West Ham Argentine players ranked: Where does Lanzini place?

There have been many big-name Argentines to wear the claret and blue of West Ham with mixed performances during their time at Upton Park/the London Stadium.

Carlos Tevez had a massive impact during his short spell in East London, Manuel Lanzini performed consistently during his… Years at the club while Lionel Scaloni will always be remembered for giving the ball away in the 2006 FA Cup final, then for Gerard to score and force extra-time and then penalties.

The less said about how that went for Hammers fans the better. Here is a list of all the Argentines to have played for West Ham ranked from last to first.

8. Mauricio Taricco

Definitely, a “pointless” answer for West Ham’s Argentine players if the topic ever comes up on the popular game show. Taricco signed for West Ham in 2004 and played his first game two days later against bitter rivals Millwall. However, a hamstring problem forced him off in the first half. The injury would have seen the full back out for the long term and his contract was later terminated by mutual agreement.

7. Javier Mascherano

Mascherano signed alongside Carlos Tevez, in one of the most unexpected transfers of all time in the summer of 2006. His time at West Ham was much less memorable than Tevez’s with Mascherano mostly being kept out the side by Hayden Mullins and was notably bitten by Jermaine Defoe in a tie against Spurs. Mascherano made just five appearances for West Ham before joining Liverpool in January.

6. Jonathon Calleri

Calleri signed for West Ham on loan from Deportivo Maldonado in the summer of 2016 just as the Hammers were about to embark on their first season at the London Stadium. Events did not go to plan for Calleri just like it did not for many of West Ham’s signings that window with Calleri scoring just one goal in 19 appearances, which was a heavily deflected goal in the 94th minute in a 3-1 victory over Middlesborough.

5. Lionel Scaloni

The current Argentina national team manager arrived at West Ham in 2006 on loan from Deportivo de La Coruña. He made 13 appearances for the club helping them get to the FA Cup final. Unfortunately, his volleyed clearance in injury time which should have been put into ‘row Z’ eventually fell to Steven Gerard who levelled the score at 3-3 and Liverpool eventually won on penalties.

4. Mauro Zarate

Zarate joined West Ham in 2014 and scored on his debut for the club with a superb volley against Crystal Palace. However, despite his flair, he struggled for game time under Sam Allardyce and was sent on loan to Queens Park Rangers in January. He returned to West Ham in the summer as West Ham now had Slaven Bilic at the helm. Zarate scored in their opening Premier League game of the season in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates. He scored 5 goals in 22 appearances for the Hammers before joining Fiorentina in 2016.

3. Pablo Zabaleta

Zabaleta joined West Ham after an impressive nine years at Manchester City where he became a club legend. His experience was vital for West Ham in his three seasons at the club where he played 80 times, scoring once in a victory over Gillingham at Priestfield. He left the club in the summer of 2020 and soon retired.

2. Carlos Tevez

Tevez will always be adored by West Ham fans for his goal against Manchester United which saved them from relegation in the final game of the 2006/7 season. His time with the Hammers was not all plain sailing with the forward not scoring until March when he converted his free-kick against Spurs before jumping into the crowd at Upton Park. His 7 goals in 26 appearances that season rescuing them from relegation has gone down in West Ham folklore.

West Ham’s # 1 Argentine: Manuel Lanzini

Lanzini has to be West Ham’s greatest ever Argentine with his longevity at the club, having played for them since 2015. That season he notably scored and assisted Mark Noble in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool which was West Ham’s first victory at Anfield since 1963.

He has performed consistently in his seven years at the club scoring memorable goals including that stunner against Spurs in added time to rescue a 3-3 draw. His West Ham story is not over with West Ham currently in the semi-finals of the Europa League and the player still has another year left on his contract.