Ludek Miklosko dies aged 64 as West Ham announce tributes

Former West Ham and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died aged 64, BBC Sport reported, citing an announcement from the London club. West Ham paid tribute to a former player and coach whose connection with supporters continued long after his playing career at the club ended.

The club plans to honour Miklosko before Tuesday's Carabao Cup third-round meeting with Fulham. It will also dedicate its home Championship match against QPR on 9 October to him, according to the BBC. That fixture brings together two of his former clubs: he made 57 league appearances for QPR between 1998 and his retirement in 2001.

Miklosko joined West Ham in 1990 after making more than 200 appearances for Banik Ostrava, where his career began. In its earlier reporting on his career, the BBC noted that he helped the Hammers win promotion in both 1991 and 1993. He also played for West Ham in semi-finals of both the FA Cup and the League Cup.

His involvement in football extended beyond his years in goal. After returning to West Ham as a goalkeeping coach, he later worked as sporting director at Banik Ostrava. When the BBC reported on his health in December 2024, Miklosko said he was still working and wanted to remain active, spending time with players and colleagues.

That report detailed his decision to stop further cancer treatment, three years after his diagnosis. Following discussions with his doctor, he declined chemotherapy, explaining that he wanted to preserve his everyday life and continue working in football. He said the prospect of being unable to work, travel or spend time with colleagues for around six months had shaped his decision.

In a family statement carried by the BBC's report of his death, his son Martin thanked West Ham supporters and described how much his father valued hearing them sing his name. He said the club and its fans remained part of the family's life. Miklosko had received a warm welcome at London Stadium for the Liverpool match in December 2024.