West Ham legend Ludek Miklosko makes emotional return to club before Liverpool clash after revealing tragic cancer fight
WEST HAM legend Ludek Miklosko received a hero’s welcome from fans at the London Stadium after opening up on his heartbreaking battle with cancer.
The former Hammers keeper, 63, was cheered onto the side of the pitch in emotional scenes ahead of his old club’s clash with Liverpool on Saturday evening.
Miklosko revealed on Sunday that he was diagnosed three years ago after finding a small lump on his hip.
Unfortunately despite the initial treatment going well, doctors subsequently discovered other tumours.
And the Czech star has now decided against chemotherapy to ensure he has the best quality of life in his final days.
West Ham faithful gave Miklosko a superb reception as he was seen for the first time since the news.
Miklosko wore a West Ham scarf, before the club tweeted: “We are all with you, Ludo.”
Explaining his decision not to have treatment, he told West Ham’s official website: “I was thinking about this, and had another conversation with the doctor in Ostrava.
“And it was made clear to me that there could be no guarantees that it would work.
“Maybe it would help to slow it down a little bit, but it would not stop it and there would be other issues to deal with.
“I decided not to take the chemotherapy, because I want to live a normal life.
“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.”
Miklosko upped sticks from his native Czech Republic with his wife and son in February 1990 to join the Hammers.
He went on to make 318 appearances for the East Londoners during an eight-year stint.
Miklosko and his family enjoyed their time in England, so much that his son asked him to move back to London after they returned to the Czech Republic.
Miklosko was also in attendance for West Ham’s Europa Conference League final triumph against Fiorentina last summer.