Football
Iwobi Snubs Wenger, Ancelotti, And Silva, Names Lampard as Most Influential Manager In His Career
Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi credits ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard for his career development. Now playing for Fulham, he aims to break Premier League appearance records and help the team secure European qualification.
Fulham FC v Everton FC - Premier League by Visionhaus | Getty Images
Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed that former Chelsea and Everton manager Frank Lampard has had the greatest influence on his career.
The Nigeria international came through Arsenal’s academy, making his Premier League debut in 2015 under Arsène Wenger. He later played under Wenger’s successor Unai Emery before moving to Everton in 2019 for around £28m.
Time at Everton
During four years at Goodison Park, Iwobi worked with Marco Silva, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benítez, Sean Dyche and Lampard.
Iwobi is now reunited with Silva at Fulham, where he has become a key figure in midfield.
Reflecting on his career, he singled out Lampard for the confidence the former England midfielder gave him.
"For me, Frank Lampard has the biggest influence on my career," Iwobi told SportsBoom.com.
"When I was at Everton and going through a difficult stage, he gave me the confidence to showcase my talent once again and I'll forever be grateful for the belief he gave me."
Approaching Premier League record
The 28-year-old made his Premier League debut on 31 October 2015 when he came on for German World Cup winner Mesut Özil. He has since made 277 appearances in the English top flight.
He has surpassed former Arsenal, Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion striker Nwankwo Kanu, and former Newcastle United forward Shola Ameobi. With 293 appearances, Ameobi is the only one separating Iwobi from the record.
"For me as a player, I don't look at statistics," he added.
"I'll say it's an honour to have represented three big teams in the Premier League and I'm grateful to every manager who has given me the opportunity to play in the Premier League.
"I'm grateful to be in the conversation, like Shola Ameobi, that's a legend. But it's a journey and I hope I can play more games and hopefully I can surpass the record."
Ambitions with Fulham
Iwobi has established himself as an important part of Marco Silva’s Fulham side, helping provide stability in the Premier League.
Looking ahead, the midfielder says the club is now targeting European qualification.
"We were good last season, and hopefully we can be better, especially with the new lads coming in as new additions. We have the quality for Europe, so hopefully we can achieve that this season." He concluded.
Seyi Alao is a Nigerian sports reporter, writer, and producer, known for delivering engaging sports content in both English and Pidgin. At Brila FM, I transitioned seamlessly into the role of Content Creator, demonstrating a deep understanding of media dynamics and effectively crafting captivating and informative narratives.