Zouma Takes West Ham Captaincy On A Permanent Basis
Kurt Zouma has been confirmed as West Ham United's new captain.
The 28-year-old Frenchman has taken the armband on a permanent basis after Declan Rice departed for Arsenal this summer.
Zouma joined West Ham from Chelsea in the summer of 2021 and played an instrumental role in the Hammers' run to Europa Conference League glory last season.
This season, Zouma has been an ever present in the Premier League, with David Moyes' side sitting pretty in 7th place, just three points off the top four.
Last year, Zouma found himself in trouble when he was ordered to do 180 hours of community service, fined and banned from owning cats for five years after a video emerged on social media of him maltreating his feline friend.
In all these, the former Saint Etienne man says he is grateful for the support he received from his bosses during what was a challenging period.
“It’s a huge honour and privilege for me to be captain. It’s an amazing club and I’m just so proud,” Zouma told the PA news agency.
“The manager has done an amazing job. He’s a legend here. We won a trophy last year and that was a top achievement.
“And for me personally he has been helping me in every aspect, with my game and outside of football he has been supporting me throughout everything, and I just can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for me and I try to give it back on the pitch.
“That’s my way, on the pitch. Everything he has helped me through I have to give it back on the pitch.”
Zouma has won 11 caps for the France national team.
