Vladimír Labant (born 8 June 1974) is a Slovak former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He represented the Slovakia national team. Club career Labant was a much sought after left-back after a successful spell with Czech club Slavia Prague. He joined rivals Sparta Prague in 1999 and was touted around Europe to several teams including PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands. He eventually moved to West Ham United for a fee just under £1 million in January 2002. He made his debut when he came on as a substitute in an FA Cup tie against Chelsea. His cross led to West Ham's equaliser from Freddie Kanoute. He ended the 2001-02 season with 14 first team appearances for West Ham. The following season he was shunned even as the club fell into a relegation battle. Having made just one appearance for West Ham in the 2002-03 season thus far, in a 4–0 loss at Newcastle United, he rejoined Sparta Prague on loan in December 2002, and eventually re-signed with them permanently the following summer. Labant finished his playing career with Spartak Trnava in the Slovak Corgoň Liga. International career Labant made 27 appearances for the senior Slovakia national team. He made his debut against Romania in a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier on 27 March 1999, a match in which he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Labant's final cap came against Austria on 31 March 2004. Honours Slavia Prague Czech Cup: 1998–99 Sparta Prague Czech First League: 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03 Individual Slovak Footballer of the Year: 1999 References 1974 births Living people People from Čadca Slovak footballers Association football defenders Slovakia international footballers Slovak Super Liga players Czech First League players Premier League players Austrian Football Bundesliga players MŠK Žilina players FK Dukla Banská Bystrica players FC VSS Košice players SK Slavia Prague players AC Sparta Prague players West Ham United F.C. players FC Admira Wacker Mödling players SK Rapid Wien players FC Spartak Trnava players Slovak expatriate footballers Slovak expatriate sportspeople in the Czech Republic Expatriate footballers in the Czech Republic Slovak expatriate sportspeople in England Expatriate footballers in England Slovak expatriate sportspeople in Austria Expatriate footballers in Austria