19 Years Later: Hammers Remember Marc Vivian Foe

Not much distance separates Parc Olympique Lyonnais and Stade de Gerland, former home of the Ligue 1 club West Ham United faced and defeated on their way to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals on Thursday evening.

It was the venue which the late, great Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé – formerly of both West Ham and Lyon – graced with his footballing excellence.

Stuart Pearce was in the front line as the team recalled the great midfeilder, Marc Vivian Foe.

Playing for the Hammers for a season-and-a-half before two further campaigns with Lyon, Foé was first teammate to Stuart Pearce during the 1999/00 season, before later becoming his player at Manchester City when the current West Ham first-team coach was in charge as manager.

Tragically, Foe collapse while playing for his country, Cameroon, against Colombia in the semi-finals of the FIFA Confederations Cup on his return to Stade de Gerland on 26 June 2003.

Despite prolonged attempts to resuscitate him, Foé sadly passed away an hour later. A post mortem found evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a hereditary heart condition known to increase the risk of sudden death during physical exercise.

It was a shocking and unforgettable moment for football, and one which touched everyone associated with West Ham, the club Foé had joined for a record £4.2million fee and represented 48 times between January 1999 and May 2000.

Foé’s legacy has seen heart screening become a regular part of football across the world, and his contribution to the game, and West Ham United, will never be forgotten – as Pearce told West Ham TV at Stade de Gerland, where he and the Club paid tribute.

“I thought it was really fitting that we came here today to pay tribute to Marc, for what he did as a footballer, which was magnificent for West Ham and Lyon at this place, where we’re stood today.

“On top of that, it’s for what he was like as a man. He was a fantastic man to work alongside. I’ve coached him, I’ve been a teammate of his as well, and he was just a smashing man.

“That’s what I remember first and foremost: what he stood for as a man. He was a very quiet, very humble family man, and as you say, it’s really poignant that we’re here today, and rightly so.” Pearce recounted on West Ham TV.

The Hammers went on to shock Lyon 3-0 at home, and make the semis of the Euroupa league, where they will face Frankfurt, who defeated FC Barcelona.