2023-05-25 16:22:19
Chris Noll has been, for days, a hero. Or, as French goalkeeper Alphonse Areola decided to call him, a “legend.” Because last Thursday, when West Ham beat AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands by a minimum in the Conference League semifinal, the game turned into a scandal. AND, as Noll managed to prevent it from becoming a tragedy, his club chose to honor him.
After the match, the barrabravas of the Dutch team approached the audience where the relatives and friends of the English were celebrating and began to attack them. That caused the immediate reaction of the playerswho tried to stop the ultras: Declan Rice was even seen throwing a bottle.
UEFA Europa League – 25-5-2023
The West Ham players to the pineapples with fans of the AZ
Michail Antonio, Flynn Downes, Said Benrahma and Lucas Paqueta were some of those who tried to intervene while they waited for the Security agents to act but, who actually managed to stop the chaos was Knollsy, as they call it in England. The 58-year-old man stood up to the violent and prevented them from attacking the footballers’ relatives.
Thanks from the fans
The images and his name quickly traveled around London. The West Ham fans returned the gesture in the last game against Leeds, where the locals won 3-1. “Knollsy is huge wherever he goes, Knollsy is huge everywhere he goeswherever I go”, they sang to him between hugs, bows and even free beers.
“What a reception! A standing ovation, my own song and I never bought a single beer. They made me feel like the town’s champion. I noticed the number of women thanking me for taking care of their families. I’m riding a wave right now“Exclaimed the Briton after recognition.
The West Ham gesture
Although it was not the only gesture: the club decided to invite him to the Conference League final against Fiorentina, which will take place on June 7 in Prague. It will be the first European definition of his team in 47 years.
A father of four, Knoll told The Mail how the news reached him: “I was at work and when I got the call I almost cried. I’m very happy, very happy.” And he added: “She (club manager) said that she was sitting two rows behind me and she saw what happened. He said that he had been very brave and that he deserved a ticket.”
market boom
The figure of Knollsy generated a revolution in London: paintings with his image facing the ultras in the Netherlands have already gone on sale. She even has his own action toy! A true hero. The hero of Alkmaar.
Knoll already has his action figure.#great #gesture #West #Ham #fan #fought #bar #Alkmaar