Former West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has announced his decision to withdraw from cancer treatment, three years after his diagnosis.
The Czech, 63, played almost 400 senior games over an eight-year playing career at the club and later returned as goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko, who will be at the London Stadium for the visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, said in a statement on West Ham’s website: “At the moment, I feel good.
“Many friends have told me that if they didn’t know what I was going through, they would think I was fine, which is good for me, because I want to feel that way for as long as possible.”
West Ham said: “The entire West Ham United family is with Ludek at this time and we encourage everyone attending today’s match to be in their seats 10 minutes before kick-off to give him the reception and love he so richly deserves.” .
Miklosko helped West Ham achieve promotion in 1991 and 1993 and appeared in the FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals for the Irons.
He is currently sporting director of Banik Ostrava in his homeland, the club where he began his career and played more than 200 games before joining West Ham in 1990.
“I’m still working, I can be with the players and the people, and my life right now is very busy,” Miklosko said.
“I’m trying to keep it that way. I want to be busy and active, and be around football as much as I can, because that’s what I love.”
Miklosko decided not to receive chemotherapy after speaking with his doctor.
He had surgery to remove a lump he discovered on his hip three years ago, but another tumor had grown in his stomach. While radiotherapy initially helped, the discovery of several new tumors meant that chemotherapy would be needed.
There are many different types of chemotherapy treatments used to destroy cancer cells; However, they can cause a variety of side effects and the effectiveness of each treatment can vary significantly.
“I decided not to have chemotherapy because I want to live a normal life,” Miklosko said.
“I have very good people around me, I have my job and my football, which is my life, everything I have ever known. I want to continue doing it as long as I can.”
“When they told me what chemotherapy would mean, it was about not being able to work or be with my colleagues for about six months, not traveling, having some illnesses and everything else, and I said no, I don’t want that.”
