Latest news with #MichailAntonio
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Michail Antonio scores TWICE in his first West Ham start since near-fatal Ferrari crash 'completely shattered' his leg seven months ago
Michail Antonio scored twice in his first start for West Ham just seven months after a terrifying car crash left him needing surgery and fearing for his career. Antonio escaped the incident with a badly broken leg and had his femur bone put back together after it was shattered in four places. The forward had not featured in a match since crashing his Ferrari into a tree in December until he suited up for his national team last week. The 35-year-old was back on the pitch for Jamaica's Gold Cup opener against Guatemala, coming off the bench in the 85th minute. And on Friday night, Antonio took another step in his recovery, playing 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors West Ham Under 21 friendly against Boreham Wood. It took him just 20 minutes to net a brace as the Hammers marched to a 4-1 victory. He will be keen to prove his fitness with his West Ham contract, which is believed to be around £90,000 a week, coming to an end. Antonio is currently weighing up his options after rejecting a short-term deal on lower wages. 'He's looking at what offers he gets,' a senior Hammers source recently told Mail Sport. West Ham announced earlier this month they will continue to support Antonio throughout his comeback, even though he will officially been listed as a ' free transfer '. West Ham announced earlier this month they will continue to support Antonio throughout his comeback, even though he will officially been listed 'Given Michail Antonio's unique situation, following his serious road traffic accident in December 2024, there will be no formal decision and announcement on his future until such time that it is considered right and appropriate,' the statement read. 'However, as his current contract is also due to expire on 30 June, for the purposes of the Premier League Retained List procedure at the end of the 2024/25 season, Michail will be listed as a free transfer. 'As a long-serving, highly-respected player, and a much-loved member of the West Ham family, the club's absolute priority at this time is to support Michail personally in his journey to resume playing at the highest level.' The West Ham record Premier League goal-scorer revisited his old car's remains at a scrapyard in March, which put the horror incident into perspective. 'It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach,' Antonio told BBC One programme Morning Live. 'It just made me realise how close I was to dying. I had seen the pictures, but it was 10 times worse in person. The car was an absolute mess. It was difficult for me. 'All I know is that I hit a tree - I don't know how I hit a tree - and that the police came and when they found me in the car, I was in between the two seats. 'From the crash, I've been more of an emotional man. I was avoiding going back because I was slightly embarrassed by the crash and the accident. Obviously I've almost died in the car crash.' The accident was Antonio's second in a fast car after he crashed his £210,000 Lamborghini Huracan into a bin shed in Balham, south London, on Christmas Day 2019 while dressed as a snowman.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Michail Antonio starts first West Ham match since nearly dying in horror car crash as he lines up for U21s in friendly
MIRACLE COMEBACK Michail Antonio starts first West Ham match since nearly dying in horror car crash as he lines up for U21s in friendly Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MICHAIL ANTONIO is starting his first match after nearly dying in a horror car crash. The 35-year-old has been named in the West Ham Under-21s starting XI for their pre-season friendly against Boreham Wood tonight. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Michail Antonio is starting his first game since his horror car crash Credit: PA THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
West Ham open talks with ex-Newcastle star Callum Wilson after he turned down pay-as-you-play contract
WEST HAM are in talks to sign free agent Callum Wilson. Wilson, 33, turned down a pay-as-you play deal at Newcastle, who decided against taking up an option to extend his deal this summer. 2 Newcastle had decided against triggering their one-year option on Wilson which would have kept him on the same wage of about £45,000-a-week. The ex-England striker has long been admired at the London Stadium and talks are being held over an incentivised contract. The deal would involve an agreement where a player's wages are directly tied to the number of games they play, rather than a fixed salary. This type of contract is often offered to players with a history of injuries or those returning from long-term absences. Wilson scored 47 goals in 113 appearances for the Magpies, but has struggled with back and hamstring injuries during his time with the club. West Ham released both Danny Ings and Michail Antonio at the end of last season. Antonio made a return to football with Jamaica following his horror crash in December, but has not agreed a new deal with West Ham. Wilson has attracted interest from newly-promoted Leeds United and will look to continue his Premier League career. The former Cherries man has also been looking towards life after football, working as a pundit on the Club World Cup this summer. Wilson suffered from injury issues at Newcastle but still scored 47 times in 113 Premier League appearances. Newcastle contract blunder could cost them Isak 2 In the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, Wilson was Newcastle 's top scorer. He was a late substitute in this year's Carabao Cup final where Newcastle ended their 56-year wait for silverware.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I could've punched him in his face!' - Michail Antonio reveals identity of referee who drove him MAD as only threat of lifetime ban stopped him fighting match official on the pitch
