Hammer cleans up with Czech awards

Hammer Tomáš Souček has won the Czech Republic’s prestigious Golden Ball award for the second year in succession.

The Golden Ball is a poll of Czech sports journalists to determine the country’s player of the year and Souček’s performances for the Hammers and his national team have seen him retain the trophy he also lifted in 2020.

The Golden Ball has been won by a host of Czech footballing greats since its introduction in 1997, with Pavel Nedvěd lifting it six times and Petr Čech on an incredible 12 occasions.

The 26-year-old has also been named Czech Footballer of the Year, as voted for by Czech managers, captains, international teammates and journalists, in each of the last two years, proving beyond doubt that the West Ham star is considered his country’s best player.

After scoring ten goals to help the Hammers to a sixth-place Premier League finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa League group stage, the 6’3 player led his national team to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2020, captaining the side in their round of 16 win over the Netherlands and last-eight defeat by Denmark.

Souček, who has since been appointed captain of his country on a permanent basis, is currently enjoying a well-earned break before returning to pre-season training.