West Ham United captain Mark Noble has dropped a big hint over his plans beyond next season.
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Noble has signed a new one-year deal with West Ham and yesterday announced next season will be his last as a player.
That means the West Ham legend will get the send-off he deserves, in front of fans.
What next for Nobes?
By the end of next season Noble will have turned 35.
And the burning question before then is what next for West Ham’s record Premier League appearance holder?
Noble had previously suggested he would like to manage West Ham one day in the future.
But speaking to Jamie and Harry Redknapp on Sky One show Redknapp’s Home Fixture during lockdown last year, the homegrown midfield hero cast doubt on following that path.
He said he might prefer a director of football role instead.
“Because in management in three or four games you can go from being Mark Noble who’s played for West Ham for years, and all of a sudden everyone wants you to get the sack,” he told Redknapp’s Home Fixture.
Skipper drops massive hint over academy role beyond next season
Now in an emotional open letter to West Ham fans, Noble has dropped a big hint that he could be set for a role in the club’s academy system beyond next season.
“I don’t know what my future beyond that holds just yet,” Noble said in open his letter to West Ham fans.
“If there is one thing I have learned in football, is that you can’t look too far ahead, because things can always change very quickly.
“The extension will take me into my 18th season in the first-team at West Ham – I’ve not always been the easiest to live with, especially when results haven’t gone for us, and my wife Carly and my children, Honey and Lenny, have had to bear the brunt of that at times!
‘I’m looking forward to spending even more time at what I regard as one of the best academies in the world’
“Watching Lenny as an Academy player has enabled me to spend more time in recent years at Chadwell Heath, alongside the coaches and staff there who do such a fantastic job of developing our youngsters, both as players and, more importantly, as people.
“I’m looking forward to spending even more time at what I regard as one of the best Academies in the world and continuing my affiliation with a Club I hold so close to my heart.”
Noble in the academy would be the perfect fit.
And it would keep him around the club, driving the all important ethos of West Ham.
A no-brainer for all concerned.
Jamie Carragher delivers damning Mark Noble assessment, wake-up call to owners
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