Azor Matusiwa (27) is eyeing promotion to the Premier League with Ipswich Town this term. The club’s midfield metronome told Voetbalzone he is relishing the chance to appear on Match of the Day next season, underlining his ambition to reach English football’s top flight.
Born in Hilversum, the combative midfielder has established himself as an indispensable component of The Tractor Boys’ engine room, logging 3,370 minutes across 39 competitive outings this term. Yet, with the business end of the campaign upon them, he insists the real work is only just beginning.
Rennes
When we last caught up with him, he was plying his trade at Stade Reims in France; since then, two clubs have come and gone. “I’ve now moved on to two other clubs. I had a great time at Reims and then decided to take the next step to Stade Rennes. There were a lot of issues going on behind the scenes at that club. A lot of noise, which also affected our performances on the pitch.”
“There was a lack of stability, which made me decide it was time for something new. The Rennes management were keen to keep me, but I had a very good feeling about Ipswich. Once I’d spoken to manager Kieran McKenna, I knew for sure. I still had three years left on my contract in France, but fortunately they granted me this transfer. It was handled very professionally and I’m grateful for that,” says Matusiwa with satisfaction.
Midfielder Ryan Matusiwa has completed over 100 Ligue 1 appearances over four seasons, establishing himself as a reliable performer in France’s top flight. The 24-year-old Netherlands-born playmaker has now set his sights on England, where he believes the time is right for a fresh challenge.
“At some point, you feel ready for a new challenge, a new environment,” Matusiwa explained. “But it was important to me that everything fell into place. I’ve always dreamed of playing in England, yet the club had to be the right fit.”
“I’m not the sort of lad who signs for the first club that comes along. It had to be an attractive proposition, both in sporting and financial terms, and Ipswich can offer that. This club has the ambition to return to the Premier League and stay there. Hopefully we’ll manage to get promoted this season,” said Matusiwa.
Despite repeated searches by leading Dutch clubs for a defensive midfielder, none ever tabled a concrete approach for Matusiwa. “My agent never mentioned anything,” he says bluntly. “Maybe I’m just too expensive.”
“The fees paid for me in recent years were substantial; if clubs could have signed me for a few million euros, things might have been different,” he adds, referring to moves that have already accumulated 30 million euros in transfer fees. “That doesn’t add pressure. Compared to others, it’s manageable.”
McKenna
Matusiwa admits he knew little about Ipswich, yet a single pre-season conversation with manager McKenna was enough to seal the deal. “He told me exactly what I needed, and so far everything has worked out. People may say moving from Ligue 1 to the Championship is a step down, but I don’t see it that way. We’re talking about the top end of the Championship.”
“Ligue 1 may feature higher individual talent and bigger clubs, but England remains a more formidable footballing nation, driven by an even more fervent fan culture. Right now we are competing in the second tier, yet every ground is packed to the rafters. I occupy a key role within a squad fully focused on reaching the Premier League, and all the ingredients for success are in place,” Matusiwa states.
The former Jong Oranje youth international feels he is making great progress. “The Championship suits me well as a player. I’ve always loved putting in a lot of energy and fighting spirit, but I’ve noticed in particular that I’ve really improved tactically under this manager. That has nothing to do with the league, but purely with his qualities.”
“On a personal level, too, the manager has helped me enormously since I arrived at Ipswich. My wife and I came here with our baby, and moving to a new country is tough. Everything at this club is very human, which is brilliant. Now it is up to me to give something back.”
Matusiwa is convinced that football fans worldwide will hear plenty more from the 39-year-old McKenna in coming years. “As a squad, we’re lucky to have such a good manager. I hope I can play under him for a long time, but Ipswich is definitely not his final destination.”
For now, he is savouring every minute in the Championship. “It’s a fantastic league where everything can change very quickly. You can struggle against any team, so amid all the chaos I try to rely on my footballing qualities. I still notice in every match that my Dutch youth training at Ajax gives me composure on the ball.”
“The only thing I’m missing is a bit more sunshine in the stadiums,” laughs Matusiwa. “Although I’ve heard the weather in other parts of England is even worse. I’m absolutely delighted with this move and that I listened to my instincts, and we hope to achieve our goal in the coming months.”
Ipswich remain well placed in the race for promotion. After 39 matches they occupy second place with 72 points, the same haul as Middlesbrough and Millwall, who have, however, played two games more. Leaders Coventry City, on 84 points, are virtually assured of their place in the Championship next season.
