Tomoki Iwata has opened up on the personal and professional motivations behind his move from Celtic to Birmingham City, describing it as a decision made not just for his football career, but for his family.
The Japanese midfielder left Celtic on deadline day last summer, making a surprise switch to League One. On the surface, the move looked like a step down but it has turned into a revelation.
Iwata has thrived in his first season in England, netting eight goals and earning a nomination for League One’s Player of the Season award as Birmingham stormed to the title and secured promotion to the Championship.
It felt like every other week, clips of screamers from the Japanese midfielder appeared on social media timelines.
Speaking about his decision, the 28-year-old admitted his lack of game time at Celtic was wearing thin, but insisted he wasn’t unhappy.
“I wasn’t impatient, but more than that, I couldn’t help but feel the regret that I, a soccer player, wasn’t playing in the games,” Iwata told Soccer Digest Web.
“At that time, I had a very strong desire to play soccer. Seeing my wife taking care of our children in a foreign country where I was not familiar with them, cooking meals and doing housework, I couldn’t help but feel the emotion.
“Birmingham made me an offer as soon as the off-season began, and they patiently waited until August 31st, the final day for transfers.
“I thought to myself, ‘If they feel that way about me, I want to go,’ and immediately packed my bags and headed for my new home. I didn’t have any negative feelings about it being in the third division, and my biggest motivation at the time was wanting to show my family that I was working hard.
“In addition, the manager, Chris Davies, had previously been a coach at Celtic and had recently been a coach under Ange at Tottenham.
“The two managers had heard about me and offered me the position with confidence that we could work together, so I was able to go with peace of mind.”
Now preparing for life in the Championship, Iwata’s move is paying off and for the midfielder and his family, it’s a new chapter that’s already begun to flourish.
It’s likely that the Blues will be fighting up the top end of the Championship this season, with some more significant investment expected this summer.
