Former West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has announced his decision to withdraw from further cancer treatment, three years after his diagnosis.
The Czech, 63, made almost 400 senior appearances across an eight-year playing career with the club and later returned as a goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko, who will be present at London Stadium for the visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, said in a statement on West Ham’s website: “At the moment, I am feeling well.
“Lots of friends have said to me that, if they didn’t know what I was going through, they would think that I was fine, which is nice for me to hear, because I want to feel like that for as long as possible.”
West Ham said: “The entire West Ham United family is with Ludek at this time, and we encourage everyone attending today’s game to be in their seats 10 minutes before kick-off to give him the reception and love that he so greatly deserves.”
Miklosko helped West Ham achieve promotion in 1991 and 1993 and appeared in both FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals for the Irons.
He is currently the Sporting Director at Banik Ostrava in his homeland, the club where he began his career and made more than 200 appearances before joining West Ham in 1990.
“I am still working, I can be with the players and the people, and my life at the moment is very busy,” Miklosko said.
“I am trying to keep it that way. I want to be busy and be active, and be around football as much as I can, because that is what I love.”
Miklosko decided against chemotherapy following discussions with his doctor.
He had an operation to remove a lump he discovered on his hip three years ago, but another tumour had grown in his stomach. While radiotherapy initially helped, the discovery of several new tumours meant chemotherapy would be required.
There are many different types of chemotherapy treatment used to kill cancer cells, however they can cause a range of side effects and the effectiveness of each treatment can vary significantly.
“I decided not to take the chemotherapy, because I want to live a normal life,” Miklosko said.
“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.
“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.”
