Former West Ham goalkeeper Miklosko dies at 64

Former West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died aged 64, his long-time former employer Banik Ostrava said on Monday.

Czech media said Miklosko, who played 318 games for the Hammers, died after battling cancer for years.

"Ludek Miklosko has passed away at the age of 64," Banik said on X.

"A former outstanding goalkeeper and above all a great personality. Rest in peace, Big Ludo," it added.

West Ham said in a statement: "Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man."

The club said a period of appreciation will be shown to Miklosko before their League Cup third-round match at Fulham on Tuesday.

Miklosko played for Banik Ostrava from 1982 to 1990 before joining West Ham.

He helped West Ham win promotion to the old First Division in 1990-1991, his first full season with the club.

He signed with Queens Park Rangers in 1998 and played 57 games for the club before ending his career in 2001.

He then worked as a goalkeeping coach at West Ham until 2010 when he moved back to the Czech Republic to work for Banik.

Miklosko, who played 42 international games for Czechoslovakia and then the Czech Republic, told Czech media in 2024 he refused chemotherapy because he wanted to "live a normal life".