West Ham forward Viviane Asseyi relies on family critique and childhood ambition as she approaches a club appearance record in the Women’s Super League.
Viviane Asseyi Reflects on West Ham Defeat and Family Rituals
Following a 3-0 defeat against Brighton, West Ham forward Viviane Asseyi called her mother in a familiar post-match routine. Despite the scoreline, West Ham closely matched their opponents in shots and touches inside the opposition box during the match. Asseyi noted that her mother responded with laughter rather than harsh criticism.
“She was just laughing,” Asseyi said. “She was like: ‘Oh, you were so bad!’ She was laughing, but that helped me. She knows that she can tell me anything and everything, I’m good, I’m not good. I will just keep going and working to be better.”
Viviane Asseyi, internationale française qui évolue à West Ham, a publié un documentaire dans lequel elle revient sur ses rêves d'enfant alors que le football féminin cherchait encore sa place.Soutenue par un entourage solide, guidée par l’amour et le sacrifice, elle a franchi… pic.twitter.com/pvQ9MKPEht
Zinedine Inspiration and Early Football Journey in France
Asseyi grew up in Normandy surrounded by Gabonese culture, where her parents emphasized shared Sunday meals and heritage. Her interest in football began at age four after watching France defeat Brazil in the 1998 World Cup. Inspired by Zinedine Zidane, she asked her mother for a football and insisted on getting the same ball as Zidane rather than a cheap plastic substitute.
Teachers at her school questioned her ambition to become a professional footballer because women’s football lacked visibility at the time. Her family supported her participation in local clubs in Normandy, which eventually led to her acceptance into the national football centre at Clairefontaine alongside Alphonse Areola and Raphaël Guerreiro.
Asseyi approaches club appearance record for West Ham
After stints with Rouen, Montpellier, Marseille, Bordeaux, and a two-year spell with Bayern Munich, Asseyi moved to London in 2022. She has now made 117 appearances for West Ham, placing her on track to surpass Kate Longhurst’s Women’s Super League era record of 130 appearances for the club.
Now serving as vice-captain at age 32, Asseyi helps establish team standards. West Ham has secured two wins from their opening seven matches. Asseyi pointed to consistency, mental focus, and attention to small details as areas for improvement.
Answers about Asseyi career milestones and idols
How many appearances has Viviane Asseyi made for West Ham?
Viviane Asseyi has made 117 appearances for West Ham, bringing her close to Kate Longhurst’s WSL-era club record of 130 appearances.
Which football academy did Asseyi attend as a young player in France?
Asseyi attended Clairefontaine, the national football centre in France, where she trained alongside peers including Alphonse Areola and Raphaël Guerreiro.
Which player served as Asseyi’s primary childhood idol?
Asseyi was inspired by Zinedine Zidane after watching the 1998 World Cup, and later looked up to tennis player Serena Williams while growing up.