Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64 after a battle with cancer. Born 20 May 1960 in Czechoslovakia, Miklosko made almost 400 appearances for West Ham between 1990 and 1998 and won promotion to the old First Division in 1990-91, also claiming the club's Hammer of the Year award that season. He is best known for his performance on the final day of the 1994-95 season when West Ham drew 1-1 with Manchester United, a result that handed the title to Blackburn Rovers. Miklosko won 42 caps for Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic combined and finished his playing career after 57 league appearances for QPR between 1998 and 2001. He spent eight years as a player with Banik Ostrava and later served as head of the club's sports department. Miklosko withdrew from cancer treatment in December 2024 and days later returned to West Ham's London Stadium to a hero's reception. West Ham announced his passing with a statement calling him a "beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man," and the club will show a period of appreciation before their Carabao Cup third-round match at Fulham and dedicate their next home Championship match, against QPR on 9 October, to Miklosko.
