Tomas Soucek has shared his perspective on taking up more responsibility within the West Ham United squad, highlighting his efforts to support academy players and maintain high standards during pre-season in Germany.

The midfielder is one of the most senior figures in Graham Potter’s side as the Irons prepare for the 2025/26 campaign.

Soucek helping West Ham academy players settle in

In an interview with whufc.com, Soucek spoke openly about his growing leadership role within the team. The 30-year-old has captained West Ham on several occasions and is the current captain of the Czech Republic national team.

“Being a leader is something that just comes naturally to me,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who has the armband. We need more captains in the team and more leadership.”

He also spoke about his desire to bring confidence to those around him. “One of my biggest strengths is helping the players around me feel confident and perform better,” he added.

A total of 12 academy prospects have joined the claret and blue’s pre-season camp in Donaueschingen. Soucek named Ollie Scarles, Freddie Potts, Airidas Golambeckis, and Emeka Adiele as some of the young players he’s taken under his wing.

For several of these players, the current pre-season offers a crucial window to impress, with Crysencio Summerville also making headlines after returning from injury ahead of schedule.

Early influences shaped Soucek’s leadership style

Soucek reflected on his time at SK Slavia Prague, where he learned from senior teammates who helped him develop on and off the pitch. He mentioned Milan Skoda, Jiri Bilek, and Radek Cerny as examples of leaders who supported him.

“When you’re a senior player and you see young players, there are only two ways you can go about it,” he said. “You can either be negative, or you can be positive and give them confidence.”

He explained that those experiences now shape how he treats younger teammates, aiming to create a supportive environment for them to grow.

Soucek’s connection to Slavia Prague has remained relevant this summer, with the club previously voicing frustration over West Ham’s pursuit of El Hadji Malick Diouf before a deal was eventually struck.

Senior midfielder setting the tone in Germany

After a short summer break with his wife and three children in Havlickuv Brod, Soucek returned to training early to prepare for the new season. He said he feels strong physically and mentally and is focused on setting the right example during camp.

“I’ve always tried to set an example since I arrived here,” he said. “I want to make the players more determined, more of a team, and be one group all together.”

The Irons are currently based in Donaueschingen as part of their pre-season programme, which will continue with matches and further training ahead of the club’s upcoming Summer Series fixtures in the United States.

Elsewhere in camp, striker Niclas Fullkrug has also drawn attention for his early efforts, with Graham Potter reportedly impressed by his sharpness and fitness, as covered in this update.

Pre-season a key opportunity for young players

Soucek noted that long periods away from home can be difficult for younger players but urged them to take advantage of the opportunity.

“This is the biggest chance for them in their careers so far,” he said. “If they work hard, they really have a chance to be with us and to be a footballer with West Ham United.”

He added that the group has made a good start and believes that with more time together, the younger players will continue to grow and contribute to the team’s development.