From EPL outcast to European champ: The fairytale story of West Ham star Jarrod Bowen

West Ham United and England star Jarrod Bowen reached the pinnacle of his footballing career in June 2023, scoring the game-winning goal in the UEFA Conference League Final.

His 90th-minute winner against Fiorentina was an unforgettable moment for him and West Ham fans alike, ending the club's 43-year wait for a trophy.

A year before his heroics in Prague, Bowen came off the bench for England against Germany after an incredible previous season for 'The Hammers.'

Bowen was unfortunate to miss the cut for the World Cup squad last year, but like he has at every other setback, Bowen has continued to progress and work even harder.

Unlike many Premier League stars, Bowen has risen to stardom the hard way, playing no academy football and being rejected by Aston Villa and Cardiff City.

From the depths of non-league football to scoring the winning goal in a European final, let's delve into the fascinating career of Jarrod Bowen.

In the midst of a relegation battle, and Hereford United seamlessly on the demise, boss Peter Beadle would call upon a 17-year-old Bowen to try and save the club with eight games remaining.

Picture – Instagram @Jarrodbowen

Bowen's talent gave hope to the more experienced players in the Hereford ranks, scoring one goal in his eight games and helping Hereford stay up in the Conference League.

Picture – Instagram @Jarrodbowen

According to skysports.com, former Hereford captain Luke Graham said: "Watching a group of men fighting for their lives, coming together despite not being paid, he has seen all that. He has seen aspects of football that other young lads have not been exposed to."

After Hereford was expelled from the Football Conference following a failure to pay their bills, Bowen signed for Premier League club Hull City after impressing former Head of Academy Tony Pennock.

According to theathletic.com, Pennock said: "I convinced Jarrod and his dad to come up to Hull and visit. I'd got Steve Bruce, the manager at the time, to meet him, which was the week of the FA Cup final."

Bowen would have to wait two years before he could make his first team debut for Hull City, playing against Exeter City in EFL Cup after impressing in a preseason game against Benfica.

After his debut in the EFL Cup, the rest was history. During six years at Hull, Bowen scored 54 goals in 131 games, including his best season under Nigel Adkins in 2018-19, bagging 22 goals in 46 league appearances.

Bowen's incredible season in 2018-2019 earned him EFL Team of the Season honors and a move to Premier League West Ham United in January 2020 for an initial £18m.

Since joining the London club, Bowen has become a mainstay in the team. He scored eight goals in 40 appearances in his first season before amassing 18 goals and 13 assists in 51 games across all competitions in the 2021-22 season.

While this season hasn't been the greatest for the West Ham in terms of domestic form, Bowen has been integral in their European success, providing five goals and three assists, including THAT goal in Prague, winning his first major trophy.