Mark Noble has been named as West Ham's new captain after Kevin Nolan parted ways with the east London club by mutual consent, reports the London Evening Standard.
The 28-year-old midfielder is delighted to have been handed the honour by boss Slaven Bilic and believes that his close roots to the club have made the moment even more special.
"When you are at a massive Barclays Premier League club like West Ham United playing in the best league in the world, to be captain and be brought up in the same area is something very special for me, for my family and the fans because they can relate to it," he told the club's official website.
Although Nolan's stature in the side diminished during the latter stages of his reign with the armband, Noble is adamant that he has learned from the veteran's leadership in the dressing room.
"I have stood in for Kevin Nolan in the past and, in my eyes, he has been a top captain for this club. He has brought the dressing room together and done all the stuff on the inside that nobody sees.
"I've watched Kev and how he dealt with things and I've learned a lot from him and hopefully I can be as good a captain as he was.
"I think it helps that I have been at the club for a long time and I know everyone and how it all works, and the experience I have had playing for West Ham in the Premier League, and I am looking forward to being the buffer between the players and the manager."