It has become a running joke amongst West Ham United supporters, Declan Rice joining Arsenal in pursuit of silverware yet falling short again and again.
Forever the eternal bridesmaids, the 2024/25 season saw Mikel Arteta’s team finish second in the familiar surroundings of second-place in the Premier League table while exiting the Champions League at the semi-final stage.
Much to the bemusement of the West Ham United faithful, Declan Rice’s last and so-far only trophy came when he picked up the Europa Conference League alongside David Moyes and co back in 2023.
Rice may describe his Real Madrid brace as ‘the best moment’ of his career so far. But, as Arsenal fell short once again, memories of those stunning free-kicks may now be tainted by that most limp of defeats at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
At this stage, Arsenal are starting to resemble little Scrat from the Ice Age movies. That elusive nut forever within his grasp, yet destined to always slip away in the most devastating of ways.
Hell, even Nathan Trott has succeeded in getting his mitts on silverware before the most expensive footballer in British history.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Former West Ham goalkeeper Nathan Trott wins Danish title at FC Copenhagen
West Ham sold Nathan Trott to FC Copenhagen last summer for a reported £1.5 million.
An FC Copenhagen side who cruised past Nordsjaelland 3-0 last time out, ensuring they finished one point and one place above Midtjylland in the Superliga standings.
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Trott watched on from the bench as the capital club snatched back the trophy they lost last season. Diant Ramaj, the Borussia Dortmund loanee and one-time Ajax goalkeeper, secured his place between the sticks for the run-in.
Yet, Trott was still on the pitch for 17 of FCK’s 32 league matches, winning nine of them. And, as the former West Ham goalkeeper excelled during two matches with Aarhus in the end-of-season play-offs, his contribution to a title-winning campaign certainly did not go unnoticed.
“Nathan, the way he attacked AGF’s set-piece game in the two games has been to perfection,” Copenhagen coach Jacob Neestrup beamed after Trott helped quell Aarhus’ considerable threat from dead-ball situations in a pair of 3-1 wins.
“The man should be highly commended for that. I’m happy with how Nathan Trott has performed. I think he’s been part of two great wins against AGF.”
Former Hammer wins the second trophy of his career in Scandinavia
Ramaj returned to the XI for the final four matches of the campaign, though former England Under-20 glovesman Nathan Trott has made quite the reputation for himself as a hoarder of silverware over in Scandinavia.
He was on loan at Velje Boldklub when they secured promotion and the second-tier title in 2022/23. Copenhagen’s final day victory now means Trott has won both the first and second-tier titles on Danish soil.
“We end up winning it in a great way,” Neestrup began during a triumphant, champagne-soaked press conference, Trott one of many new signings who helped lift Copenhagen back towards the summit.
“People can understand now that we made some massive changes for a reason. It was supposed to be a new, hungry FC Copenhagen team.
“We are at the top of the table today because of two things. One, is that these are talented footballers. Two, is that at no point this season, despite some tough times, has there ever been a single moment where these class players have put their ego above the club and the team.
“That is why we are here. That was the whole purpose, and the characters we have brought in are class players, and I hope everyone can see that.”