Michail Antonio lands new role eight months after cheating death in nightmare car crash

Michail Antonio has landed a new job after leaving West Ham following the expiry of his contract. The veteran striker was not offered a new deal by the Hammers and is now a free agent. Eight months ago, he was involved in a frightening car crash which nearly took his life and rendered him unable to walk for months.

Antonio lost control of his Ferrari while driving back from training in stormy conditions back in December. He was airlifted to hospital, where it was discovered that his femur was broken in four places. The forward returned to the football pitch in June, coming off the bench for Jamaica in their narrow defeat to Guatemala.

West Ham delayed their decision on Antonio's contract following his car accident, with the club pledging to support him in his recovery process. They ultimately decided not to extend his stay at the London Stadium, leaving him to search for a new job.

Antonio has since landed a new role with TNT Sports, joining their punditry line-up for the new Premier League season. He will be flanked by Gareth Bale, Fara Williams, ex-Scotland ace Jen Beattie and Bristol City first-team coach Anita Asante.

Despite moving into a broadcast role, Antonio is still hoping to revive his football career at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Speaking earlier this week, he told talkSPORT: "I'm speaking to clubs right now to see where the best offer is for me to go, and we'll just see how it goes.

"To be honest, there's a mixture. We're talking to clubs here, we're talking to clubs abroad, but I'm going to leave it very vague, talking to clubs in England and abroad."

Antonio revealed that he wanted to play somewhere that would give him the best chance of playing in the next World Cup. Jamaica have not qualified since 1998 but have appointed Steve McLaren with the aim of reaching next year's tournament.

"Indeed, 100 per cent," he said when asked about representing the Reggae Boyz on the biggest stage. "That's one thing I've not managed to achieve for myself, to be playing in the World Cup, and Jamaica are very close to it.

"It's not just that, I just wouldn't want my career to come to an end by a car crash, literally. So I've got something to prove to show that I can come back, I can come back and play well, which I was doing for the last ten years.

"Even before the car crash I was starting for West Ham, so it shows that I've still got the ability about me and I can do it again."

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