During the 2024/25 season, we’re highlighting some of the greatest players to have worn various squad numbers for West Ham United, since they were first introduced at the start of the 1993/94 campaign.
Cast your vote for your favorite No. 4 from the four nominees listed below!
All West Ham No. 4s since 1993/94:
1993-2001: Steve Potts
2016-2017: Håvard Nordtveit
2001-2005: Don Hutchison
2018-2021: Fabián Balbuena
2005-2011: Danny Gabbidon
2021-2024: Kurt Zouma
2011-2015: Kevin Nolan
2024-present: Carlos Soler
2015-2016: Alexandre Song
Steve Potts
DOB: 07.05.67
WHU: 1985-2002
Appearances: 506
Goals: 1
Steve Potts is deservedly regarded as a cult hero at West Ham United, having dedicated an incredible 17 years to the club. After coming through the Academy of Football, Potts went on to make 506 appearances for the Hammers, experiencing plenty of highs and lows along the way.
As West Ham’s fifth-highest Premier League appearance maker, Potts made his debut in the 1985/86 season when the club finished third in the First Division. However, his breakthrough came in the 1988/89 season, during which he played 43 matches across all competitions.
In the 1990/91 season, Potts made 47 appearances, helping West Ham earn promotion back to the top tier. His standout season came in 1992/93 when he played in 56 matches, helped secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time, and was voted Hammer of the Year. He won the award again in 1995.
Since 2011, Potts has worked with the Academy of Football as a coach and mentor. Last season, he served as the U21s lead coach, guiding them to a second-place finish in Premier League 2. He is currently the assistant coach for the U21s.
Danny Gabbidon
DOB: 08.08.79
WHU: 2005-2011
Appearances: 113
Goals: 0
At his best, Danny Gabbidon was one of the top defenders in the game. He was signed by manager Alan Pardew in the summer of 2005, arriving from Cardiff City alongside James Collins in a double transfer deal.
Gabbidon made an immediate impact at West Ham, forming a solid defensive partnership with Anton Ferdinand. His impressive performances earned him the prestigious Hammer of the Year award in his debut season, making him only the third player in the club’s history to achieve this honor in their first year.
Unfortunately, Gabbidon’s time at the Hammers was plagued by injuries, including hamstring, groin, back, and abdominal issues, which limited his appearances over the following seasons. However, he made a comeback in the 2009/10 season and had an injury-free campaign in 2010/11, making 27 appearances and surpassing the 100-match milestone for the club.
On the international stage, Gabbidon earned 49 senior caps for Wales after making his debut in 2002 against the Czech Republic.
Kevin Nolan
DOB: 24.06.82
WHU: 2011-2015
Appearances: 157
Goals: 31
At a time when West Ham United were at a low point, Kevin Nolan’s leadership and experience both on and off the pitch were crucial in helping the club not only return to the Premier League but also succeed upon their return to the top flight.
After helping Newcastle United secure promotion back to the Premier League, Nolan was arguably playing the best football of his career when he made the move from the northeast to east London. In his debut season, he was immediately appointed captain by Sam Allardyce and made 46 appearances, leading the Hammers to a 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the play-off final to secure promotion.
Nolan continued to shine as West Ham’s top scorer the following season, contributing to their mid-table finish. After leaving the club in 2015 for a role at Leyton Orient, he returned to West Ham in February 2020 as a first-team coach, joining David Moyes’ staff.
Don Hutchison
DOB: 09.05.71
WHU: 1994-96 & 2001-2005
Appearances: 110
Goals: 18
Don Hutchison had two notable stints with West Ham, amassing 110 appearances and 18 goals during a time that saw the Club experience both the highs of promotion and the lows of relegation.
Hutchison first joined the Hammers in the summer of 1994 for a Club record fee of £1.5m from Liverpool, marking his debut with a goal against Newcastle. The former Scotland international found the net 14 times in his first two seasons before moving to Sheffield United in January 1996.
After successful spells at Sheffield United, Everton, and Sunderland, Hutchison made his return to West Ham in August 2001 for another Club record fee of £5m. However, his second spell was marred by a serious knee ligament injury, which hampered his ability to rediscover his top form.
Hutchison also holds the distinction of being the last player to score a winning goal for Scotland against England at Wembley, heading home the winner in a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying play-off in 1999 over Tony Adams.