Jarrod Bowen named new West Ham captain: 'It's a great honour'

Evening Standard

·15 August 2024

Jarrod Bowen named new West Ham captain: 'It's a great honour'

England forward picked by new manager Julen Lopetegui to replace Kurt Zouma, who is in talks to leave the club

The England forward has been handed the role by new head coach Julen Lopetegui and takes over from Kurt Zouma, who is in talks over a move to the UAE.

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Bowen has expressed his pride and said that following in the footsteps of West Ham legends like Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds and Mark Noble is a “great honour”.

“I am incredibly proud and happy to be West Ham United captain,” said Bowen, who joined West Ham from Hull in 2020 and scored the winner in the Europa Conference League final victory over Fiorentina in Prague in 2023.

“We’ve had many great moments here as a club. I’ve been here four-and-a-half years now, so to be named club captain is a really proud moment and one that I’ll wear with great honour.

“It’s four-and-a-half years since I joined, but it’s felt so much longer and that’s the enjoyment of playing for this club and the relationships I’ve had with all the sets of players we’ve had, the managers we’ve had and the fans.

“It’s been one heck of a journey and from when I first signed to be sat here four-and-a-half years later and be named club captain makes me so proud.

Skipper: Jarrod Bowen will captain West Ham this season after taking over from Kurt Zouma

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“Since I’ve been here it’s just been an upward trajectory in what we’ve done on the pitch, what I’ve done off the pitch.

“I have said I want to stay here for the rest of my life and I haven’t come off that page. If I can go down as a legend here in years to come, that would be great.”

Bowen added: “There are some big names who have played for and captained this club and have gone down in history, like Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds and Mark Noble, so to follow them is something I want to do and the same route I want to go down. I’ve been here for a long time now and to be captain now is the pinnacle of being a player for this football club.

“Those names will be remembered forever by West Ham fans. I’m not there yet, but I want to keep working my way to get there.”