A tifo in honour of the former Hammers goalkeeper is set to be unveiled in the Bobby Moore Stand Lower ahead of kick-off against the Cherries, thanks to the organisation of Ironworks Alliance and the generosity of the West Ham fanbase, who have donated over £5,000 towards the display.
Affectionately christened ‘Ludo’ by the Claret and Blue Army, Mikloško arrived in east London from Banik Ostrava in February 1990 as a relative unknown, but he quickly established himself as a cult hero and went on to make almost 400 senior appearances across an eight-year stay at the Club.
The now 64-year-old helped West Ham to promotion in 1991 and 1993, was named Hammer of the Year in 1991, and appeared in FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals while an Iron. A return to Upton Park for a lengthy spell in the management team as goalkeeping coach would follow after his retirement, with his legacy as one of the Club’s most beloved servants standing strong 36 years on from his debut.
In December 2024, Ludo shared the heart-wrenching news that he had been fighting a courageous battle against cancer for three years, and that he had taken the decision to withdraw from further treatment in order to enjoy the best quality of life for as long as possible.