5 months ago
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Billy Bonds, West Ham United's all-time grounds appearance-maker and a cardinal fig successful the club's past arsenic a subordinate and manager, has died astatine the property of 79, his household said connected Sunday (November 30, 2025).
Bonds played 799 times for West Ham during a 21-year spell betwixt 1967-88, captaining the East London broadside to FA Cup victories successful 1975 and 1980.
He managed the squad from 1990 to 1994, doubly starring them to promotion to England's apical division.
"We are heartbroken to denote that we mislaid our beloved Dad today. He was devoted to his household and was the astir kind, loyal, selfless, and loving person," the Bonds household said successful a connection connected West Ham's website.
"Dad loved West Ham United and its fantastic supporters with each his bosom and treasured each infinitesimal of his clip astatine the Club."
West Ham skipper Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports earlier Sunday's Premier League location crippled against Liverpool that Bonds was "probably going to spell down arsenic West Ham's biggest fable (and) the champion nine skipper that they person had arsenic well".
Both sets of players and fans had a play of applause earlier kickoff, with Bowen placing a West Ham garment with "Bonds 4" connected the backmost astatine the broadside of the pitch.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo said the ambiance astatine the London Stadium whitethorn person been affected by the quality of Bonds' death, aft West Ham mislaid 2-0 to extremity a three-game unbeaten streak.
"I don't rather judge that (it) affected the team, but affected the mood, the wide mood, we felt it," helium said.
"We wanted to bash different things that tin honour the representation of Billy Bonds successful a amended way, but unluckily it was not to be."
