West Ham icon Ludek Miklosko reveals heartbreaking cancer battle and stops treatment to ‘enjoy best quality of life’
WEST HAM hero Ludek Miklosko has revealed he’s been battling cancer for the last few years.
The former Hammers stopper discovered he was fighting the deadly disease three years ago after finding a small lump on his hip.
The 63-year-old’s initial treatment went well, although doctors failed to discover several other tumours in his body – including an inoperable stomach tumour.
Miklosko underwent radiotherapy to shrink the growth but doctors soon discovered there were several other tumours.
The only option left for Miklosko was chemotherapy, which doctors couldn’t guarantee would be a success.
So the retired keeper has made the heartbreaking decision not to have treatment to ensure he has the best quality in his final days.
Explaining his decision, he told West Ham’s official website: “I was thinking about this, and had another conversation with the doctor in Ostrava.
“And it was made clear to me that there could be no guarantees that it would work.
“Maybe it would help to slow it down a little bit, but it would not stop it and there would be other issues to deal with.
“I decided not to take the chemotherapy, because I want to live a normal life.
The day Miklosko denied Man Utd the title
By Henry Tomlinson
LUDEK MIKLOSKO was once responsible for denying Manchester United a Premier League title.
On the final day of the 1994/95 season, the Red Devils travelled to the former home of West Ham, the Boleyn Ground.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side needed to better the result of Blackburn in order to secure their third successive title.
The Hammers had confirmed their spot in the league with a 3-0 win over Liverpool in the match before.
Despite having nothing to play for, Michael Hughes caused a shock when he put the hosts ahead.
Brian McClair levelled for Man United after the break and put them just one goal from claiming the title.
However, Miklosko put in a brilliant performance in which he denied Ferguson’s men time and time again.
Blackburn lost their match at Anfield 2-1 but the draw would not be enough for Man United.
Miklosko spoke about the game in 2020 and has admitted he never tires of talking about it.
He said: “I have been asked about the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground in May 1995 so many times, but I will never get tired of talking about it.
“In fact, I was at Manchester United’s training ground recently with some young goalkeepers – I am now a player representative – and there were staff members there who remembered that game.
“Some of them came up to me and talked about the game and a few of them said ‘I was there and remember that game and I hated you!’. We had a good laugh about it.
“It was one of those games when everything went for me, but it was also a good team performance, too.
“We scored a good goal and we defended so well to stop Manchester United, who were a very good team and wanted to win the title on the final day of the season.”
“I have very good people around me, and I have my work and my football, which is my life, all I have known. I want to keep doing that for as long as I can.”
Miklosko was put off undergoing the gruelling and debilitating chemo once it was made clear to him that his entire life would be put on hold.
He said: “When they told me about what the chemotherapy would mean, it was a case of not being able to work or be around my colleagues for around six months, not travel, have some sickness and everything else.
“And I said, ‘No – I do not want that. There is no point. “I want to live my life.'”
Miklosko will be in attendance at the Olympic Stadium this evening for the Hammers’ clash with Prem table-toppers Liverpool.
The club will pay tribute to their former keeper ten minutes before kick-off.
Miklosko is looking forward to returning to East London, saying: “It will be very special to me.
“And, of course, the supporters.
“After all these years, they still remember me, still sing my name, and that is a great feeling.
“I have two football clubs in my heart, Banik Ostrava and West Ham United, and in a funny way they are very similar.
“Even the mentality of the fans, very similar. Hard-working people, loyal and passionate.
“If I am ever doing an interview here in the Czech Republic, I am always saying this and making this comparison.
“West Ham United is my second family. And I really am looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.”
Miklosko was in attendance for West Ham’s Europa Conference League final triumph against Fiorentina last summer.
Miklosko upped sticks from his native Czech Republic with his wife and son in February 1990 to join the Hammers.
He’d go on to make 318 appearances for the East Londoners during an eight-year stint.
Miklosko and his family enjoyed their time in England, so much that his son asked him to move back to Old Blighty after they returned to the Czech Republic.
He told The Athletic: “When we moved back to [the] Czech Republic, my son begged me and his mum to leave him in England.
“He went from saying, ‘Why on earth are we here?’ to wanting to stay there without us.
“Seeing my son overcome his struggles put a big smile on my face. Me joining
“West Ham worked out well for all of us.”