Alex Iwobi credits Frank Lampard with Everton success – Sporting Life
Until recently, Alex Iwobi never knew where he really belonged at Everton.
The versatility, signed from Arsenal for £28million in the summer of 2019, proved both a blessing and a curse for the Nigeria international as several Everton managers tried him in wide-ranging positions, many of which were ill-fits.
At various times during his three-year tenure at Goodison Park, Iwobi was given roles as a winger, number 10, midfielder and right-back.
Such was the former Arsenal intern’s position conundrum that Carlo Ancelotti – Iwobi’s manager on Merseyside from December 2019 to June 2021 – publicly challenged the player to name a preferred role after a cryptic social media post last year.
So where does Iwobi currently see his ideal platform?
“Right now I would say it’s like an 8th or 10th position,” he reveals. “But I can’t say that [because] I don’t know where I’m going to play. Wherever I am supposed to play, I try my best.
“Of course, when I broke through at Arsenal there were a lot of midfielders, so I tried different positions – one on the outside, one in front.
Iwobi put in an impressive performance against Chelsea in last week’s game (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“But I’ve always felt most comfortable in midfield.”
That it settled in the central berth under recent boss Frank Lampard was mutually beneficial for the Toffees and Iwobi, illustrated by his impressive performance in the opening day Premier League defeat by Chelsea last week.
But his renaissance began last season amid a turbulent period, after returning from a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations and discovering his fourth club manager in three years.
Those frustrations were cast in impressive form under Lampard, with Iwobi making numerous invaluable contributions as Everton successfully struggled to maintain their top-flight status.
As well as scoring the winner in the 98th minute in the decisive 1-0 win over Newcastle in March, he also topped the distance running rankings by 11.5km in April’s grueling win over Manchester United.
No wonder, then, that Iwobi fell to his knees after the final whistle of that game, providing one of the lasting images of his team’s eventual winning finish.
“My friends watched and said, ‘We didn’t know you could run like that!’ But I always had it in me,” he says.
Everton FC vs Chelsea FC – Premier League
Iwobi put in an impressive performance against Chelsea in last week’s game (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“I only remember that relief because it was a tough game. Man United are always a tough game and to win that 1-0 win was just wow. I was shattered after this game.
“You only feel that when the final whistle sounds, and you can actually relax.”
Relaxation has become much easier for Iwobi since Lampard instilled fresh perspective after being appointed to replace Rafael Benitez at Everton in late January.
A highly decorated box-to-box midfielder for Chelsea and England, Lampard has taken a hands-on approach in the 26-year-old’s development that has removed all previous strains.
Lampard has proven to be the right manager for the winger (Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
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After the action-packed performance against Manchester United, Lampard described Iwobi as a player “people can see I can count on”.
“We changed his position and he offered so much,” he said.
Acknowledging the role the manager played in his renaissance, Iwobi adds, “He just gave me the belief to express myself no matter what position I was asked to play.
“I mean, I can get into training and I don’t know where I’m going to train. It could be anywhere.
“But he always talks to me and he knows I have the skills to play anywhere.”