Thilo Kehrer is personable yet candid as he reflects on the latter stages of his time at West Ham United, until a particular question proves too delicate for an immediate response.
The 28-year-old defender has just finished eating breakfast at Monaco’s training ground. Kehrer initially joined the French side on loan from West Ham in January 2024, which was converted into a permanent deal four months later.
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The Germany international is a bright spark as he speaks to The Athletic, but adopts a sombre countenance when asked what led to his exit from the London Stadium.
“I was sad when I left West Ham and I didn’t want it to end this way,” says Kehrer. “I’m aware that things can change very quickly in a footballer’s career. I wanted to stay there longer.
“I love West Ham. The fans and I had a special bond with my team-mates. Winning the Conference League (in 2023) will stay with me forever. To achieve something like this, when you think about what the club had been through, was special. We had a few difficult moments in the league and we went through a journey that season, so to end it with a parade and see the joy on the fans’ faces was worth all those hard moments.”
Kehrer, who joined West Ham from Paris Saint-Germain in 2022 for €12million (£10.3m), posted a heartfelt video on Instagram after his permanent departure a year ago, letting fans know how much he had savoured his time at West Ham. The versatile defender fell down the pecking order behind Kurt Zouma, now on a season-long loan at Saudi Pro League club Al Orobah; Angelo Ogbonna, now at Watford; Nayef Aguerd, who is now on a season-long loan at Real Sociedad; and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Thilo Kehrer first left West Ham to join Monaco in January 2024 (Frederic Dides/AFP via Getty Images)
In the months leading up to Kehrer’s exit, he only made four substitute appearances in the Premier League. Although the German wanted to stay in east London, a discussion with former manager David Moyes hastened his decision.
“Before I left West Ham, I thanked the manager for the opportunity,” says the defender. “I appreciated our time together.
“It’s a shame things didn’t work out because I wouldn’t have left. Sometimes, these things happen, it’s life. I remember being out somewhere in London and this West Ham fan recognised me. I always wear a cap, so I was surprised he spotted me. He said: ‘Thank you for everything you’d done at West Ham. The Conference League win was one of the best days of my life. You and that team will always be in our hearts’.
“I’ve never received a compliment like that from a supporter of any of the other clubs I’ve played for. That supporter probably doesn’t remember now, but that meant a lot to me.”
Kehrer’s warm interaction with that West Ham supporter is why he tries to reciprocate that same kind of love to those less fortunate than himself. He started a foundation in 2020, which has built a youth centre in Burundi, the Central African country in which his mother was born.
Kehrer’s mother is a nurse and his German father worked as a carpenter for NGOs in Africa. Kehrer’s parents lived in Burundi, which was hit by civil war for 12 years between 1993 and 2005, and Rwanda, and his upbringing played a big role in his philanthropy today.
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“I grew up with my dad involved in healthcare projects,” says Kehrer. “I always wanted to give back and when I played in Germany and went away with the national team, we would visit hospitals, visit kids in schools and do other charity work. Whenever they’d ask me to come along, I always remembered how gracious my dad was in giving back.
“I had no excuse to say no. I developed the love for helping people and that’s when I decided to start my foundation. We started five years ago and we haven’t looked back since. I’m happy that I’m in a position to help others.”
Kehrer once again has stability on and off the pitch.
It is 16 months since the former Schalke and Paris Saint-Germain defender swapped London for Monaco. He has scored four goals in 25 league appearances for Adi Hutter’s side and Monaco are third in Ligue 1 in the hunt for automatic Champions League qualification.
Monaco have a strong young core, with forwards Mika Biereth and Folarin Balogun, both of whom are formerly of Arsenal, shining, while there are high hopes for 18-year-old midfielder George Ilenikhena.
“We have some great young talents and experienced players like myself,” he says. “I feel settled here, but my plan wasn’t to leave West Ham because I was very happy there.
“But in terms of playing time, I had no other choice because I needed to play. It’s what we as footballers train, work and play for. I didn’t have a preference of which country or league to go to. What was important was the conversations I had about the style of play and the club’s ambitions.
“That’s what attracted me to Monaco and even hearing the Champions League theme was special this season (Monaco finished 17th in the league-phase table and were then beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Benfica in the knockout-phase play-offs). It made me realise I was at the right place. We just have to keep building because the talent is here.”
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Kehrer remains in contact with former West Ham team-mates Zouma, Aguerd, Alphonse Areola, Lucas Paqueta, Emerson Palmieri and Maxwel Cornet. They are part of a group chat on WhatsApp, along with former attacker Said Benrahma. Kehrer attributes the camaraderie that developed during his spell at the London Stadium to one thing.
“It’s not always like that in football (such togetherness in a dressing room), but those guys are my brothers,” says Kehrer. “This is the environment Moyes created.
“He’s a good person and really tries his best to help people. He goes out of his way to make sure things are fine in your personal life. Not every manager is like that. Moyes knew how to get results, whether it was (against) Burnley or Manchester City. People can debate whether it’s a nice way of football or not, but look, it’s a results business and he did an amazing job at West Ham. No one can take that away from him.”
Kehrer with former West Ham manager David Moyes in 2023 (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Kehrer has no ill feelings towards Moyes over the manner of his West Ham exit. Although some sadness lingers over the Scot, now manager of Everton, not being able to guarantee the defender first-team opportunities, Kehrer still cherishes the happier times.
“For me personally, I think the reason why it didn’t work out between him and me was maybe his idea of playing as a team didn’t align with where I see my strengths,” says Kehrer. “But despite this, I still have massive respect for him.
“My best memory of the manager is after the Conference League final, he came with the team to celebrate. Tomas Soucek organised the celebrations at this private venue. We left the hotel and got into a minibus. We’re all waiting to leave and we see the manager smiling as he comes on the bus. He said: ‘I’m coming with you guys’.
“That’s why I said these are memories that will always stay with me. I still keep track of West Ham’s results. I have a soft spot for the club and I will always want the best for them.”
(Top photo: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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