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West Ham's United's captain at the 2006 FA Cup Final has been released by Aston Villa on a free transfer.
Nigel Reo-Coker, who once appeared to have the football world at his feet was confirmed today as one of ten players the Midlands club were not offering new contracts to.
Reo-Coker's snub comes exactly five years after he became West Ham's youngest captain to lead the club into an FA Cup Final.
That game - widely considered the greatest final in recent years - was eventually won by Liverpool on penalties after the teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. But less than a year later, Reo-Coker was on his way to Villa in an £8.5million deal.
Alan Pardew brought thr former England under-21 captain to West Ham in January 2004, when he paid the now defunct Wimbledon £500,000 for his services.
Less than two years later, and having returned to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs at Cardiff the summer before Reo-Coker led his side out at the same venue for that incredible 2006 Final.
However his next - and final - season at West Ham quickly turned into a nightmare.
Having fallen out with supporters by cupping his hand to his ear when scoring the winning goal against Manchester United - and having been accused of membership of the notorious 'Bentley boys' club by Alan Curbishley - Reo-Coker became the focal point for the team's ills.
Having accused - without foundation - supporters of racial abuse, the writing was on the wall for the Southwark-born player - and Martin O'Neill paid the inflated sum in July 2007 to take him to Aston Villa and end his Hammers nightmare.
Nigel Reo-Coker, who once appeared to have the football world at his feet was confirmed today as one of ten players the Midlands club were not offering new contracts to.
Reo-Coker's snub comes exactly five years after he became West Ham's youngest captain to lead the club into an FA Cup Final.
That game - widely considered the greatest final in recent years - was eventually won by Liverpool on penalties after the teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. But less than a year later, Reo-Coker was on his way to Villa in an £8.5million deal.
Alan Pardew brought thr former England under-21 captain to West Ham in January 2004, when he paid the now defunct Wimbledon £500,000 for his services.
Less than two years later, and having returned to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs at Cardiff the summer before Reo-Coker led his side out at the same venue for that incredible 2006 Final.
However his next - and final - season at West Ham quickly turned into a nightmare.
Having fallen out with supporters by cupping his hand to his ear when scoring the winning goal against Manchester United - and having been accused of membership of the notorious 'Bentley boys' club by Alan Curbishley - Reo-Coker became the focal point for the team's ills.
Having accused - without foundation - supporters of racial abuse, the writing was on the wall for the Southwark-born player - and Martin O'Neill paid the inflated sum in July 2007 to take him to Aston Villa and end his Hammers nightmare.
