Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Fulham FC midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has shared insights into his childhood and upbringing.
Iwobi, who began his professional career at Arsenal before moving to Everton, revealed some amusing details about his early years.
“My parents said I could run before I even started walking. They told me I’d be sitting down one moment, and the next, I’d be sprinting around the flat. They joked that I must have been on something,” he said with a laugh.
Speaking on the Fulham Fix Podcast, Iwobi described himself as a hyperactive child.
“As a kid, I was always excited—running around, slide-tackling balloons, kicking chairs, kicking anything in sight. I was just an energetic, weird child.”
He also shared a humorous story about his father’s unwavering support.
“You should see my dad at home—he’s always in a training kit or my jersey, ready to go. But sometimes, it’s embarrassing. When we go out, he wears a jersey with ‘Iwobi’ printed on the back, and I have to tell him to relax. But he’s just really proud.”
Despite his father’s deep knowledge of football—having played in Nigeria, like Iwobi’s uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha—he keeps his feedback simple.
“He doesn’t go into too much detail about my game. Nowadays, he just says ‘well done.’ Sometimes, he’ll ask why I didn’t take a shot when I had the chance, but that’s just typical dad behavior,” Iwobi concluded.
