The nickname Vladimir Coufal has picked up just weeks into his Bundesliga career at TSG Hoffenheim will feel very fitting and entirely unsurprising to his many admirers back at West Ham United.
Vladimir Coufal, Hoffenheim’s ‘Mr Reliable’.
Now, it might not have the same ring as the RoboCop moniker bestowed upon him at the London Stadium. But half a decade of consistent, sometimes twice-weekly 7/10 performances certainly befits the description bestowed upon to him by a fanbase who have taken extremely quickly to a footballer who combines a fierce will to win on the pitch with an affable, unassuming persona off it.
Fittingly, close friend and long-time teammate Tomas Soucek summed up Vladimir Coufal better than anyone else as his time at West Ham United came to an end last season.
Coufal, the ‘warrior’ of West Ham. A man so competitive that anyone daring to challenge him to a game of Rush Green ping-pong had better bring their A-game.
Now, as Hoffenheim kick off the new Bundesliga campaign with two wins from three – in stark contrast to the Hammers’ dismal form under Graham Potter – the personality and the pugnacity which made him such a favourite of both the fans and the players at West Ham has also generated a throng of early admirers in Sinsheim too.
West Ham United hero Vladimir Coufal labelled Hoffenheim’s Mr Reliable
Vladimir Coufal’s Hoffenheim career began with an 8-0 thrashing of French outfit FC Metz in pre-season.
There has been nothing quite so spectacular in the opening three matches of the Bundesliga campaign.
But after following up that opening weekend win over Bayer Leverkusen with Saturday’s 4-2 triumph over Union Berlin, Hoffenheim are currently on track to match their record-breaking start to 2023/24.
“After losing Valentin Gendrey to a lengthy injury, TSG Hoffenheim had to look for a replacement for the position of right-back and found the perfect one in Vladimir Coufal,” reads a glowing profile of the 33-year-old summer signing featured on the official Hoffenheim website.
“The Czech brings plenty of Premier League experience to the Kraichgau and, in a short space of time, he has already proved that he can be a regular fixture in the TSG side.”
Coufal has played all but two of a possible 270 Bundesliga minutes so far.
While the likes of Rob Green wonder if West Ham made a mistake letting so many highly-experienced players leave in the same summer – Michail Antonio, Aaron Cresswell and Kurt Zouma also departed although Lukasz Fabianski has since returned to East London – Hoffenheim are hoping to take full advantage of a man who brings with him considerable elite-level nous as well as a European winners’ medal.
Coufal explains his Bundesliga ‘mission’ after sad Tomas Soucek farewell
Hoffenheim finished one place above the relegation play-off zone last season. But, with Coufal leading by example from right-back, Christian Ilzer’s side are currently flying high in sixth, albeit at a very early stage.
“My task here is clear,” Coufal explains. “I want to fulfil my mission and help TSG succeed. I’m concentrating on that.
“Both the executives and the coach [Ilzer] showed me a clear plan and quickly convinced me. Many clubs now only rely on young players, but they also need experienced players to take these young players under their wing.”
Back in East London, Tomas Soucek rejected the chance to leave West Ham and follow his old sidecick out the door. Everton reportedly made a £15 million bid in the final weeks of the window.
“Obviously, [Coufal had] been here for five years. It’s unbelievable, not only how he played but how he was successful. Since he came, he played like nearly every minute,” Soucek said back in May when it became clear that the long-serving right-back was departing.
“It’s unbelievable, and he was a massive part of all of these victories and successes. For me, he will be a big miss because we are together all the time around West Ham and around London.
“But, in this club, I am the luckiest one because I will still see him [in action for teh Czech Republic]! I think all West Ham should appreciate what he has done for the club.
“In the training sessions, when I am on [Coufal’s] team, I always win! He’s like a warrior all the time. If we play table tennis, he’s a competitor! He wants to win all the time.”
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