Football Daily - Ollie Watkins - The Football Interview

Episode Date: April 10, 2026

In this week’s edition of the Football Interview, Kelly Somers speaks to Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins. They discuss his journey in football going from playing on loan at Weston-super-Mare in the Conference South to sending England to the Euro 2024 final with a 90th minute winner against the Netherlands. He talks about how seeing a sports therapist, and relationships with key figures such as Unai Emery and Michael Owen have helped him along the way.2’30 - How he saw not getting into Exeter academy first time round as a blessing, 4’00 - Going out on loan and playing for Weston-super-Mare, 5’20 - How well he did when signing for Brentford, 6’20 - Toughest moment for him and how he’s dealt with it, 7’30 - His relationship with Michael Owen, 9’30 - How Unai Emery has guided him, 10’15 - Working with a sports therapist, 11’20 - The match he'd relive and getting in the World Cup squad, 13’00 - What he was like as a kid and what do people get wrong about him, 15’20 - Proudest moment.Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Sat 1500 Brentford v Everton in PL, Sat 1500 Burnley v Brighton in PL (Sports Extra), Sat 1730 Liverpool v Fulham in PL, Sun 1400 Sunderland v Tottenham in PL, Sun 1400 Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa in PL (Sports Extra), Sun 1400 Crystal Palace v Newcastle United in PL (Sports Extra 2), Sun 1630 Chelsea v Manchester City in PL.

The Football Interview on the Football Daily podcast. I'm Kelly Summers, and this season I'll be interviewing some of the biggest names in football, asking them of the questions they don't normally get asked, as I try to find out more about the person behind the player or manager. The first half will be on football the second on their life away from the game. This isn't just any interview, this is the football interview. And this week, I'm speaking to Aston Villa Forward, Ollie Watkins. Well, Ollie, let's go back to the very beginning.

to start with. I want to know where your love of football came from and the first time you can remember having a ball at your feet. It's a long time ago now. I wasn't expecting that question, to be honest. I remember, yeah, I was so young. My mum always used to say I was, as soon as I could walk, I was kicking like bouncy balls and stuff around. And then whenever I used to go out to play in the street, I'd always come back with a football. Well, just nicked another kid's football. I would just find, like, I would just find, like, footballs around and I would all, and I'd, and I just have like a collection of like different ones and then I kind of just was playing with my brothers in the street and stuff like that and then I I got to um one day my friend come around and he

was going to football practice later but I didn't have a team and he told me to come with me and then it kind of it started from there so that was your first team what can you remember of like your first little session with them it was just different to why I was just used to playing football down at the park with my friends but this is a little bit more uh it was still fun but obviously you have a little bit of coaching and stuff like that. So yeah, just playing for a team was, I found that, that fun because I'd not done that before. And then I found that I was quite good at it. So just kept going naturally. At what point did you realize, okay, I've maybe got something here that the other kids haven't got? Well, to be honest, there was a player that played in my team.

And his dad actually ran the team as well, but he was the best player. And I always just wanted to kind of get close to him and just be like him really at that age i don't think you think about it you're just playing football it's maybe when you get into academies and stuff like that then you start to think about doing it more seriously and thinking of the level you're at but at that time i think that's the fun thing about when you're young you just go on and play and there's no sort of rules you can run everywhere uh i think that's the fun bit about football at that age there's been a lot made of your journey in it not being your typical go to an academy and kind of rise through the ranks. It was Exeter.

Yeah. Picked you up first, wasn't it? Yeah. But that wasn't the easiest path straight away, was it either? No, so I went for a trial when I was nine. I didn't get in and then they told me to come back in six weeks, but I couldn't concentrate. I was always looking around and stuff like that. So coming back six weeks later, I didn't feel like I was going to improve. I needed to go back and, you know, play with my friends and just enjoy it because at that age it is very serious.

So you didn't go back six weeks later? No, no. I went back two years later. I got in the academy and then, yeah, I was there till when I left at 21, I think. I know it was a long time ago now. But at nine years old, that must have been your dream to play for your local team, to be told, no, sorry, this isn't right for you at the moment. Can you remember how that felt? Or were you able to just go and enjoy football again?

They weren't saying, oh, no, you weren't good enough. It was more the fact that I couldn't focus. Well, that's what they told me anyway. But I just kind of saw it as, I just went and played more football and just enjoyed it. And I think I kind of saw it as a little bit of a blessing because some of my friends would be like, oh, they just keep stopping and starting the sessions. And you're so young at that age, you just want to, like I say, just go out and play, have that freedom to express yourself.

And so that's why I went away and did. And yeah, I think then when I then went into it, I was kind of ready to focus more. And when you were at Exeter as well, you went on some Lone Spels too. I know Western Supermare was quite a big one, wasn't it? I feel like that was crucial in my development. One of our best friends at the time, Matt Jay, he made his debut at 16, I think. Obviously, I was very happy for him. He was my best friend, but I was so envious of that because I wanted, you want that to be you.

