West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek has made plenty of headlines over the last few days – but not for the reason one might expect.
It was not his match-winning deflected goal against Everton last week that was being discussed, but instead post-match comments lauding his love for potato salad which bemused many football fans.
The interview, in which Soucek was discussing the cultural differences between Czech and English football, prompted West Ham to surprise Soucek in the club canteen accordingly.
‘Normally I have three weeks off eating potato salad!’ proclaimed Soucek as he spoke to BT Sport. In the Czech Republic, a potato salad-based dish is a traditional festive meal and is a mainstay of Czech Christmas culture, hence his commentc.
The dish is normally served with carp and Schnitzels, with one source calling it the ‘Czech turkey’ in terms of cultural resonance. Many Czech households typically have their own variation of the dish.
The £19.1m signing from Slavia Prague was then given a potato salad lunch on Wednesday – aptly labelled ‘Salad a la Soucek’ – which he then shared to followers on Twitter. As of Thursday, his interview has been watched almost 100,000 times on BT Sport’s YouTube channel alone.
Many football fans were amused at Soucek’s culinary preferences and took to Twitter to share their reactions:
Twitter: @robsnodgrass7 if we give you some Potato Salad will you stay? (@ImlikeDinho)
Twitter: @Pleasestop000 @tomassoucek28 He can eat what he wants the way he is playing! I just mean the recipe at the canteen… https://t.co/QPQxhc89Ni (@Dawstours)
Twitter: @westham_gossip @ExWHUemployee The canteen menu’s changed since he played for us. It’s strictly potato salad now! (@bowlessoul)
Twitter: @tomassoucek28 I’ve never seen potato salad with carrots & peas in
https://t.co/5W1OtOPYMv (@PrettyBubbles65)
Twitter: Give him proper potato salad and 3 weeks off!! https://t.co/IP6ai7fzb6 (@Tailorminator)
Twitter: @Pleasestop000 @tomassoucek28 He probably shouldn’t eat so much mayonnaise though! (@Dawstours)
One fan even wrote a match-day chant. We’re not so sure this will catch on…
Twitter: He’s got salad.
Potato salad.
I just don’t think you understand.
It came from farmer Giles.
Helps him run for mile… https://t.co/NoSk4LNTum (@chickenrunwhufc)
