Former West Ham star looks unrecognisable as his old club hold ceremony to honour him
ATLETICO MADRID honoured a former West Ham player at their stadium on Thursday.
The Atleti legend was surrounded family members, club representatives and captain Koke at the Wanda Metropolitano.
GettyThe Atletico Madrid legend, left, was honoured by the club on Thursday[/caption]
EPAKoke, left, Fernando Torres, centre, and Reinildo Mandava all paid tribute[/caption]
Koke and another Atletico great, Fernando Torres, paid tribute to the icon who now looks a lot different than he did in his West Ham days.
The winger made just nine appearances for the Hammers in the late 90s but he had an impressive career.
And he left a lasting impression on Atletico, scoring 49 goals in 204 games for the Spanish outfit.
Koke described him as a “legend and an idol for all Atleti fans”, while Liverpool icon Torres was just as complimentary.
He said: “We the fans feel he is one of us and that he will never let us down.
“For me he is a very special person because he was the one who called me to give me the opportunity to start training with the first team when he was sporting director and he changed my life”.
The legend in question is Paulo Futre, who played for West Ham in 1996.
He also had spells at AC Milan, Sporting, Porto and Marseille, as well as Reggina.
Paulo Futre played nine games for West HamNews Group Newspapers Ltd
He finished second in the 1987 Ballon d’OrAP:Associated Press
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Futre won the Copa del Rey twice with Atletico in 1991 and 1992, and the Primeira Liga twice with Porto.
He also finished second in the 1987 Ballon d’Or, though did win the Portuguese Footballer of the Year in 1986 and 1987.
