‘From excited kid to exciting star’- Super Eagles midfielder recalls childhood memories and reveals biggest fan

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi reminisced about some of his footballing traits during his formative years, recalling that he used to “slide tackle balloons” and “kick anything in sight,” Footynaija.com reports.

Iwobi was born in Lagos but grew up in Newham, London after relocating to England at the age of four. He played for England at various youth levels before eventually switching allegiance to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in 2015.

Iwobi’s club career kicked off at Arsenal’s Hale End academy, where his rapid development saw him break into the first team at 18 years of age. He made 149 appearances and scored 15 goals before leaving the North London club in 2019.

The 28-year-old moved to Everton after leaving Arsenal, making 140 appearances in four seasons before signing for Fulham in 2023, where he has since established himself as a crucial part of Marco Silva’s setup.

In a chat with FulhamFix podcast posted on the club’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, Iwobi recalled his energetic and excited disposition as a child, revealing that he was naturally inclined towards kicking stuff. He also revealed his dad Chuba Iwobi to be his biggest fan.

“My parents said I could run before I started walking. They told me I’d sit down, and in a split second, I’d sprint around the flat and they were thinking this baby is on crack.

“When I was a kid, I was very excited, used to run around, slide tackle balloons, kick chairs, kick anything in sight, so, I was just an energetic weird child.

“You should see my dad, in the house, he’s always wearing a training kit or my jersey, always ready to go, but sometimes it’s embarrassing. If we go out, he’s wearing a jersey with the big Iwobi at the back and I tell him to chill, but he’s just proud.

“He doesn’t go into detail about my game. He knows football because he played in Nigeria, like my uncle [Jay-Jay Okocha], so he understands. Nowadays, he just says well done.

“Sometimes, he asks why I didn’t shoot on some occasions when I’ve been chanced, but that’s just being a dad I think.”