As West Ham United bounced back from that devastating defeat by Chelsea, El Hadji Malick Diouf ended his wait for a first Nuno Espirito Santo-era assist before Tomas Soucek broke a Premier League record.
If anyone ever casts doubt on the potential and the value that can be found in the Czech First League, we’d recommend shifting their attention to the London Stadium.
Former Slavia Prague captain Tomas Soucek is now a Premier League history-maker. No Czech player has ever scored more than his 39 goals in the competition.
Tomas Soucek; Premier League record-breaker!
What is your FAVOURITE Soucek moment?
Tomas Soucek of West Ham United celebrates after scoring during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Burnley at London Stadium on November 8, 2025 in London, England.
And, three days after El Hadji Malick Diouf ended a 13-game wait for another assist – his glorious cross was headed home stylishly by Taty Castellanos at Turf Moor – the AFCON champion locked down Amad Diallo as West Ham United kept an in-form Red Devils outfit at arms’ length.
Until Benjamin Sesko popped up in stoppage time, that is.
Diouf, like Soucek, like fan favourite Vladimir Coufal, arrived in the English capital from its Czech equivalent. So, it is about time the Hammers returned the favour.
Andy Irving provided his first assist since moving in the opposite direction when Sparta Prague cruised past FC Zlin on Sunday. An assist which set up a thirteenth goal of 2025/26 for Albion Rrahmani; a striker who reportedly has admirers at the club who introduced the talents of Soucek, Coufal and Diouf to a wider audience.
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Andy Irving assists West Ham United-linked Albion Rrahmani in Sparta Prague win
Picking up possession wide on the left-hand side of the Zlin box, Irving delivered a sumptuous ball across the face of goal. The ‘corridor of uncertainty’, as Mark Lawrenson so famously called it.
Rrahmani’s finish was rendered pretty straightforward by the quality of the Scot’s pass.
Despite claims from ExWHUEmployee in December that West Ham were considering a move for Rrahmani, the Kosovo international has not exactly set the world alight since joining Sparta Prague from Rapid Bucharest
Albion Rrahmani of Sparta Praha seen during the UEFA
Photo by Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
For a club-record fee of £4.3 million – three times the sum they paid for Irving – Sparta expected more than twelve goals from 40 league appearances.
Considering that over 30 different strikers were linked with West Ham in and around the January window, lord only knows how far down the pecking order Rrahmani sat. But presuming Callum Wilson leaves the club when his contract expires in the summer, there will be space in Nuno’s squad for a third centre-forward signing of 2026.
Things are about to get VERY tough! 😟
How many points can you see us picking up here?
West Ham United's Portuguese head coach Nuno Espírito Santo reacts during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the London Stadium in east London on February 10, 2026.
Irving hails Rrahmani as Sparta stay within touching distance of Slavia in Czech title race
If Rrahmani is to ensure he again earns a place on the shortlist – or, at least, the longlist – the kind of serving Irving provided for him on Sunday should help to boost his admittedly underwhelming numbers.
“I’m happy when I can help the team, for example with an assist, do something extra. I’m happy for the final pass and it’s great for me that it came so soon after I arrived,” Hearts graduate Irving told Idnes after Sparta stayed within five points of local rivals Slavia at the summit.
“I knew Albion would be there. He’s a very intelligent football player. I tried to put the ball out of the defenders’ reach and in front of him. He showed great technique and finishing.”
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