Those long enough to remember Lukasz Fabianski’s early Premier League days at Arsenal will be able to appreciate just how far he came before establishing himself as a modern-day West Ham United icon.
While the Poland international can now appreciate the creativity and the humour of that ‘Flappyhandski’ moniker, the fact that such a nickname existed in the first place owed much to his penchant for big spills and a particular weakness defending set-pieces.
It was, in short, a pretty cruel nickname but not a totally unjustifiable one.
Considering where Mads Hermansen has looked particularly vulnerable since joining West Ham United in an £18 million deal from Leicester City, you do not need a UEFA-A license to realise how Lukasz Fabianski’s return to Rush Green can benefit a goalkeeper 15 years his junior.
Graham Potter welcomed Fabianski back to West Ham on Wednesday afternoon. The former Poland international signs a short-term deal until the end of the current campaign.
And while neither Fabianski nor the Hammers themselves have confirmed whether the 40-year-old plans to pursue a coaching role in East London, his encyclopaedic knowledge of life as a top-level goalkeeper is something Hermansen should be pouring over like a wide-eyed child on their first Lord of the Rings read-through.
West Ham United fans make Mads Hermansen prediction as Lukasz Fabianski returns
While some will use West Ham’s re-signing of a free-agent goalkeeper as a stick with which to beat Hermansen – the Dane is yet to prove he is an upgrade on his London Stadium predecessor, after all – Fabianski’s presence should benefit his young teammate rather than undermine him.
Speaking to the club’s official website back in 2018, Fabianski relished his role working with The Player’s Project.
A role which allowed him to impart his considerable know-how upon the next generation of potential goalkeeping talent.
And reflecting on those faraway ‘Flappyhandski’ days, Hermansen can certainly learn a lot when it comes to bouncing back and silencing critics.
Who better than Fabianski – a man who came through considerable ignominy a better, stronger and more resilient goalkeeper – to impart those lessons?
“I’m so happy Fabianski will be a West Ham player again,” one fan writes on X. “He’s a West Ham player. His home is West Ham.
“Hermansen will learn so much off him. He’s better than Areola. It will feel like he never left. Welcome back Lukasz Fabianski.”
“[It will be] good for Hermansen to have a guy like Fabianski with him and the coaching staff,” another agrees.
“Fabianski back at West Ham, replacing [Wes] Foderingham. Brilliant swap. Fab has a far deeper connection to the club, vital for a role that won’t see minutes. A perfect mentor for Hermansen, with 18 years of Premier League experience. A future coaching role feels inevitable.”
“Fabianski will most definitely be third-choice even if it’s just down to his age. He’s a great keeper and a good back-up option. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s come back mainly for coaching and helping Hermansen.”
“I would much rather Hermansen learn from Fabianski than Areola and Wes, because now he’ll be training with someone that can actually compete with him and teach him.”
Fabianski is looking forward to becoming a mentor to Hermansen
Fabianski’s Hammers homecoming arrived just two days after Wes Foderingham moved to Cyprus with Aris Limassol.
Interestingly, the Europa Conference League champion spoke out about taking on a mentor-like position behind the scenes during his first interview back at West Ham.
While accepting that he will play a ‘completely different’ role this time around, Fabianski knows his new job will involve ensuring the Hammers are in safe hands – quite literally – going forward.
“I’m so happy to be back and I understand my position. I understand my role and I’m here to support, to obviously keep the standards high as well, to help,” Fabianski says. “I have huge experience as well, so I think it can be useful.
“For sure, I’ll continue to work the way I’ve always been doing, which is always hopefully at a good level but, at the same time, I understand that my role is completely different.
“I’m here to help, really to help the group, to help Fonzy [Areola] and Mads [Hermansen]. So, I get that and I’m happy to do it as well.”
After that dismal start, the new number one secured a morale-boosting first clean sheet against Nottingham Forest last time out.
Hermansen earned a Save of the Month nomination, too, thanks to his inspired denial of Sunderland’s Habib Diarra on the opening weekend.
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