While Tomas Soucek is still waiting to scribe his name into the Premier League history books, West Ham United’s long-serving midfield colossus enjoyed a milestone night as the Czech Republic kept their World Cup qualification campaign going strong.
Soucek is three goals short of overtaking Patrick Berger and becoming the most prolific Czech footballer ever to play in the Premier League.
West Ham United’s very own ‘BFG’ – their big, free-scoring giant – has made no secret of his desire to replace the former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Portsmouth player at the top of the tree.
Providing he remains in English football beyond the summer, he will almost certainly do just that at some point in the 2025/26 campaign.
Now, Tomas Soucek is unlikely to exceed the achievements over another Czech legend in Petr Cech. The former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper remains the most capped player in his country’s history with 121.
But one-time Slavia Prague captain Soucek can still reflect with plenty of pride on a superb career as he becomes only the eighth player in history to make 80 appearances for his country.
A milestone night for West Ham and Czech Republic ace Tomas Soucek
Soucek joined Cech, Pavel Nedved, Tomas Rosicky and more Czech icons when featuring for the 80th time during Friday’s 2-0 victory over Montenegro.
When Ivan Hasek’s team take on Croatia on Monday, the West Ham fan favourite will reach another rung on the proverbial ladder; joining 2005 Champions League winner Vladimir Smicer as the seventh most capped player for the ‘Narodak’.
“A great atmosphere! [The fans] can help us achieve our goal,” Soucek beamed at full-time, goals from Bundesliga duo Adam Hlozek and Patrik Schick extending the Czech Republic’s advantage at the top of Group L to three points.
“We had enough chances [to win by more]. We could have added more goals but, from my point of view, we had it under control.
“In the first half, of course, the opponent’s disallowed goal helped us,” the captain adds, Montenegro seeing an equaliser ruled out following Hlozek’s opener. “1-1 would have been unpleasant.”
“Of course we are happy for three points because it was a tough match,” smiles a relieved Hasek, his skipper dreaming of a maiden World Cup appearance at the age of 31. “We scored two goals and could have scored a few more.”
Soucek one step closer to the 2006 North American World Cup
While Tomas Soucek helped the Czech Republic reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 – beaten by Denmark after stunning the Netherlands in the last-16 – he is still yet to play on the biggest stage of all.
But defeat Croatia on Monday evening and a place at the 2026 World Cup will suddenly loom into view for a footballer looking to make history both for club and country as he approaches his final few years amongst the elite.
“[Overtaking Patrick Berger as the Premier League’s top-scoring Czech] is certainly a topic of discussion,” Soucek admitted recently, before goals against Brighton and Manchester United took him within two of matching Berger at the summit.
“Every time I score, I receive messages reminding me that I am getting closer to that record. Whether I surpass Berger or not, I am already extremely proud of what I have achieved. I’m curious to see how far I can go.
“Having just celebrated my 30th birthday, I look forward to what lies ahead.”
Hammers News revealed in mid-May that Leeds United and Everton had held discussions with Tomas Soucek. Things have gone quiet since then, however.
Perhaps Graham Potter and co have had second thoughts about cashing in on a midfielder who continues to provide a reliable source of goals in a team more reliant on Jarrod Bowen’s brilliance than ever before.
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