Match of the Day
In early March, Matusiwa netted his first goal for the club in a crucial 1-0 home win over Hull City. “A wonderful moment,” he said. “Very important too, because Hull were fifth at the time—actually fourth for a spell—and it was a tough game.”
“Breaking the deadlock in the 70th minute with such a lovely goal felt like paying back the supporters and teammates who have welcomed me so warmly. I don’t score often, but even if I did, this would still rank among my best,” Matusiwa says with pride.
Portman Road regularly hosts 30,000 vocal supporters for every home match, and thousands more travel to away fixtures. “We really have brilliant supporters; they’re incredibly loyal,” Matusiwa says. “Even on weekdays, they travel hundreds of kilometres to watch us play. It’s just brilliant to play for supporters like that, and I’d love to take them along on my Premier League dream.”
Even as a child, Matusiwa watched Match of the Day, the BBC’s legendary football programme, every weekend. “Back then, Manchester United dominated the league. Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo – you name all those big names. That’s why playing at Old Trafford is right at the top of my list. I’ve watched so many of that team’s matches…”
“Before we get carried away, though, we must secure promotion. We’re in a strong position, but in the Championship there’s no margin for complacency. That urgency is firmly embedded in our squad,” the sharp-witted North Hollander added.
Akpom
In the Ipswich dressing room, Matusiwa gets on well with several players. “I still speak a lot of French with my teammate Cédric Kipré, so that helps me keep improving my French. I also have a good rapport with Chuba Akpom.”
“Of course, Chuba and I have talked about Ajax, every week in fact. He’s obviously played there recently and is still owned by the club. What can you say about it? These days, it’s no longer the Ajax I know… Let’s leave it at that,” says Matusiwa amiably.
Another veteran in the Ipswich squad is Ashley Young, now 40. “He’s a truly great player, even if people sometimes underestimate that. Look at what Ashley has achieved: he played for years at that Manchester United we were just discussing.”
“It is impressive that such a superstar has stayed so down-to-earth,” says Matusiwa. “He is cracking jokes with everyone all day long. It is remarkable that Ashley is older than our coach. Forty years old and still performing at such a high level. I am not sure I will make it that far, especially if I remain in the cut-throat world of the Championship.”
Off the pitch, Matusiwa treasures time with his wife and young son. “The days are long at Ipswich because I invest heavily in my career, so when I get home I savour every moment with my family. Watching my little boy grow up is truly special. Every small interaction is a joy. He keeps trying to pick up his ball with his hands, so I’m slowly encouraging him to use his feet instead. But if he wants to play tennis later on, that’s fine too!”
Matusiwa lives close to the town centre. “It’s a lovely place, but there isn’t much to do. The people are very friendly, though. If they recognise you, they might ask for a photo or an autograph, but they never really bother you. That bit of appreciation is just nice and respectful.”
“We’ll be moving into a slightly bigger house soon. When I have a few days off, we sometimes pop over to London for a day and a half. Those sorts of trips are always fun. Later on, we’ll surely look back and think about how special those moments were,” says Matusiwa.
International career
In previous interviews, Matsuswa spoke openly about his ambition to earn a call-up to the Netherlands national team. These days, however, his focus has shifted decisively to club football. “My immediate goal is to reach the Premier League, and I aim to achieve that with Ipswich,” he explained. “Once we get there, we’ll see what comes next. When I was playing in France, I thought about the Oranje much more.”
“To be honest, that’s become a lot less of a priority since I became a father. Of course, I’m still open to it, but it’s no longer really my dream. During international breaks, I can now spend quality time with my family. That’s hugely valuable too. You’d miss out on moments like that if you were selected,” Matusiwa realises all too well.
In recent years he has been approached several times by Angola and Congo about switching international allegiances, but the idea holds little appeal. “I’m not interested in that right now. I played my youth internationals for the KNVB and loved it, partly because everything was so well organised. When I see what happened during the Africa Cup of Nations final, that’s one of the reasons I’m not keen on a switch. Ridiculous! Unfortunately, there’s simply no structure…”
“Perhaps I’ll feel differently one day, but I can’t imagine that right now. In the short term, I’m just focusing on Ipswich and our promotion battle. I want to compete against the best players in the world in the Premier League. Then I’ll finally be on Match of the Day,” concludes Matusiwa with a wink.