But me going out on loan definitely helped me because I felt like I was then, I had experienced playing men's football. I just learned to, you know, fight for free points. People had mortgages to pay and stuff like that. didn't understand that because I'd just been playing reserve team football and playing games where I could win 5-0 or lose 5-0, it doesn't matter. It's just about your development at the end of the day. So going out and playing for three points was a real learning curve for me and it definitely helped me. I learned a lot that year. You did, of course, make it Exeter and then the rest kind of

is history because that's where the rest of your journey started. But has there been a turning point along the way where if you look back you think okay all of this I wouldn't be in England international scoring that goal at Euro 24 playing in the Champions League none of this would have happened without it I think there's an element of luck I remember the day I got into the first team at Exeter Ryan Harley one of the main midfielders was ill that day so I ended up playing scoring and then I kind of stayed in the team and did well but after that I think just yeah working hard and when I made the jump to Brentford, I was kind of a little bit surprised at how well I took to it.

I expected everyone to be, yeah, I think because when you're younger, you look at players that you want to play against, you search them on YouTube or something like that, and the next thing you know, football change is so quickly, you can be playing with those players that you had watched or had, yeah, aspired to be like. So, yeah, I think just working hard and timing, everything kind of falls into place naturally, I think.

Is it quite hard to believe? in that at times though because you kind of you can control so much but you can't control your luck or can you do you think yeah i think still something i'm coming to terms of you know you can do all you can throughout the week and prepare as best as you can for a game but sometimes things are out of your control there is times where yeah you're you know it's lonely you you can't um you can't take your mates everywhere with you and your family and the people closest to you um you know you've got to work hard and do it yourself and persevere at the end of the day. And if you keep working hard, it will pay off.

What's been the toughest moment? The toughest moment for me has probably been throughout all my career, I would say this season for me. Just because I've done so well to get to where I am, getting to the Premier League, we had a bit of a dip, I scored goals, and then you set that expectation of, but I think I hit a new level and scoring goals in Europe as well, that go after the Europe.

I think there's more eyes on you then. And then this year, I haven't been at the level I wanted to. So to learn to like deal with that is hard. And look, it can always change. Like football can always change. It'll be a game where you can go out, score three goals. And then everyone talks about you. Like, oh, he's back in form, stuff like that.

But I think the, yeah, that change of not being at the level where you want to be. I think, yeah, for me this year has been difficult. But I've always got faith in my ability. I work so hard that I know that I can get back to the level that I've achieved in the previous seasons. How have you dealt with him? Yeah, it's been hard. Look, I've got a lot of good people around me. Yeah, I spoke to a lot of players that have played the game. I speak to Michael Owen quite a bit.

Do you? Yeah, just because sometimes they know how it's easy to speak to your friends and stuff when they've, they come and watch you, but they've got a biased opinion. Someone like Michael Owen who has played the game, he's hit levels that I've not achieved, but can know how I'm thinking and just see from afar and give you some advice on what to do. I think it's always nice to be in my position and be able to reach out to these people. Is that like a regular checking thing? How would that start? No, not a regular checking.

I was actually going through my followers on Instagram. It just said Michael Owen, follow back, so I followed him back. And then I messaged him and we just had a chat. And he was just saying he just feels like when I play angry and being a nuisance like that's that's when I'm at my best So just try and bring that to the table as much as possible How easy is it to just play angry and be a nuisance? No, I feel like sometimes I'm too nice like my dad would always say it to me when I was younger when I was playing he'd be like oh you need to like play angry and stuff but I couldn't just do it There'll be days where I wake up and I can just

just like you can just you have that feeling but I'm just a nice nice honest player I think there's worse things to be yeah it's not too bad no but some players like Diego Carlos always in training I feel like the South American players they're very physical and they they grow up with playing like that it was that was never my style I remember in training there would just be like it'd be day before training the balls there and Diego would be like trying to go through it. And I'm going to do, Diego, calm down.

But I think that's just the way that they're brought up and, yeah, different sort of playing style. How has you in Ayamri helped you through this? Because he's, of course, guided you to some of the best form that you've had. And what's he been like for you this season as well? Yeah, for me, he's unbelievable. He's seen me when I've obviously at my best, at my worst, but I've had all my best moments under this manager.

And I think some of the best moments of the club have come through me, You know, some of my moments, he has a lot of faith in me. And I think that's why there would be times where I haven't scored any, he'll keep picking me because he believes in me. And I think he knows that, even if I'm not bringing goals to the table, that I'll always work hard for the team and do my job. And he can rely on me. So, yeah, he's got a lot of faith in me. And like I said, I feel like I've gone up another level since he's come in.

