Ludek Miklosko, the former West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers, and Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic goalkeeper, has died at age 64 following a battle with cancer. His death was announced Monday by his family and by Baník Ostrava, the Czech club where he began his career and later served as sporting director.
There’s a chant West Ham fans have sung for more than three decades: “My name is Luděk Mikloško, I come from near Moscow, I play in goal for West Ham.” On Monday, that chant became a eulogy.
A Career That Started a Movement
Miklosko joined West Ham in February 1990, arriving in England able to speak only a handful of English words. He became the first Czech player to make a real impact in English football following the 1989 Velvet Revolution that ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia — a fact that made him something of a trailblazer well beyond football itself.
He went on to make 374 appearances for West Ham between 1990 and 1998, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in his very first season while helping the team secure promotion to the English top flight. He was part of the West Ham side that reached the FA Cup semifinals in the 1990/91 campaign, and produced one of his most memorable performances on the final day of the 1994/95 season, holding Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United to a 1-1 draw that helped cost United the league title to Blackburn Rovers.
From West Ham, Miklosko moved to Queens Park Rangers on Christmas Day 1998, making 65 appearances there before retiring in 2001. He then returned to West Ham as a goalkeeping coach, a role he held until 2010, before eventually returning to Baník Ostrava — the Czech club where he’d spent eight years before his move to England — to serve as sporting director.
Internationally, Miklosko earned 42 caps across Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, beginning in 1982.
A Fight He Faced Publicly
Miklosko was diagnosed with cancer and, in 2024, made the decision to withdraw from treatment — a choice he explained in his own words during a visit to England that December, ahead of West Ham’s match against Liverpool at the London Stadium.
“I decided not to take the chemotherapy, because I want to live a normal life,” he said. “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.”
Fans at that match gave him a warm celebration, just as they had the year before when he took a lap of the pitch during West Ham’s Conference League triumph in Prague in 2023.
Tributes Pour In
West Ham confirmed his death in a statement calling him “legendary.”
“It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United announces the passing of legendary former goalkeeper and coach, Ludek Miklosko,” the club said. “Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man.”
His son, Martin Miklosko, shared a family statement through the club.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of my dad Ludek, following a brave and courageous battle with cancer,” Martin wrote. “Dad simply loved West Ham United, and especially hearing his name sung loud and proud at every game. The club, and its fans, were and always will be a part of our family, so thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”
QPR paid tribute as well. “Everyone at QPR is saddened to learn of the passing of former goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko,” the club said. “The Czech made 65 appearances for the R’s after arriving from West Ham on Christmas Day 1998. Rest in peace, Ludo.”
Fellow Czech goalkeeper Petr Čech, who followed a similar path to England years later, credited Miklosko with paving the way.
“A goalkeeping legend, brilliant man, one of the nicest people in football,” Čech said, adding that he was grateful Miklosko had opened the door to England for other Czech goalkeepers like himself. “We spent time talking about Premier League and English football when I came to Chelsea and his insight helped me to understand what’s awaiting — I used it well!”
Tributes also came from outside football. Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak, a longtime Baník Ostrava supporter, remembered Miklosko’s resilience through his illness: “We’ll never forget… You were fighting till the end.”
How He’ll Be Remembered
West Ham said Miklosko will be honored before Tuesday’s League Cup third-round match against Fulham, and again when Championship opponents Queens Park Rangers — his other former club — visit the London Stadium on October 9.
