West Ham great Billy Bonds dies at 79

By: The Associated Press Posted: 7:34 AM CST Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025 Last Modified: 9:09 AM CST Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025

LONDON (AP) — Billy Bonds, the former West Ham United player and manager described as one of soccer's “greatest competitors,” has died. He was 79.

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LONDON (AP) — Billy Bonds, the former West Ham United player and manager described as one of soccer's “greatest competitors,” has died. He was 79.

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This article was published 30/11/2025 (247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LONDON (AP) — Billy Bonds, the former West Ham United player and manager described as one of soccer’s “greatest competitors,” has died. He was 79.

His death was confirmed in a statement by his family via West Ham on Sunday. The Premier League club said Bonds “passed away peacefully” on Sunday morning.

Former West Ham captain Bonds was the longest-serving player in the club’s history, making 799 appearances over a 21-year spell. He won two FA Cups before retiring at the age of 41.

A giant screen displays a Wast Ham legend Billy Bonds died aged 79 prior to the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool, in London, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

He managed West Ham from 1990-94.

“Dad loved West Ham United and its wonderful supporters with all his heart and treasured every moment of his time at the club,” his family said in a statement. “He will always be in our hearts and eternally missed. We take comfort knowing that his legacy will live on forever.”

In 2018, West Ham fans voted Bonds the club’s greatest-ever player.

West Ham described him as one of the “greatest competitors English football has ever seen.”

“Rest in peace Billy, our courageous, inspirational, lion-hearted leader,” it said.

There was a minute’s applause for Bonds ahead of West Ham’s game against Liverpool at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Current captain Jarrod Bowen held up a shirt with Bonds’ No. 4 on the back.

FILE - Former West Ham United player Billy Bonds, March 2, 2019. Billy Bonds, the former West Ham United player and manager, has died, Sunday Nov. 30, 2025. He was 79. (Paul Harding/PA via AP, File)

“What he meant for this club, what he achieved for this club, it’s a sad day for everyone,” Bowen said. ”He’s probably going to go down as West Ham’s biggest legend and the best club captain they’ve had as well.”

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer