Michail Gregory Antonio is a professional football player who plays striker for Premier League club West Ham United. Antonio currently represents the Jamaica International team.
Education
Born and raised in the South London Borough of Wandsworth, on the 28th March 1990, he is a former student of Southfields Academy, which is near where he lived in his early days.
Michail Antonio doesn’t have fond memories of his secondary school experiences when reflecting on it, he had this to say to guardian.com:
“When I was younger, from primary school to 14, you just needed to call me a dickhead and I’d have a fight with you. A physical fight. I don’t know why.”
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/05/michail-antonio-west-ham-united-fa-cup-gang-culture
Youth Career
At 12, he joined Tooting and Mitcham United Juniors, a semi-professional football academy based in the London Borough of Merton.
Antonio played with the club for six seasons throughout his youth career. In the 2007/08 season, he scored four goals in four appearances after breaking into the first team.
He was highly determined to make his dream come true of becoming a professional football player.
Professional Career
Antonio’s professional career took off when he signed for Reading F.C in 2008, where he made 28 appearances and scored only one goal.
However, during his Reading days, he took five loan spells at Tooting and Mitcham United (2009), Cheltenham Town (2009), Southampton (2009-10), Colchester United (2011), and Sheffield Wednesday (2012). He managed to score 16 goals in 99 games.
Sheffield Wednesday picked him that same year for a two-year deal. He scored 12 goals in 64 appearances (2012-14).
In the (2014-15) season, he signed for Nottingham Forest, making 50 appearances and scoring 16 goals.
West Ham
In 2015 he signed for West Ham United and, he is still playing there. He has made 167 appearances and scored 52 goals for the Hammers.
This season he is currently the highest goal scorer for West Ham and, he is sitting in fourth place behind Mohamed Salah and Jamie Vardy for top goal scorer with only 12 matches played.
Strengths
One of Antonio’s strengths is his versatility. When it comes to filling different positions, few can rival the 26-year-old.During his time with West Ham, he has played on the wing and upfront.
Another one of his strengths is his finishing. An example of amazing finishing by Antonio is against Leeds, where he was coolness personified as he galloped onto a ball from Declan Rice before getting the better of Leeds midfielder Jamie Shackleton and stroking the ball into the bottom corner with ease.
West Ham fan Alex Smith believes his strengths are “Hold up play, he is strong so he could hold defenders of that allows him to play up front on his own.”
West Ham fan Finlay Jackson believes his strengths are “His physical attributes and hold up play when he runs with the ball he went on a mazy run as he has good close control.”
West Ham fan and Football coach at Forest Hill School Kris Hollidge feels his strengths are “Holds ball up well, strong presence which occupies defenders for other runners to play off. Good in the air and a good finisher when given time.”
Weaknesses
One of his weaknesses is his lack of discipline. Antonio got sent off in the Hammers 0-0 draw with Southampton. The in-form striker had an off day before he got sent off.
Another weakness is his selfishness. Michail Antonio was selfish in the Hammers 2-4 away win against Newcastle. During the game, Antonio failed to find fellow forward Jarrod Bowen who was in a goal scoring position.
Speaking during Sky Sports live broadcast of the match, Hinchcliffe said:
“He’s slightly selfish there Michail Antonio, it is a good turn but Jarrod Bowen had made an excellent forward run ahead of him.”
“At times that will have to happen when Antonio drops deep, the attacking midfielders have to make runs beyond him and really Antonio should have played Bowen in.”
West Ham fan Alex Smith believes his “Weaknesses are finishing and composure because sometimes when he has a lot of time and goes through on goal he will sometimes overthink.”
West Ham fan Finlay Jackson feels his weakness is “Composure because he is always in positions but can sky a shot.”
Michail Antonio Individual Honours
-Nottingham Forest Player of the Year:2014-15
-West Ham United player of the season: 2016-17
-West Ham player of the month :July 2020
-West Ham player of the month: August 2021
Moyes Has Belief In Antonio
David Moyes felt hopeful when speaking to teamtalk.com about whether Antonio can hit 15 goals this season after his goal gave the Hammers a 1-0 victory over Spurs:
“Well, I hope he does because we need our forwards to come up with goals…. But all credit to Mich today getting another goal being Johnny on the Spot is a great thing.”
Interesting Facts
-He turned down an offer from Tottenham before signing for Tooting & Mitcham
-Michail Antonio is a family man
-He loves video games. Antonio plays FIFA and enjoys scoring against his friends
-He is a fan of the Simpsons and did a Simpson celebration after scoring the winner for West Ham against Sunderland in 2016
-Antonio is interested in Basketball and met one of the tallest NBA players ever Gheorghe Muresan
