is a real honour.
“It’s been really special. From the moment the year kicked off, it was unbelievable. I followed it up with a great Euros run, really established myself as a player then and kicked on since then in the Premier League. I want to keep improving and keep getting better.”
After a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, Rice and his teammates will resume their UEFA Europa League journey at the home of six-time winners Sevilla.
They will then welcome the La Liga title chasers back to London Stadium the following week, with tickets selling quickly – so hurry to secure your seats by clicking here!
“I feel like with the stadium we’ve got, the players we’ve got and the manager, everyone’s waiting for this one,” Rice smiled.
“It’s a really tough draw but one we’re going to be buzzing for. We tend to show up in all the big games so we’re going to be ready, firing and ready to go.”
