During the 1998–99 English football season, West Ham United F.C. competed in the FA Premier League.
Season summary In the 1998–99 season, the Hammers finished fifth in the FA Premier League, their second-best placing ever in the top-flight, securing UEFA Cup qualification to mark a return to European competitions after 19 years away.
New additions to the side for the season were goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, defender Neil Ruddock, Marc Keller and Arsenal goalscoring legend Ian Wright, while mid-season arrivals came in the shape of midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé, defender Scott Minto and striker Paolo Di Canio. During the course of the season, several key players left the club, including veteran defender Tim Breacker, unsettled striker John Hartson and winger Andy Impey. April saw the retirement of defender Richard Hall, who had struggled with injuries since his arrival from Southampton in July 1996.
The season also saw the emergence of highly promising midfielder Joe Cole, who played his first eight league games and made a further appearance in the FA Cup.
Final league table
Results summary
Results West Ham United's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
FA Premier League
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR32 January 1999 Swansea CityH1–126,039DicksR3R13 January 1999 Swansea CityA0–110,116
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st Leg15 September 1998 Northampton TownA0–27,254R2 2nd Leg22 September 1998 Northampton TownH1–0 (1–2 on agg)25,435Lampard
Squad
No.PlayerPositionLge appsLge GlsFAC appsFAC GlsLC appsLC GlsDate signedPrevious clubWest Ham United XI 1998–199912Shaka Hislop (Hammer of the Year)GK3702020July 1998Newcastle United15Rio FerdinandCB3101010November 1995Academy19Ian PearceCB3301020September 1997Blackburn Rovers6Neil RuddockCB2702010July 1998Liverpool8Trevor SinclairRM36722January 1998Queens Park Rangers11Steve Lomas (captain)CM302March 1997Manchester City18Frank LampardCM385112July 1995Academy7Marc KellerLM17+450010July 1998Karlsruher SC29Eyal BerkovicAM28+231+11June 1997Southampton10John HartsonCF16+1421February 1997Arsenal14Ian WrightCF20+2912August 1998ArsenalImportant players10Paolo Di CanioCF12+14January 1999Sheffield Wednesday20Scott MintoLWB14+1January 1999Benfica9Paul KitsonCF13+43February 1997Newcastle United13Marc-Vivien FoéCM13January 1999Lens4Steve PottsCB11+812May 1984Academy17Stan LazaridisLWB11+421September 1995West Adelaide3Julian DicksD9211October 1994Liverpool16John MoncurCM6+81June 1994Swindon TownOther players20Andy ImpeyRWB6+21September 1997Queens Park Rangers30Javier MargasCB3July 1998Universidad Católica26Joe ColeM2+60+1July 1997Academy2Tim BreackerRB2+110+1October 1990Luton Town24Samassi AbouCF2+10+11October 1997Cannes22Craig ForrestGK1+1July 1995Ipswich Town27Emmanuel OmoyinmiF0+31+10+1May 1995Academy28Chris CoyneCB0+1January 1996Perth SC25Lee HodgesM0+1March 1995Academy40Gavin HolliganF0+1January 1999Kingstonian5Richard HallCB0+1July 1996Southampton
Transfers
In Date Pos. Name From Fee13 July 1998FW Ian Wright Arsenal£500,00030 July 1998DF Neil Ruddock Liverpool£100,00030 July 1998DF Javier Margas Universidad Católica£1,800,00025 November 1998FW Gavin Holligan Kingstonian£100,00014 January 1999DF Scott Minto Benfica£1,000,00027 January 1999FW Paolo Di Canio Sheffield Wednesday£1,750,00027 January 1999MF Marc-Vivien Foé Lens£4,000,0009 February 1999MF Jimmy Bullard Ebbsfleet United£30,000
Out Date Pos. Name To Fee1 August 1998DF Lee Goodwin Dagenham & RedbridgeFree transfer24 November 1998MF Andy Impey Leicester City£1,600,00025 December 1998GK Luděk Mikloško Queens Park RangersNominal14 January 1999FW John Hartson Wimbledon£7,500,00010 February 1999DF Tim Breacker Queens Park RangersFree transfer12 March 1999DF David Partridge Dundee United£40,00024 May 1999MF Joe Keith Colchester UnitedFree transfer
Transfers in: £9,280,000 Transfers out: £9,140,000 Total spending: £140,000
References