Vladimir Coufal reveals if his son is still in West Ham’s academy as he confirms ‘best option’

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Vladimir and Niclas Coufal will not, it appears, be joining the Ferdinands’, the Potts’, the Martins’ or the Lampard’s as the latest footballing family to represent West Ham United.

They call the Hammers a ‘family club’, and for good reason.

Anton Ferdinand followed in Rio’s footsteps when establishing himself as an Upton Park regular. Freddie Potts has blossomed under the watchful eye of his father, and first-team coach, Steve.

Then, you’ve got Frank Lampards, both junior and senior. Alvin and David Martin. Ken and Kenny Brown. Bill and Billy Lansdowne. Rob and Elliot Lee.

So when Niclas Coufal joined West Ham’s academy last year, this tradition of West Ham United heroes ‘keeping it in the family’ looked to have a pretty good chance of continuing.

That was, however, until Graham Potter told Coufal his contract would not be renewed back in May.

Cue the waterworks. If Vladimir felt that the Hammers had pulled the rug from under his feet – the 33-year-old was only informed with three games of the season remaining that he was set for the chop – then spare a thought for young Niclas.

Niclas Coufal left West Ham United alongside Vladimir

As soon as he was in the building at one of English football’s most prosperous academies, there he was heading out the same door in which he came.

Coufal Jr is still following in his father’s footsteps, but in the red and white of Slavia Prague rather than the claret and blue of West Ham.

While the experienced right-back is in discussions to sign a new contract with high-flying, Champions League-chasing Hoffenheim, his family are back in the Czech capital as Niclas continues his footballing education with Slavia Prague.

“We’re in talks [over an extension]. From a footballing perspective, I’d like to stay. But there are a few other aspects, such as my family, who are back in Prague,” Coufal tells Kicker.

“That was the best option for my children because of school and also for my son, who plays in Slavia Prague’s youth academy.

“I commute as often as I can, or they come to visit me. But it was only for one year. I also didn’t know how things would go in Hoffenheim. I could have failed, but now it’s a different situation.”

Coufal ‘cried’ when leaving the Premier League outfit

As the 2023 Conference League winner explains, Niclas is focused on becoming Czechia’s Kylian Mbappe rather than emulating his highly-respected if somewhat-unfashionable footballing father.

“The hardest moment was going home and telling my wife and kids,” Coufal told The Athletic when reflecting on his emotional West Ham departure. “We cried and I was sad for her because she was leaving friends behind in London.

“My son [Niclas] had signed a contract with West Ham’s academy. I didn’t know how to explain to him that we would have to move to a new country! I was no longer good enough to stay at the club he loves. He started crying and didn’t want to speak to me for two days.

“He thought daddy would carry on at West Ham forever. I felt like it was my fault and I took it very personally.”