GOAL's brand new Beast Mode On Podcast, hosted by Adebayo Akinfenwa, welcomes guest Michail Antonio as he discusses the harrowing car crash that almost killed him, as well as listing some of his toughest opponents and the Portuguese referee that he almost fought on the pitch after being left outraged by the decisions of the official. Antonio, who is West Ham's record Premier League goalscorer having struck 68 times in England's top flight for the Hammers, recalls one particular defeat, against Bayer Leverkusen in a Europa League quarter-final tie back in April 2024, that made him so angry that he was ready to punch referee Artur Soares Dias in the face. Scroll down to read about why Antonio was left so enraged by the match official, as well as one hilarious clash he had with Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire and how a certain former Swansea City winger was one of very few players to get the better of him. You can watch the full episode of the Best Mode On Podcast via YouTube and Spotify. 'THERE WOULD'VE BEEN A FIGHT' Antonio, who has left West Ham following the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2024-25, first recalled a funny story involving a tussle with United centre-back Maguire. He said: "I remember once, Harry Maguire, I'm a heavy man, 94kg, Harry Maguire, somehow, the ball's come in, I've jumped to chest it and he's held me like a child and threw me. I've fallen straight on my face and the referee went: 'Play on'. I'm like: 'How on earth can you not see I've been carried like a child?' [But] that wasn't the worst decision." Referring to a Europa League clash that the Hammers would lose 2-0, a result they couldn't turnaround as they were knocked out by Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen, Antonio added: "That isn't the worst decision. Quarter-finals, Europa League, we played Bayer Leverkusen, we lost. That was the worst refereeing I've ever experienced in my life. I didn't get a single decision. I could've punched him [referee Soares Dias] in his face. If it wasn't for a lifetime ban, there would've been a fight on the pitch." 'I'M JUST CHASING SHADOWS' Discussing some of the toughest opponents he's come up against, Antonio referred to Eden Hazard and ex-Swansea City forward Mo Barrow as being the only two that caused him serious problems, back when he was asked to play right-back for West Ham. He said: "Nobody else [I would come up against knowing I had a tough evening ahead]. Only [Eden] Hazard... what was annoying about Hazard, I was quite egotistical when I was playing in defence, I was like: 'No one's going to be beat me - if they try to go past me I'm just going to put my arm across him and take the ball'. I was so confident. "But with Hazard, I couldn't get near him. He was so annoying. He would get the ball and drive inside. Because he's driving infield I'm always a distance away from him. I'm just chasing shadows. Do you know who ripped me the most? You wouldn't know who he is. Mo Barrow - Swansea. I've marked [Antony] Martial, Hazard, [Marcus] Rashford, all these people, I've done well. But the one who ripped me the most was Mo Barrow." 'HE NEEDS TO LEAVE!' Antonio currently leads West Ham's all-time Premier League goalscoring charts with 68 goals to his name. Hammers skipper Jarrod Bowen is, however, fast closing in on his former team-mate's tally, and is now just 12 behind of the 35-year-old ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season. That's not lost on Antonio, who joked that the England international should be sold to avoid him claiming the record: "This is what's annoying me about Jarrod, he's 12 goals away from me. "I'm like: Give me at least five years of me chilling [with the record]. It was there for like 20 years [before] and now you want to take it from me within four years?! What are you doing?!' He needs to leave! I don't care. I know West Ham fans will be mad at me for saying it but he needs to leave!" WATCH THE FULL EPISODE
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Michail Antonio admits he doesn't remember anything from horror crash that almost killed West Ham legend
MICHAIL ANTONIO admits he has NO recollection of the awful crash that almost took his life. The Advertisement 6 Michail Antonio has opened up on his horror car crash Credit: YouTube/Beast Mode On 6 Antonio smashed his Ferrari into a tree last December Credit: Steve Bell He was airlifted to hospital and rushed into surgery and spent the rest of the season fighting to get back on his feet. Antonio, 35, spent three weeks in hospital as he began his recovery. But the striker revealed he cannot remember it. Speaking on the Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL "Even though I was in it, I didn't live it because I don't remember anything about it. "I don't remember the crash, I don't remember being in the hospital, I don't remember going in for the operation, I don't remember coming out of the operation. "There were loads of emotions coming through, my body remembers stuff even though my mind doesn't. "What I've learnt from the car crash is football's important, but your health is more important." Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive Exclusive Exclusive 6 Antonio had to undergo intense physiotherapy to return to action Credit: instagram/@michailantonio 6 The star was on crutches for a prolonged period Credit: Instagram Following the accident, Antonio was adamant he would play football again. And he Advertisement Michail Antonio plays first match just six months after near-death Ferrari crash that 'completely shattered' his leg Now Antonio says he has tried to find the positives from the accident, insisting 'the crash was also a blessing'. And he revealed a tearful moment listening to a Beyonce song with his kids helped change his perspective. He added: "I was in Dubai with my kids, my daughter loves Beyonce, [and the song] I Was Here. "I've listened to it so many times but since the car crash, I listened to it and I was just sitting there, in a room with my kids but I've gone into a corner and I was crying. Advertisement "Those words, when you've been through what I've been through, when you've nearly died. When I was listening to it, I've gone. "Now I'm at that stage where I'm going to bring myself happiness. I'm going to do whatever needs to be done. "As much as the crash was a curse, it was also a blessing. It's brought so many things to light and made me more focused and driven to do what needs to be done." 6 Antonio made his return to football in June, playing for Jamaica in a Gold Cup group stage game against Guatemala Credit: Reuters Advertisement Antonio is the Hammers' all-time top scorer in the Premier League, having scored 68 goals in 268 games. His contract with the club expired on 30th June but he hopes to continue playing. West Ham confirmed last month that Antonio will be listed as a free transfer but stressed they remain fully behind him during his comeback. A statement read: 'Given Michail Antonio's unique situation following his serious road traffic accident. Advertisement "There will be no formal decision on his future until such time that it is considered right and appropriate. 'As a long-serving, highly-respected player and a much-loved member of the West Ham family. "The club's absolute priority is to support Michail personally in his journey to resume playing at the highest level.' 6 Advertisement
