Arsenal
Sam Szmodics explains why he refused to play for Blackburn Rovers as a way to power a transfer to then-newly promoted Ipswich City.
The 29 12 months previous, in a candid interview on StillJack’s podcast, mentioned life on and off the pitch, in addition to his actions to safe a transfer from Championship aspect Blackburn Rovers to Ipswich City within the Premier League.
He admitted to refusing to play in pre-season video games and coaching individually to push for the switch, describing it as an ungainly interval.
Szmodics added that his choices weren’t meant to disrespect Blackburn, a membership he nonetheless loves, however have been pushed by his dream to play within the Premier League, probably his final alternative at age 28.
He praised Blackburn’s supervisor, John Eustace, for supporting him throughout this time, permitting him to step again with out backlash.
When the Ipswich transfer initially stalled, Szmodics returned to coaching and performed, scoring in matches, however maintained his stance on avoiding video games as soon as the switch regained momentum.
He expressed gratitude to each Blackburn and Ipswich, acknowledging their roles in his profession and his personal goal-scoring efforts that facilitated the transfer to a “large membership” within the Premier League.
#Rovers actually trustworthy from Szmodz opening talking about not eager to play in pre-season, however wouldn’t refuse to play within the league out of respect for the membership himself and the gamers.
So many gamers would have mentioned no and been hated for a very long time, he moved in the appropriate method pic.twitter.com/IneW7PxUlv
— allrovers (@allrovers_) June 14, 2025
That you simply shall get Sammie, modern-day membership legend 🫡#Rovers pic.twitter.com/WazlplMoJ6
— allrovers (@allrovers_) June 14, 2025
Opening up on the transfer in nice element for the primary time, Szmodics admitted he refused to play and educated away from the group to make sure the transfer went by means of.
“It was fairly an ungainly preseason as a result of I didn’t play,” Szmodics informed StillJack’s podcast.
“I refused to play. I don’t thoughts saying that now. I attempted to be the most effective I could possibly be at Blackburn however I needed to maneuver to Ipswich as a result of it’s The Premier League. Like I mentioned, it’s my dream.
“It’s again house for me, Ipswich as a membership is wonderful. The membership Blackburn is wonderful. After I was refusing to play I went to see John Eustace who was completely unbelievable with me.
“I went to see him and mentioned pay attention, I don’t need to disrespect the employees, the gamers, however I don’t need to take any half within the preseason video games and he mentioned that’s completely superb, I’ll defend you and I’ll enable you to with no matter you need.
“Which, for me, he might have simply mentioned like who do you assume you might be? Which isn’t me. It’s not my character. Then it obtained to clearly the start of the season and the Ipswich transfer hadn’t come off but.
“He mentioned the season’s beginning so I keep in mind sitting with my agent considering I’ve obtained to play mate I can’t simply refuse to play.
“I keep in mind being on the bench towards Derby first recreation of the season, I used to be like I’m on the bench and I’ve completed high scorer within the Championship final season.
“I’ve put myself on the bench by my actions. I got here on, scored after which he mentioned you’re taking part in on Tuesday night time. He mentioned you’re not refusing to play towards Stockport within the cup. I began, scored two and Ipswich got here again in and all of it occurred.”
Szmodics insisted the choice to refuse to play was not a simple one for him. He eliminated himself from coaching to keep away from any detrimental influence on the remainder of the squad.
As soon as the transfer to Ipswich regarded prefer it had stalled, he was glad to start coaching once more.
“I need to dive into that, the choice to not play as a result of that’s not a simple determination,” he continued.
“Lots of people didn’t know and lots of people simply thought I used to be injured. It’s not my mannerisms to be impolite however I simply mentioned pay attention, I don’t need to play.
Then it obtained fairly dangerous the place it was like I used to be coaching alone. I used to be going into Blackburn and coaching with the health coach and the Director of Soccer mentioned ‘No, no, it’s good to practice with the crew now;
“I mentioned ‘I’m not coaching with the crew’ and that wasn’t to disrespect Blackburn, I don’t need the followers to get that mistaken.
“I made it so clear that I didn’t need to disrespect the gamers. I mentioned ‘I don’t need to practice with the crew as a result of I’m not in the appropriate headspace to coach’.
“As quickly because it regarded prefer it wasn’t, I used to be straight again in coaching after which when it regarded prefer it might occur once more, I used to be ‘I’m not taking part in video games’.
“I believe you’ve obtained to be pushing on this. I’m 29, I moved to the premier league after I was 28.
“This was most likely my final and solely alternative I get to play within the Premier League I needed to do all I can to do this.”
Regardless of the trustworthy admission, Szmodics stays very grateful to Rovers for the chance to play within the Championship.
“I nonetheless love the membership. I nonetheless watch the outcomes. I nonetheless know all of the boys,” Szmodics insisted.
“It was a tricky second as a result of don’t need to I didn’t need to disrupt. It was the supervisor’s first pre-season with Blackburn. I didn’t need to disrupt him.
“It’s credit score to Blackburn as a result of they didn’t must promote me they usually didn’t have to purchase me.
“I’m, so grateful for these two soccer golf equipment. Additionally, you’ve obtained to be thankful for your self as a result of scoring objectives obtained you there after all, however I’m so fortunate.
“I needed to pinch myself the place I used to be leaving Blackburn Rovers for a large membership going to an enormous membership. I assumed, ‘How fortunate am I? That is wonderful?”
