West Ham have found it difficult to find players who can secure legendary status in East London during recent years and fans will be forgiven for remembering the years gone, when the Hammers had the likes of Paolo Di Canio shining in their side.

The Hammers’ move to the London Stadium last summer was supposed to bring brighter days for the club but Slaven Bilic’s side struggled in their new surroundings, flirting with relegation and seeing a wealth of summer recruits failing to cut it in the top-flight.

Major changes are set to occur this summer, with Bilic already securing the arrival of Pablo Zabaleta and closing in on the signature of Joe Hart, but further challenges await in the months ahead and the Hammers are under pressure to perform.

It’s a slow build in East London though and patience will be key, though fans will hope to see more familiar names returning to their side in the coming years- and Di Canio, formerly manager of Sunderland, has stated he’d love to return to the side.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Italian ace said:

This is my second home. I have got my daughters living in England, one in Cambridge, one in Bath, so it really is a second home to me and my family. In terms of football, though, it’s my first home. English football is in my blood. I belong to English football.”

“At the end of the season [Slaven] Bilic was right to change a few things on the field and improve results. Hopefully that can change the direction for the club, but it was difficult at the beginning. The shock of leaving Upton Park, the atmosphere. They paid the price.”

“It was difficult for everyone to move stadium, for the fans and even the players who had only played at Upton Park for six months, because that’s all you needed to absorb the atmosphere. It was a place of history and tradition, of Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking, Geoff Hurst, Billy Bonds…”

“I have always said it is my destiny to come back to West Ham and I never change my opinion. Until I die, I hope to have a role at West Ham, because it would be fantastic before finishing my life. I will never give up, but obviously I know that the club have their own programme.”

“I follow them with all respect, with my heart and full of passion for West Ham. I will follow them until I die, whether I get a chance to go back or not. I belong to the family.”

Whilst a role may not currently be available for Di Canio, an opportunity may arise in the coming years and the Hammers would certainly benefit from having another man behind the scenes who is well accustomed to the West Ham way and the club’s proud history.