Dimitri Payet announces retirement
It probably wouldn’t be right to let the retirement of Dimitri Payet pass without me giving my opinion on the player.
The timing of the mercurial Frenchman hanging up his boots is quite an interesting one because it was only last week when I was asked if enough time had passed for Payet to be welcomed back at West Ham. It was an interesting question because not only did Payet leave in the very worst of circumstances, but his departure also led to the managerial demise of then Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, who everybody would agree is just a bloody good bloke.
My answer to the question was yes. I do believe that if there had been a testimonial or an exhibition game at the London Stadium, then Payet would have received a decent welcome from West Ham fans, and that would certainly include myself.
Because what the Mohicaned genius provided was pure magic, and still to this day remains one of the best players I have ever seen pull on the claret and blue shirt. That in itself is no small task, given that I was lucky enough to see the likes of Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire, Billy Bonds and Paolo Di Canio play for our beloved club.
Payet & Noble were crucial to West Ham’s final season at Upton Park
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A season of magic that still lingers
Although Payet’s time at West Ham was fleeting, for that one wonderful season at Upton Park, we were lucky enough to have a world-class player on our hands. In terms of timing, it was fitting that such a player would grace the final games at the Boleyn Ground.
Payet wasn’t just the type of player who could get fans off their feet with an exciting run or dribble. He had the swagger, electricity and excitement to create atmosphere in a stadium, but let nobody ever forget he had the most deadly of cutting edges. Whether it was his assists, his goals, or his outrageous free-kicks, it was simply a pleasure to watch him perform.
As the song went: “We’ve got Payet, Dimitri Payet, I just don’t think you understand.” The truth is, none of us really understood, but when that song was belted out by Hammers fans, it was sung with a huge sense of pride because we really did have one of the world’s best.
Sure, he had his flaws, but whenever West Ham had a free-kick, it felt like a penalty, such was the skill of an absolute master.
So whilst his departure disappointed and betrayed so many of us, I can safely say that Dimitri Payet gave me some of the best entertainment I’ve had in 50-odd years of supporting the club.