Born in 1948 in Barking, he joined the Hammers in 1965 and spent his whole football career with the club, making more than 600 appearances and scoring over 100 goals.
He was an FA Cup winner twice, scoring the only goal of the 1980 final against Arsenal with a rare header.
Brooking made his debut for England in 1974, was capped 47 times and went to the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
He joined BBC Radio and Television two years later and has been a regular on Match of the Day and a host on BBC Five Live.
Brooking was part of the BBC's coverage of Euro 96 and Euro 2000, as well as the 1998 World Cup finals in France.
He was awarded the MBE in 1981 and, shortly afterwards, had a road named after him by a local council.