‘There’s massive responsibility on my shoulders’: Evra on West Ham leadership role

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West Ham’s Patrice Evra speaks on his responsibility to be a leader as one of the club’s most senior players.

At 36-years-old, and with his history in the game, Patrice Evra is by far West Ham’s most experienced squad member.

The veteran left-back joined the Hammers as a free agent in early February and has made two appearances for the club so far. However, the former Manchester United star believes his role at the London Stadium goes far beyond his on the pitch contribution.

Speaking to the West Ham website, Evra explained how the way he conducts himself around the training ground and on match days is vitally important when it comes to setting an example for younger players.

The five time Premier League champion has not achieved what he has in the game for no reason, and will have earned a high amount of respect from his teammates simply because of the clubs he has played for and the trophies he has won. As a result, the onus is on him to lead from the front as a role model to some of his less experienced teammates.

“Coming in at my age, there’s massive responsibility on my shoulders,” the left-back told West Ham’s official website.

“You have to lead by example. Before you can say anything to a younger player and guide them with your words, you have to show them good examples and lead with your actions.

“When you’re in a leadership position, your most important job is to create more leaders around you. I like to do that and I strive to do that. I want to see my teammates, particularly the younger ones, getting better and playing well.”

With a number of youngsters in the squad such as Edmilson Fernandes and Josh Cullen, training alongside the likes of Evra will do wonders for their game as they observe closely how the full-back conducts himself as a professional just like the Frenchman will have done during his days as an an inexperienced player in his early 20s.