I also read in another interview, said you've worked with a sports therapist in terms of, terms of for your mind and the mental side of the game in recent years. How's that helps? And I believe you actually did that before this season, didn't you? Is that something that's been important for a few years? Yeah, I've done it for a few years now. I think it's just good to, like I said, you have your family and friends that are close to you, but they're always going to have a biased opinion and sometimes sugarcoat things

and tell you what you want to hear. I think when it's someone outside of your close circle, it's nice to get another opinion and just not just about football, it's all around day-to-day life if you need opinion on things or some advice, someone to open up to and get things off your chest. Is that like a regular part of your routine then

along with training? Yeah, I try to. Sometimes it feels like a little bit of a chore but no, I feel like it's definitely needed. Yeah, I keep things bottled up quite a lot. So, yeah, having that is something. I mean, that is beneficial for me and has definitely helped me. Let's not just focus on the tough moments.

Before this season, it had, as you said, kind of been an assent like that. If there was one match, you could go back and relive. What would it be? I think it's got to be, we're talking with Vavilla, yeah? No, it can be England either. Any match in your career. Well, for Vila, I would have said the 7-2 game, just because it was a complete shock. I wish there was a full Vila part, though.

Yeah, yeah, of course. But obviously the Euro's goal. Yeah, that was an amazing moment. I wish I celebrated a little bit differently. Why? I said I was going to do it, but you know when you say something, but you don't truly believe it's going to happen? And then I kind of celebrated as if I was like a fan,

in shock that's just scored their first goal. I think that's what people really loved about it. Yeah, I do think people like that, that element of it. I don't know, I think I should have owned it a little bit more. It stood in the middle of the pitch. You know when Kenton and I used to score. Yeah. Yeah, we were colour.

Yeah, do something like that. It was an amazing moment, wasn't it? It was, it was. And yeah, I think that's something that I'm striving for, you know. After that, I think a lot of people notice me a lot more just through that goal. They may be like Wolves fans and they'll say to me, oh, that was an amazing moment. You've given me the best moment in, I've had in football. And that's an amazing feeling, you know, because I've been there in the, in the beer gardens, watching England before.

and when someone scores that togetherness that it brings, yeah, it's nice. So to know that I've done that to a lot of people is a nice feeling. There's another tournament that you can do it in this summer, isn't there? You can just remind people of what you can do again. There is, there is. Yeah, we've got a massive tournament in the summer. I'm doing all I can to get there. Score some more goals before the end of the season and hopefully be, yeah, in that World Cup squad.

Okay, let's try and get to know Ollie away from the pitch a little bit. What were you like growing up other than being football obsessed? What was a young Ollie like? Very energetic, probably a wind-up merchant. Are you still like that now? Not really. I feel like I'm a bit different away from football with my friends here. I'm like very focused, quite professional.

When there's time for a laugh and a joke, I do. But I'm not really a wind-up like I was back then, I think. What's your ideal day off then? How do you like to escape? There's two separate days. There's one like a nice little spa day. Where are the kids? Yeah, I'm saying a nice little spa day and then there's another day where I'm just taking the kids out and just having like a nice lunch with them. They're running around and a soft play and yeah, just get to spend quality time with them. As a fellow parent, I would not be soft play as well.

A nice soft play, a nice clean soft play, yeah. You've got two kids, right? Two kids. What are you like as a dad? I like to think I'm a good dad. I like to think I'm very present. One thing I've learned to do is just not really be on my phone a lot around them because they've grow up so quickly

and they've got such good memories and I don't want them to remember me for not listening and being on my phone and just sat there looking at social media and not anything useful over playing with them and putting time and nurturing them. Yeah, I like to think I'm present, I like to think I'm fun, and just being there to love and care for them. One thing that people get wrong about you the most? My age, they think I'm a lot younger, which is quite good, yeah, yeah, it's quite good.

Do you want to clear it up now, how old are you? I'm 30, yeah. I think people will be like, oh, he's 30. Hopefully people keep saying, oh, the young up-and-coming talent, and I get a new five-year deal or something like that. Yeah, that's what I think that's what they say about me. Yeah, they think I'm younger than I am. Best piece of advice you've ever been given. Talk to yourself as if you were someone you love

because obviously the negative self-talk and get to you and stuff but you wouldn't talk like that to your kid or your friends or family so yeah I would say that. And aside from your children and your family what are you proudest of? Proudest of just what I've achieved in life

to be in my position to be playing week and week out in the Premier League to have a beautiful family. There's probably a time when you were playing in non-league that you didn't think that half of this? No, I definitely didn't think it was going to be achievable. I think my aim was to get into the championship. Remember one of the boys said to me,

I think you can play in the champ. So that was like my aim. Yeah, to be here where I am today. I'm very grateful and need to appreciate it more. What is the one thing that you still would love to achieve? I think Europa League is something that we can definitely achieve. Short term, yeah. World Cup would be special, wouldn't it?

So yeah, there's a few things. that I want to do. Ollie, thank you. Really good to talk to you. Thank you. Hello, I'm Tyler West. And I'm Alfie Watts. And this is The Detour,

the official companion podcast to race across the world. This is the post episode checkpoint where you'll hear the latest chat around each episode from us and our race superfan special guests. Plus, I'll be joined each week by a resident travel expert, Alfie.

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