Iwobi Opens up on how his Hairstyle, Fashion and Music have Actually Helped Him
Alex Iwobi is talking about the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairstyle has helped his football in what he views as his finest start to a Premier League season up until now.
‘Yeah, that really plays a part (in revealing myself),’ the Fulham midfielder says.
‘My papa’s in your house and he’s most likely heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got tired and didn’t wish to suffice off so I thought let’s do something different that nobody else has. I literally told the hairdresser to ‘express yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the minute but I like it. My papa’s accepted it now so I’m simple.’
It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal launching under Arsene Wenger in 2015.
Iwobi firmly insists that he’s always had the state of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football but has only expressed himself more over the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing songs and releasing his charitable foundation, Project 17.
‘It’s always been my hobby to do music, charity work and things in fashion. But it’s just just recently that I’ve been expressing myself a lot more, to show individuals that I am not simply a footballer. There is more to life, he states.
Alexi Iwobi has made his finest start to a Premier League season with 5 objectives in 15 matches
The 28-year-old states his multi-coloured braids have contributed to his on-pitch improvement
It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired teen who made his debut under Arsene Wenger
This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work cut out as Fulham handle league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and on Sunday, he will be back in London feeding 100 for Christmas as part of Project 17.
For one day, there will be an AleXpress in Canning Town, his hometown, where everything will be complimentary in a local grocery store.
‘You understand what Liverpool resemble – it’s going to be an extreme video game however whether I get constrain or have no hamstrings, I will exist on Sunday,’ Iwobi stresses.
‘In your house I was raised in, my daddy naturally just returned. To people in Nigeria, to his family and even individuals in the street – he would simply buy bottles of water and offer them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and daddy are has motivated me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I am in, I feel like it’s just ideal with the impact I have that I return also.’
Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi believes is the trick to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has actually already scored more goals than in any other season, with five in the league for a Fulham side that is simply 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.
‘As a youngster you want to do your best to impress the manager and desire everybody to know you are fully concentrated on football. But it (flexibility) includes age, being complimentary and not being pressed about unfavorable remarks. If it’s useful, you do not mind the criticism,’ he states.
‘You need to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they’re confident and with me, feeling confident to reveal myself on and off the pitch, I practically feel unstoppable. And when you have individuals that back you, it actually plays a part.’
Among those people that backs him is Marco Silva, who signed Iwobi for ₤ 35M at Everton from Arsenal in 2019, and didn’t hesitate when he had the opportunity to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace against Brighton recently, Silva said it was Iwobi’s ‘best season in the Premier League so far’ and he agrees.
The 28-year-old will feed 100 households on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17
Iwobi firmly insists that he’s constantly had the state of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football
Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut song ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’
‘I have been associated with a lot of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You could state it’s my finest start to the season – I just have to keep it going and ensure it’s my finest season. That’s the aim’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for offering him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s nice to have a supervisor who provides you the self-confidence to do that,’ he states.
Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his launching tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is referred to as a celebration of his African roots with a mix of Afro-Swing combined with Rap”.
It’s also a tune that Silva’s enjoying in the dressing room, with Fulham making their finest start to a top-flight season because 2003-04.
‘I do not get it on in the dressing space however when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t assist himself, Iwobi exposes.
‘He is tapping the manager to listen to the tune. The very first time he (Silva) heard ‘What’s Luv?’ he was simply vibing like, ‘is this Alex?’ and Calvin resembled ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He said it wasn’t bad. I understand the very first time he didn’t understand what was said but he took pleasure in the beat. So it’s a win-win.
‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having good feedback from the group – even individuals who don’t speak English as their mother tongue like the Brazilians, they’re vibing as well,’ adds Iwobi.
Silva’s plan at Everton was to develop around the midfielder but he was sacked 4 months after signing Iwobi. Then Carlo Ancelotti played him out of position while Rafa Benitez barely played him at all.
Iwobi would take a trip across the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in camouflage to enjoy his football once again. Now that pleasure has actually been discovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.
‘Everyone’s mindset is one for all and all for one so that’s certainly helping us this season. We’ve been having group meals and bonding which’s brought a lot of togetherness, states Iwobi.
Marco Silva first signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later on in 2023
Iwobi will have his work eliminated as Fulham handle league leaders Liverpool at Anfield
‘Even when Sander (Berge) and Joa (Andersen) signed, they took us out to eat. We arranged a journey to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), returned then went again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We feel like we’re ready to fly and we can do anything together.’
Another team meal is arranged for midweek ahead of a run of 3 video games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wants to take us out. That’s another little free food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s actually nice. It resembles one big family.’
But first, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having actually taken points from Arsenal recently and narrowly losing at Man City in October in a game where Pep Guardiola had plenty of credit for Fulham.
‘It shows we have the ability to compete with anyone. We are not scared. Hopefully it will be the same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get a result,’ Iwobi firmly insists.
Get something at Anfield and Arne Slot’s league-leaders may well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing room.
FulhamAlex Iwobi
EN 
FR