Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterDuring his decade-long tenure at West Ham United, Michail Antonios time at the club was defined by versatility, resilience and a willingness to do whatever was required for the team.The Jamaica international would eventually settle up top, but for all his shifting around the pitch, there was one position that he never embraced.That came when Antonio was required to fill in at right-back, a spell which was followed by a dressing room row, a managerial change and the eventual move up front.Play our FREE match predictor below and win �1kAntonio on his ill-fated right-back stintAll the right-backs had got injured, it was just me, Antonio recalls to FourFourTwo. I did well, I think I got seven goals from right-back and a few assists, I had a couple of clubs looking at me. Antonio Conte wanted me at Chelsea, he was looking at me as a wing-back, the same as Victor Moses, but nothing came to fruition."But despite these early successes in defence, it was not a role he enjoyed. You may like Karren Brady offered me a �5k a week deal with the U21s, I said, 'The U21s are on more than that' Her response was, 'Well, they havent been in a car crash and shattered their leg' I didnt sign the contract Michail Antonio on his West Ham rejection Michail Antonio wanted West Ham to get relegated after sour end to Hammers career West Ham United legend Michail Antonio exclusive: Ive been talking to a few clubs since leaving Qatar, but Im thinking that I could possibly retire I'm weighing things up, Im going to make a decision by the middle or end of June' I hated playing there, though, he admits. Coming back for pre-season at West Ham, I was thinking, All right, were going to sign some right-backs, but Slaven Bilic did the opposite he sold the right-backs, thinking I was going to play there!He told me, Im going to make you the best right-back in Europe, but I was like, I dont want to be, Id rather be an average Premier League winger. He said, Trust me, but there was a game at Chelsea, I tried to lift the ball over Eden Hazard to pass it out wide, they blocked it and I gave up a penalty.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Slaven pulled me up about it after the game, I went in and he was saying, 'If I need you to play somewhere, you play there!' I said, 'll never play there again, I dont want to play in that position ever again!' Mark Noble started arguing with me, so I stormed out of the changing room and got a taxi home.Antonio soon began to move into a more advanced role, as he went from a classic right winger to a traditional centre-forward role.That was Manuel Pellegrini, he continues. We were struggling, and I think Id just come back from injury. The manager went from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2, with me and Seb Haller up top. Then, when Seb wasnt playing the best because we werent playing to his style, he threw me up there. What to read next I have no memory of my car crash. When the first responders got there one leg was a quarter smaller than the other because it was completely shattered Michail Antonio on his 2024 car crash "I was looking out of my hotel room, seeing rockets fly past, the hotel would shake when they were getting blocked that was scary, but it was fine other than that day" Michail Antonio on arriving to play in Qatar as Iranian missiles hit the state West Ham star 'will not play in the Championship': report I played four games up front and did well. When Pellegrini got sacked, David Moyes came in and that was me, I was the number nine from then on.During this time West Ham had a habit of signing underwhelming big-name strikers, only for Antonio to see them off, amid talk of a curse on the number nine shirt.Thats exactly what it was before I moved up front, he adds. Every striker came in and didnt score much, then I went from winger to striker. I think because I was already at the club, the curse didnt get me!Michail Antonios autobiography 'Humans Not Robots', published by HarperCollins, is available nowTOPICSWest Ham UnitedPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromChris FlanaganSenior Staff Writer
