Czech defender Vladimír Coufal, currently playing for German club Hoffenheim, revealed the harsh details of his departure from English club West Ham United after spending five years with them.

Koval confirmed that the termination of his contract was a sudden administrative decision that was not open to discussion. The coach informed him that the club would not be renewing his contract without providing clear reasons, describing the meeting as lasting only about thirty seconds. The player noted that this brief end to a long professional journey was a significant shock, reflecting the harshness of professional treatment in football.

Kovál expressed his deep disappointment with the way his career with the Hammers ended, stating that he had believed he would retire from football within the walls of the London club. The player mentioned that he was willing to accept any extension, even if it was just for one year with an option to extend, emphasizing that the abrupt ending was unimaginable to him. These statements reveal the player's feeling of being undervalued.

The decision's impact was not limited to Koval's professional life; it also affected his family. He pointed out that the hardest moment was informing his wife and children about the decision. The Czech defender recounted how his son, a huge West Ham fan, cried in front of him and refused to speak to him for two days because he believed his father would stay at the club forever. He expressed feeling that he no longer deserved to remain at the club his son loves after such an ending, clarifying that the decision was not in his hands.