Iwobi Open on how his Hairstyle, Fashion and Music have Helped Him Alex Iwobi is discussing the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairstyle has actually helped his football in what he sees as his finest start to a Premier League season so far. ‘Yeah, that in fact plays a part (in revealing myself),’ the Fulham midfielder states. ‘My dad’s in your home and he’s probably heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got bored and didn’t wish to suffice off so I thought let’s do something various that no one else has. I literally informed the hairdresser to ‘express yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild since it’s red and purple at the minute but I like it. My father’s accepted it now so I’m easy.’ It’s a stark contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal launching under Arsene Wenger in 2015. Iwobi insists that he’s always had the frame of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football but has only revealed himself more over the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching singles and releasing his charitable structure, Project 17. ‘It’s always been my pastime to do music, charity work and things in fashion. But it’s just recently that I’ve been revealing myself a lot more, to reveal people that I am not simply a footballer. There is more to life, he says. Alexi Iwobi has made his best start to a Premier League season with five goals in 15 matches The 28-year-old states his multi-coloured braids have added to his on-pitch enhancement It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired teen who made his launching under Arsene Wenger This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work cut out as Fulham take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and on Sunday, he will be back in London feeding 100 households for Christmas as part of Project 17. For one day, there will be an AleXpress in Canning Town, his hometown, where whatever will be complimentary in a local supermarket. ‘You understand what are like – it’s going to be an intense video game but whether I get cramp or have no hamstrings, I will be there on Sunday,’ Iwobi stresses. ‘In your home I was raised in, my father naturally just returned. To individuals in Nigeria, to his household and even individuals in the street – he would just buy bottles of water and provide to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and father are has actually influenced me to provide to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I remain in, I seem like it’s just best with the influence I have that I offer back as well.’ Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi believes is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has already scored more goals than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is simply 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest. ‘As a child you want to do your best to impress the supervisor and desire everybody to know you are fully concentrated on football. But it (liberty) features age, being totally free and not being pushed about negative remarks. If it’s useful, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he says. ‘You have to be strong mentally. Players do well when they’re positive and with me, feeling positive to reveal myself on and off the pitch, I almost feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it actually plays a part.’ Among those individuals that backs him is Marco Silva, who signed Iwobi for ₤ 35M at Everton from Arsenal in 2019, and didn’t think twice when he had the chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace against Brighton recently, Silva stated it was Iwobi’s ‘best season in the Premier League so far’ and he agrees. The 28-year-old will feed 100 families on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17 Iwobi insists that he’s always 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 launching tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ ‘I have been involved in a great deal of goals, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You could state it’s my finest start to the season – I just need to keep it going and make certain it’s my best season. That’s the objective’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s great to have a manager who gives you the self-confidence to do that,’ he says. Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut song ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is explained as a celebration of his African roots with a blend of Afro-Swing blended with Rap”. It’s also a tune that Silva’s enjoying in the dressing space, with Fulham making their best start to a top-flight season given that 2003-04. ‘I don’t get it on in the dressing room but when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t help himself, Iwobi reveals. ‘He is tapping the manager to listen to the tune. The very first time he (Silva) heard ‘What’s Luv?’ he was just vibing like, ‘is this Alex?’ and Calvin was like ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He said it wasn’t bad. I know the very first time he didn’t comprehend what was stated however he delighted in the beat. So it’s a win-win. ‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having good feedback from the group – even the people who do not speak English as their mother tongue like the Brazilians, they’re vibing too,’ adds Iwobi. Silva’s strategy at Everton was to build around the midfielder however he was sacked four months after signing Iwobi. Then Carlo Ancelotti played him out of position while Rafa Benitez barely played him at all. Iwobi would travel across the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in disguise to enjoy his football once again. Now that pleasure has actually been discovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015. ‘Everyone’s frame of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s certainly assisting us this season. We’ve been having team 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 in 2023 Iwobi will have his work cut out as Fulham handle league leaders Liverpool at Anfield ‘Even when Sander (Berge) and Joa (Andersen) signed, they took us out to consume. We arranged a trip to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), returned then went again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We seem like we’re all set to fly and we can do anything together.’ Another team meal is organised for midweek ahead of a run of 3 video games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer desires to take us out. That’s another little complimentary food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s actually great. It’s like one big household.’ But first, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having actually taken points from Arsenal recently and directly losing at Man City in October in a game where Pep Guardiola was full of credit for Fulham. ‘It reveals we have the ability to contend with anyone. We are not scared. Hopefully it will be the very same against Liverpool. We are going there to get a result,’ Iwobi firmly insists. Get something at Anfield and Arne Slot’s league-leaders might well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing room. FulhamAlex Iwobi