The Hammers legend believes Rice can get to the top of the game but warned him it won’t be an easy ride.
West Ham United legend Tony Cottee has piled the praise on Declan Rice, believing he has all the traits required to establish himself as the top of the game.
However, the retired striker also has a word of warning for the 20-year-old, saying he will find that opponents will most likely focus on him a lot more now during games and likening a footballer’s career to climbing a mountain.
Rice has been in superb form for West Ham this season, making 32 appearances in all competitions and becoming a Hammers fan favourite along the way, and he has also earned two caps for the England national team.
Cottee and Rice were at the opening of the Irons’ new £4million academy facility at their training ground in Chadwell Heath, alongside the likes of Sir Trevor Brooking and Alvin Martin.
In conversation with the official West Ham website, the 53-year-old shared his honest opinion of Rice, but admitted that things will not be easy despite his talent and work ethic.
“He will notice that the approach of his opponents towards him may be different from now on – he will naturally earn more respect and with that comes greater scrutiny and attention,” said Cottee. “Other players will attempt to put him off his game, but that is all part of his development and learning.
“To use an analogy, your career as a footballer is like climbing a mountain… Declan is still in the early stages of his climb, and there will be difficult tests and challenges ahead for him, but everything I have seen of him so far makes me very confident that he will make it to the very top.”
Cottee netted 146 goals in upwards of 336 appearances for the Hammers over two spells in the 1980s and 1990s.
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