WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
Kevin Keen
(Caretaker Manager)
#0798
HERITA ILLUNGA
Born: 25 February 1982, Kinshasa, Congo DR
Signed: Toulouse (France)
Date: 2 September 2008
Fee: £3m
Debut: 13 September 2008,
West Bromwich Albion (A)
Last game: 24 August 2011, Aldershot (H)
Appearances: 73
Goals: 3
Transferred: Doncaster Rovers
Date: 27 January 2012
Ilunga moved to France as a child, joining Amiens SC at the age of 13 before moving to Stade Rennais at the age of 17 where he spent three seasons before joining RCD Espanyol in Spain in 2002. He moved back to France in summer of 2003 to join AS Saint-Etienne, making 136 league appearances over a four-year span, and then joined Toulouse for a single season in summer 2007.
The buccaneering left-back signed for West Ham United on a season-long loan from Toulouse on 2 September 2008 with the option of a permanent transfer. Made his Premier League debut in 3-2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on 13 September 2008.
A DR Congo international with extensive experience in both the French league and in European football, Ilunga showed his talents during an explosive first season in the Premier League. Although a series of injuries slowed the African during his second campaign with the Hammers, there is no doubting Ilunga's pedigree.
Ilunga turned his loan move into a permanent four-year contract in summer 2009. Suffered a jaw injury in the 2-0 opening-day victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 15 August 2009 and had the second half of the season affected by a long-standing back problem.
Returning from injury he found his playing opportunities limited under new manager Avram Grant. He made only 12 appearances during season 2010/11 and by January 2011 he had been omitted from the first team squad. Following West Ham’s relegation to the Football Championship and another change of manager, Ilunga was allowed to join Doncaster Rovers on loan. On 27 January 2012, Sam Allardyce agreed with Ilunga to terminate his contract with immediate effect. He made 73 appearances in all competitions scoring three goals.
He later re-signs for Rovers on an intial one-month contract before returning to France for trails with Guingamp and Brest. On 23 Janyuary 2013, Ilunga signs for Rennes. Later played for AS Nancy, Carquefou and Creteil before retiring in 2016.
#0799
DAVID DI MICHELE
Born: 6 January 1976, Guidonia, Italy
Signed: Toulouse (France) Loan
Date: 2 September 2008
Debut: 13 September 2008,
West Bromwich Albion (sub) (A)
Last game: Middlesbrough, 24 May 2009 (H)
Appearances: 34
Goals: 4
David Di Michele capped six times by his country; he was regarded as a flair forward that brings creativity and poise to a team's attack. The highly-experienced striker signed for West Ham United initially on loan for one year from Italian side Torino on 2 September 2008 with a view to a possible permanent transfer.
The much travelled Italian striker began his career with Lodigiani in the Italian Serie C1 and then transferred to Foggia Calcio in the Italian Serie B. Played two seasons with Foggia before he was transferred to Salernitana where he made his Serie A debut. With a strike rate of 40 goals in 92 appearances convinced Serie A side Udinese to secure his services in 2001. He played 25 times for them in his first season before moving on to enjoy a two-year spell at Reggina where he made 62 appearances. In 2004, he moved back to Udinese where he scored 18 goals in 53 games and gained valuable Champions League experience. In 2006, he was transferred to Palermo where he instantly marked his arrival by scoring two goals on his debut against Parma. He played a total of 48 games for the Sicilian club scoring 16 goals, including one in a UEFA Cup first-round tie against West Ham United.
The summer of 2007 saw Di Michele join Torino where he scored six times in 24 appearances for the Turin-based club. He was much in demand by the time the 2008/09 season rolled around but it was West Ham United who managed to secure his services.
With the departure of Hammers manager Alan Curbishley, caretaker manager Kevin Keen gave the Italian his debut in the 3-2 defeat at The Hawthorns to West Bromwich Albion on 13 September 2008, coming on as a substitute for the injured Dean Ashton. In his second game on 20 September 2008, he scored his first goals in English football in the 3-1 home win against Newcastle United.
Unable to win over the Upton Park faithful with often inept displays convinced manager Gianfranco Zola not take up the option of making the deal permanent and later joined U.S. Lecce, A.C. ChievoVerona and in 2013 re-joined his former club Reggina and ended his career with Lupa Roma in 2016.