Declan Rice's happy West Ham farewell at odds with football's fume culture

This time there was just one driving run into the box from West Ham’s captain marvel and it took place immediately after the final whistle. Delirious and disbelieving, Declan Rice sprinted a full 60 yards to be with his people, before eventually collapsing in tears.

“Ten more years, Declan Rice,” the adoring crowd sang at him. In reality, however, they knew these were the last moments to enjoy their most cherished talent in a generation. Never in footballing history has a send off been so warm for a player who will now almost certainly pursue a move away.

Effigies of Sol Campbell after he left Tottenham, but West Ham are more likely to build a statue. Not a shred of bitterness at the London Stadium, not even if he signs for a London rival.

Securing a trophy, of course, raises his endeavours for the club to epic proportions, and it was Jarrod Bowen’s last-gasp winner that ensured Rice could plant his kiss on the Europa Conference League trophy.

Not for 43 years have West Ham fans felt like this. Without Rice, there is no way they would have enjoyed this moment. “He now stands on the shoulders of Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds,” said Joe Cole in reference to Rice securing the biggest triumph since the 1980 FA Cup final, when Bonds captained the team.

Rice, as it happens, is not one to be held aloft on shoulders. Instead, he held his nephew, Jackson, aloft on his as he drank in the scenes after lifting the trophy. In terms of his performance, it was not a classic Rice midfield masterclass. It was a cagey affair and he had sat deep for much of the match.

But as the  celebrations rumble on for days, he can reflect on the many other encounters when he has single-handedly dragged the club to one of its proudest days. There had been a tearful exit from Chelsea all those years back at the age of 14. This time a move will be of his own calling but the emotion is once again pouring out of him.

“It means everything,” he said, surveying the fans dancing jigs at the Eden Arena. “The lads have been so on it, but I’m not only happy for the fans and the manager but the staff. So many of them, no one sees the work they put in, the chefs, the player liaisons, I am just as happy myself as them, they deserve it. I’m just so, so happy.

When he [Bowen] ran through, I said out loud ‘this is your time’ in my head. As soon as you see it hit the back of the net, I’m still in shock, it’s incredible.” Hammers send off are not usually like this. Fans still grumble over the club’s failure to hang on to previous homegrown gems.

There is a feeling of annoyance over how it ended for a team that included Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson and Cole. The difference with Rice, as one seasoned observer put it recently, is that West Ham have seen the best of him. They would not have finished sixth in 2021 or reached the Europa League semi-finals last season without him. This was a night when West Ham repaid the faith. “We got here two hours before and it was full,” said Rice.

“This is what it means to us, I absolutely love this club, they’ve taken me in as one of their own. I am just so happy. My family has been with me every step of the way, the ups and the downs, I have had it tough. I have been on the right track because of them and they are here tonight to celebrate with me, it’s so special.

“I would do anything to make this club win. To win this now is another level. I don’t want to say too much, but Bobby Moore, I don’t want to get too excited.” For West Ham, the message was clear last night: if you really love someone, you will let them go.”