West Ham chiefs David Sullivan and David Gold have paid tribute to the ‘inspiring’ and ‘invaluable’ contribution of Mark Noble after the midfielder confirmed next season will be his last at the London Stadium.
Noble, the club captain since 2015, signed a one-year contract extension on Tuesday but has announced that the 2021-22 campaign will his 18th and final with the club.
No one has played more Premier League games for West Ham than Noble and the club’s co-chairmen said the 33-year-old stood as a symbol for all that was good about United.
‘Mark epitomises absolutely everything that West Ham United stands for – he is loyal, committed, honest, ambitious and blessed with a sense of humour – and that is why he is universally loved by all Hammers,’ Gold and Sullivan said in a statement.
‘As a player, Mark is a fantastic talent whose Premier League appearance record for the club will likely never be broken… as a captain, we have seen first-hand how he inspires and represents his teammates, on and off the pitch.’
They added: ‘We are both thrilled that Mark has signed a new contract and will play on for one final season for the club he loves. He deserves to spend his final year in a claret and blue shirt playing in front of the fans who have been there throughout.’
Noble has played a remarkable 520 games for West Ham, putting him seventh in the club’s all-time appearance list. His chances have been limited this season, as David Moyes’s side have enjoyed an incredible push for Europe. But club chiefs highlighted the influence he still has on and off the pitch in East London.
‘Mark has always put West Ham United before himself,’ Sullivan and Gold continued.
‘His leadership and character have been invaluable in helping the club to grow and improve, on and off the pitch. The work Mark does, much of it unseen, has made things easier for his managers, his teammates and the board.
‘As a lifelong West Ham supporter and someone who has served this club so loyally for more than two decades, Mark has earned the right to determine how his playing career ends, and he has made the decision that next season will be his last. Whatever his future holds beyond that will be Mark’s decision, but he knows that he will always be an intrinsic part of this football club.
‘All we can do now is thank Mark for his unrivalled efforts and magnificent loyalty and wish him a happy and successful final season.’