Vladimir Coufal does not even remember the name of West Ham United’s recently-departed head of recruitment. What he does remember, though, is how Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay handled his departure.
Graham Potter the tactician quickly ran out of road at the London Stadium, setting up their worst start to a season in over 50 years. Graham Potter the man-manager, meanwhile, did himself few favours either.
A ‘disappointed’ Lukasz Fabianski hit out at Potter ahead of his departure last summer, albeit the Poland goalkeeper would return and let bygones by bygones a few months later.
Vladimir Coufal is another who, probably rightly, felt that the many years of service he gave to West Ham United meant he was deserving of more than a firm handshake and a curt ‘see you later’.
Coufal was informed of his impending exit with just three games remaining of the 2024/25 season.
Now, speaking to The Athletic, the right-back offers a peek behind the curtain as to how his exit came about. Coufal’s story does not reflect particularly well on either Potter or Kyle Macaulay either, as the now-Hoffenheim defender opens up on a failed move to Fulham during the January transfer window.
Vladimir Coufal explains why he did not leave West Ham United for Fulham
It is no secret that Vladimir Coufal wanted to stay in the Premier League, even after his West Ham contract expired.
Coufal’s son had joined the Hammers academy, after all, and the Czech Republic international understandably preferred not to uproot his young family after half a decade in London.
“After the match [a 2-0 away win at Manchester United in May], I FaceTimed my wife and son, and we were emotional,” Coufal explains. “Honestly, I thought I was going to retire at West Ham.
Which player were you most disappointed to see West Ham sell?
And how did you react when Diangana left?
“If they’d extended my contract by two years, or even given me a one-year deal with an option of a further year, I would have happily accepted it. I had it all pictured in my head that it would end this way.
“I would be 35, 36 by the end of my contract, and I felt I still had something to offer. But it was the wrong manager at the wrong time. I didn’t fit into [Potter’s] plans and I was forced to leave, unfortunately.
“They decided to go in a different direction, and I’m still not over it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy at Hoffenheim. We are doing well and we have a great manager [in Christian Ilzer]. But I still feel I could have proved myself in the Premier League.”
Fulham dropped their interest in Coufal after tying down fan favourite Kenny Tete. If Potter and Macaulay had agreed to accept the Cottagers’ offer a few months earlier – Coufal believes this was a ‘strange decision’ in hindsight – the former Slavia Prague stalwart would still be plying his trade in England today.
His son would probably still be in West Ham’s youth system, too.
“In January, Fulham made West Ham an offer, and it was a two-year contract,” Coufal explains. “But Potter and his sporting director, whose name I don’t even remember, said no. I wasn’t allowed to go, then I got released.
“It was a strange decision.”
Coufal happy with Hoffenheim start as they climb the Bundesliga table
Flash forward to the end of November, and Coufal will go into the Bundesliga’s festive break with Champions League qualification a very realistic possibility. Hoffenheim are only two points behind fourth-place Borussia Dortmund, having produced a statement 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig a few weeks ago.
Coufal has been an ‘absolute giant’ since stepping in at Sinsheim.
With one goal and four assists in 11 Bundesliga matches, Coufal is among Europe’s most productive full-backs as things stand as well.
“I’m impressed with so many things here,” adds the 2023 UEFA Conference League winner. “We have an unbelievable training ground, and it’s not even possible to compare it to West Ham.
“There’s everything you need. I love to stay at training after our sessions are over. We have a swimming pool and two padel courts. I’m blown away by how good it is. That’s why the boys are in no rush to go home.
“It wasn’t always like that at West Ham. I honestly wish they get a training ground like this one day. They need and deserve it.”
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