It is fair to say there was not much to celebrate as West Ham United’s disappointing Premier League campaign came to a merciful end at Portman Road on Sunday afternoon.
While that final day trip to East Anglia was lit up by a wonderful Mohammed Kudus finish and another dazzling Jarrod Bowen display – Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna thinks the West Ham skipper belongs among the world’s best, these days – the reaction from the visiting support at full-time would have been one of relief.
Relief that a frustrating season did not end with a nerve-shredding relegation battle.
And a burning desire to chuck the 2024/25 campaign in a drawer and throw away the key, never again to open it up and stare into its trauma-inducing contents.
Kudus largely underwhelmed. Lucas Paqueta struggled with a lifetime ban hanging over him. Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Max Kilman failed to live up to their hefty price-tags.
And Edson Alvarez – if that 3-1 win at Ipswich is destined to be his last in a West Ham United shirt – will leave the London Stadium with a whimper rather than a roar.
Yet, despite two difficult years on English soil, you will not hear a bad word uttered about the former Ajax ace in his hometown of Tlalnepantla de Baz.
West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez gets training ground named after him in Mexico
Comfortably the most famous athlete to emerge from the region north of Mexico City – he was born in the same town as ex-West Ham winger Pablo Barrera, funnily enough – Edson Alvarez returned to Tlalnepantla de Baz this week at the opening of a new training centre in his honour.
‘Deportivo Edson Alvarez’, to give it its full name.
Cutting the ribbon with around a thousand giddy fans in attendance, the training centre will provide a future hub for all budding young footballers looking to follow in his footsteps.
“From the streets that saw him grow up to become a symbol of Mexican soccer, Edson Álvarez represents the best of our city,” read a statement provided by Tlalnepantla de Baz’s municipality.
“Today, in his honour, Tlalnepantla will inaugurate this space that will bear his name; ‘Deportivo Edson Alvarez’.”
Edson Alvarez ‘unleashes madness’ on his return home
Signing autographs, posing for countless selfies and cutting an appropriately West Ham-coloured ribbon, Edson Alvarez’s emotional homecoming – to quote TUDN – ‘unleashed madness’ as countless fans came out for a glimpse at Tlalnepantla’s most beloved son.
“Thank you all so much for coming,” Alvarez beamed. “It means a lot to me to return to a place where I played for the first time, where I feel at home and that is and always will be special to me.
“It’s an honour for me that this sports centre bears my name. Everyone knows that I’m from the neighbourhood. That, even though I’ve played in Holland, England or wherever, I always represent Tlalnepantla in the best way possible.
“I always carry you in my heart and I feel the support not only here, but also in England. I know you never miss a game [I play]!
“Remember that anything you want can be achieved. If you want to take me as an example, do it, but you can be much better than I am. Don’t stop dreaming.”
As far as his future goes, Edson Alvarez played down reports of a Graham Potter bust-up a fortnight ago. His brief spell out of the team was down to injury, rather than anything more juicy.
Alvarez confirmed he plans to stay in the Premier League too, amid claims that Chelsea could offer him a route out of West Ham.
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