Home Under the Hammers (Amber Tysiak)

West Ham defender Amber Tysiak talks through a whirlwind summer that took in Italy, Prague and an imminent pre-season trip to Australia, reflecting on the Italian, Polish and Belgian heritage that makes up her identity. The Belgium international discusses her rapid adaptation since joining from Genk in January 2023, the influence of manager Rehanne Skinner in professionalising her game, and the challenge of settling into English life and language while living with teammates Jess Ziu and Shelina Zadorsky. She recalls combining international duty with a full-time teaching job in Belgium, the harsh red card she received on her EURO 2022 debut against France, and how far she feels she has come from a semi-professional background to life as a professional player in London.