Alex Iwobi has always been one of Nigerian football’s most colourful characters, and after years of being a lightning rod for criticism, the Fulham midfielder has found a moment in his career where everything is working at the same time, Footynaija.com reports.
Not so long ago, things looked very different. After Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON final defeat to Ivory Coast, the abuse directed at Iwobi was so severe that he wiped over a hundred posts from his Instagram and went into a period of quiet.
He was one of the most talented players in the squad and one of the most hated by a section of fans who could not forgive him for games that had long passed.
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Then Eric Chelle came in as Super Eagles head coach in January 2025, gave him the freedom to play his natural game, and the transformation was swift. Iwobi was one of the best players at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, registering two assists in four games while driving Nigeria to a third-place finish with a playing style that matched the praise his club performances at Fulham had been attracting for years.
Off the pitch, Iwobi has become just as watchable. He launched a YouTube channel during the AFCON that gave fans an inside look at life in the Nigeria camp, which proved so popular that it took on a life of its own.
He has kept it running since, and it turns out his managers have been some of his most enthusiastic viewers.
Chelle and Silva’s reaction
Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Iwobi pulled back the curtain on the relationships he has built with both Chelle and Fulham manager Marco Silva, and the picture he paints is one of two coaches who have simply let him be himself.
“With the music, my current manager Marco Silva, he doesn’t mind at all. There have been times in the gym where he’s bopping to my music,” Iwobi said.
“For the Snapchat videos, he mentioned as long as it’s not anything major or negative, he doesn’t mind as long as it’s positive.”
On Chelle, the midfielder was just as warm.
“Even my Nigerian manager likes to get involved. He wants to be recorded. He’s been dancing on my YouTube. He likes it.”
Iwobi also talked about the boundary.
“I’ve never had an issue with any manager as long as I’m performing on the pitch. I can be me,” he added.
Iwobi also addressed the habit that has raised eyebrows at previous clubs.
“Everyone knows I like to play football outside of football because I like to play with my friends. Every manager questions that, but I never get injured, so I enjoy it,” he said.
