Teddy Sheringham played at the very highest level for both clubs and country during a long and varied career.
And the former striker, now 57, believes the Hammers - for whom he featured between 2004 and 2007 - are ready to win lift their first European trophy since 1965 when they face Fiorentina in Prague next Wednesday evening.However it won't be an easy watch for Hammers fans, according to Sheringham - who predicts the game will go into extra time and beyond.
"West Ham have been unbelievable and I’m delighted for them," Sheringham told Betway. "It’s been tough for them in the league this season, but I think it was the right decision to stick with David Moyes. I’d love to see them win it.
"[My prediction is for] a tough 1-1 and I think it might even go to penalties. I’ll say West Ham to win on penalties."
And one of the key players Sheringham believes can help West Ham break their 57-year hoodoo is current Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta.
"He’ll be invaluable," he insisted. "It can take a little while for foreign players to come in and adjust to the Premier League, but there’s a top player in there. It seems like he’s adjusted in time for the end-of-season push."
And if West Ham were to go on and win the Conference League Final in Prague's Eden Arena, Sheringham believes the club are well positioned to combine a third successive season in Europe alongside their domestic obligations - while maintaining that last season's 14th-place finish was just a blip.
"Every team in Europe will need a bigger squad to deal with the extra games," he said. "Every manager understands how difficult it is to get regular consistent performances out of players when they’re playing and travelling so regularly.
"When you’re playing in Europe, you’ve always got your eye on the next big game coming. It can be easy to take your eye off the smaller games in the league. That’s where a good manager can keep things fresh to stop that happening."
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