West Ham midfielder Mark Noble played his last game in front of home fans on Sunday.
The English footballer will retire at the end of the season after 18 years, against the Brighton team.
He said goodbye to his fans in the match against Manchester City last weekend, when he entered the game in the 77th minute instead of Manuel Lanzini, after which he took over the captain’s armband from Declan Rice.
The audience accompanied him with great applause, and he was filmed on the bench of West Ham with tears in his eyes.
He went out in front of the fans with his family and gave a speech.
“I hope I have made you proud for 18 years. I have a big family with me here today. And when I say big, I mean 60,000 members, “said Noble.
“My biggest success in my career is loyalty to a club that has made everything possible in my life. I am one of you, one of the fans who grew up on the street from Boleyn Ground and who begged the players for jerseys in front of the stadium “, added the English footballer.
Pep Guardiola, the coach of Manchester City, expressed great respect for Noble.
“I admire such players. He is one of the last such players in the history of football. I hope that he will stay in football because his knowledge is great. I congratulate him on his long career “, said Guardiola.
Noble played 548 games for West Ham.
Before his last performance at the London Stadium, he told coach David Moyes to not put him in the starting lineup for sentimental reasons.
