Top News

The former West Ham United striker’s career with the East London club came to an abrupt end following a serious car accident.

West Ham’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League has spoken out against the club after his bitter departure from the Hammers.

Michail Antonio disclosed during an interview with Capital XTRA that he had once “wanted West Ham to get relegated” after being released by the club.

The incident that changed everything occurred in December 2024 when Antonio was involved in a major car crash — an ordeal that he described as nearly fatal and which ultimately led to his release.

The accident resulted in a lengthy recovery process for Antonio, who had been one of West Ham’s most reliable players and their leading scorer in the Premier League era.

Antonio felt that his years of consistent performances and commitment to the club meant West Ham owed him some support after the crash. However, his contract was allowed to expire in June 2025, ending his decade-long association with the team.

Speaking on Capital XTRA Breakfast with Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie, the 36-year-old admitted that he initially carried resentment towards the club, so much so that he hoped West Ham would be relegated from the Premier League — something that did happen this season.

“I basically played every week for 10 years straight… scored the most Premier League goals for West Ham. I wasn’t just a squad player,” Antonio said.

He continued, “Then I get in a car crash, and I’m thinking they’ll look after me, because they said they probably will give me something. But at the end of the season, they didn’t.”

Antonio went on to explain, “I thought the only way for the owners to feel my pain was for them to get relegated. So, I said to myself, ‘You know what, I want the club to get relegated.’”

The striker revealed that he later turned to the Bible and therapy to help him overcome the bitterness and anger he felt towards the club’s management — a process that ultimately helped him heal emotionally.

By the time West Ham’s relegation actually occurred, Antonio said he had moved beyond those negative emotions and found himself supporting his old teammates during their struggles — particularly in their match against Tottenham Hotspur, which West Ham lost.

“When I let go of those feelings and saw them struggling, thinking about them getting relegated, I realised I didn’t actually want that,” Antonio said. “Because at the end of the day, I’ve got my boys there. I cared about the fans and everything, so I was like, ‘Come on, boys!’”