Valon Behrami

Date of Birth : 19th April, 1985 Place of Birth : Serbia Signed : 23rd July 2008 Position : Midfielder Height : Weight : Appearances: 26 Goals : 2 International Appearances : 19 (2)

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express BC BBC

Hammer's Diary: When I saw Valon Behrami play his first game for West Ham my heart sank. He was all gangly and seemed to run about the pitch aimlessly. How wrong I was. He proved to be the lynchpin of our revival under Zola and displayed an absolutely awesome workrate. He’s also a tough tackler and great going forward. I’d say he was our buy of the season and I have little doubt that if he hadn’t got injured he would have won Hammer of the Year by a country mile. When he returns from injury next season he will be one of the first names on the teamsheet. The man stands a real chance of becoming a West Ham legend if he plays his cards right. I am told that within days of his injury he was at Chadwell Heath all hours of the day doing everything he could to get back to full fitness. He was there before other players arrived for training and was always the last one to leave.

BBC Sport: West Ham also saw Valon Behrami carried off with a serious-looking injury. But boss Gianfranco Zola will be delighted with the manner of their victory after outplaying City for most of the game and it provides a timely boost to their chances of qualifying for Europe next season.

Hammer's Diary: My three nominations for MOTM would be Valon Behrami, Jack Collison and Carlton Cole. In the end I would give it to Behrami, but only very narrowly and mainly because his performance was constant throughout the match. This boy has an engine on him the like of which I have rarely seen. He never gives up, personifies the word tenacious and has a bundle of skill as well. He was everywhere today.

The Guardian: Valon Behrami, the 23-year-old Kosovo-born Swiss, foraged diligently on the left, while Jack Collison, a 20-year-old Welshman making only his seventh appearance in the Premier League, never flagged and, when appropriate, showed a sense of initiative. Chelsea's all-star midfield quintet were never given a minute's peace. (Richard Williams)

Hammer's Diary: Playing Behrami as a wide player doesn’t get the best out of him. Having said that, he was again one of the best performers last night, and no one can fault him for effort and battling qualities. But from a wide player you want running down the wings and dangerous crosses. That’s not what he does.

BBC Sport: Valon Behrami's first goal for West Ham was enough to give them a much-needed victory over a below-par Sunderland. Behrami's shot took a deflection off Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones to beat stranded keeper Marton Fulop. Sunderland had penalty appeals turned down when Jones and Djibril Cisse went down in the area. Behrami should have added a second but hit the bar from five yards out, while Sunderland striker Cisse was guilty of missing a number of chances.

Sky Sports: Valon Behrami's first goal for West Ham was enough to give the Hammers their first win in eight games. The visitors took the lead against the run of play with a deflected strike by the Swiss midfielder in the 20th minute. Sunderland will be aggrieved that Hammers defender James Collins was not shown a red card for bringing down Djibril Cisse late in the first half. But the Blacks Cats only have themselves to blame for not claiming a point they richly deserved as top scorer Cisse missed a host of chances on the way to their fourth defeat in five. Victory eased the pressure on West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola and allowed the Hammers to leapfrog Sunderland into 13th place.

Hammer's Diary: Parker was absolutley awesome today. He, Noble and Behrami controlled midfield. I had assumed Behrami would play on the wide right, but he had clearly been told to tuck in next to Parker, so we had a central midfield threesome which dominated the opposition. Behrami got better as the game went on. He is slightly ungainly and awkward, yet his tenacity in chasing the ball often reaped great rewards.

The Times: West Ham United have completed the £5 million signing of Valon Behrami from Lazio. The 23-year-old Swiss international has signed a five-year contract at Upton Park after passing a medical. Behrami, who has 15 caps, can play at right back or in midfield and played in all three of his country's matches at Euro 2008. "It's my dream come true to play for West Ham and play in the Premier League," Behrami said. "At last I am able to sign. After the Euro 2008 Championships I spoke to West Ham who had expressed an interest but I had to be sure it was the right thing for everybody. (23rd July, 2008)

Hammer's Diary: Lucas Neill was his normal self. He managed to get bypassed on at least half a dozen occasions. Sadly, Vehrami was even worse. He was run ragged by the Wigan left winger and must have wondered what had hit him. If right back is his best position then … well, let’s not be too harsh, it was only his first game.