Michail Antonio’s former manager wipes away tears in emotional tribute to ‘awesome’ West Ham striker after horror car crash

The West Ham star was involved in a horrific car accident on Saturday after his Ferrari FF collided with a tree. The player was airlifted to hospital after being cut free from the wreckage and underwent surgery. The 34-year-old will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign and is expected to take at least a year to fully recover.

Amid uncertainty over Antonio's future in professional football, his former coach Martin Allen paid an emotional tribute to the player. Allen managed the Jamaica international during the player's brief loan spell at Cheltenham Town in 2009, where he made eight appearances before returning to Reading at the end of the 2008-09 season.

Taking to X, the 59-year-old coach said: "Michail Antonio has been awesome for West Ham over these last few years. I took him on loan and used to give him lifts home to London after the matches home and away to see his family. He’s a diamond bloke and after wiping away a few tears I hope he makes a full recovery."

The Hammers, who have struggled in the 2024-25 campaign under Julen Lopetegui's tutelage, will be in action on Monday evening in the Premier League as they take on Wolves at London Stadium.