MARKO ARNAUTOVIC has explained how he chose football over jail - to become a poacher of goals rather than a robber of homes.

West Ham's £20million record buy says he "didn't give a f***" as clubs threw him out during a troubled childhood beset with gangs in a tough suburb of Vienna.

6 Marko Arnautovic has struggled early in his West Ham career - but that is nothing compared to to his traumatic childhood Credit: Reuters

The Austria forward took to street-fighting and saw friends end up in prison after they turned to stealing and burgling.

But the former Stoke star told the Daily Mail how he finally calmed down when he realised his angry young lifestyle threatened his footballing dream.

Arnautovic, 28, who had five clubs between the ages of six and 16, said: "I didn't give a f*** about what I did.

"I didn't care about anyone or listen to nobody, only my father or mother.

6 Marko Arnautovic is hoping to turn his fortunes around at West Ham, just like he revived his career as a teenager Credit: Getty - Contributor

6 Former Stoke favourite Marko Arnautovic says childhood friends ended up in jail Credit: Rex Features

"I would fight my coaches and say: 'Who are you to scream or shout at me? Are you my dad? Talk to me normally'.

"Everywhere I went, Rapid Vienna or Austria Vienna, there was always a problem. I just wanted a coach who said: 'Just go out and win us the game'."

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Arnautovic, who has a Serbian dad and an Austrian mum, revealed his youthful life away from football clubs was just as fiery and far more dangerous.

He said: "My parents tried but I chose the other way, to be on the street.

"I wasn't a gangster or anything but two friends went to jail.

"Nobody was killed but it was fights on the street and things.

6 Robbing and fighting was all around Marko Arnautovic as a child in Vienna Credit: Getty - Contributor

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"When you are on the street, if someone walks towards you it's better to look down.

"But we were always looking at people in the eye to try to provoke something. So we would fight.

"Then some of them started robbing. I was telling my friends: 'Don't go in that house to rob or that shop as you will end up in jail'.

"I told them to go and work and have a good life."

But the ex-Twente and Werder Bremen powerhouse admitted he had to change his life to save his career.

6 Marko Arnautovic helps Toni Martinez celebrate - and knows he must improve further with West Ham Credit: Reuters

He said: "Let's not exaggerate, most of the time we were just in the park playing football. Football was everything.

"If I had continued to be that person I was then, I wouldn't be here now.

"I was scared a career in football would never happen if I carried on.

"I knew I had to go away and see some different things and calm down."

6 Marko Arnautovic admits he had no respect for coaches as a youngster Credit: PA:Press Association

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