Axel Disasi’s journey to becoming a top-level defender wasn’t exactly a straight line—and in a recent interview, he revealed a surprisingly relatable link he shares with West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen that sheds light on just how different his football path could have been.
Speaking alongside teammate Konstantinos Mavropanos on West Ham’s official YouTube channel, Disasi opened up about his early days in football, when he was far from the commanding centre-back fans now see in the Premier League. In fact, he once played in a role very similar to Bowen’s.
“I remember when they started to put me at centre-back, it was the Under-15s. I was mad because, at the beginning, for me, centre-back was something very boring because you don’t score goals!” Disasi admitted.
That confession highlights the surprising twist in his development. Like Bowen—who has built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wide forwards—Disasi once preferred attacking roles where goals and creativity defined his game. The idea of being stuck at the back didn’t exactly thrill him at the time.
“I was like, ‘I want to play six!’ And now I’m here!” he added, reflecting on how his mindset has completely changed over the years.
Disasi explained that his physical growth played a major role in shaping his position. Standing over 6ft 3ins, he was naturally directed away from attacking positions as a youth player.
“I was one of the tallest kids in my team. When you are tall, they say go goalkeeper, or the nine, or centre-back. Compared to my other friends, I was already tall and big. That’s why they put me in there.”
Ironically, despite his initial frustration, the switch has turned him into a modern, ball-playing defender who still carries an unexpected goal threat. Since his move from Reims to Monaco in 2020, Disasi has scored 18 goals—an impressive tally for a centre-half. One of his standout moments came with a stoppage-time volley against Leeds in an FA Cup quarter-final.
His West Ham teammate Mavropanos shares a more traditional defensive story. Unlike Disasi, he embraced life at centre-back early on and stuck with it as his natural position.
“For me, I think it was natural because I was playing as a centre-back in the beginning,” Mavropanos said. “I moved around some positions because, as a kid, normally you try different things, but I think I was performing better as a centre-back.”
Together, the pair have formed a strong defensive partnership, with West Ham targeting consistency and clean sheets as they push through the Premier League season. The duo are expected to start again as the Hammers aim for another solid defensive performance away at Crystal Palace.
What makes Disasi’s story stand out is the unexpected parallel with Jarrod Bowen. While Bowen developed into a relentless attacking force on the wing, Disasi’s career could have easily followed a similar attacking trajectory—if not for his growth spurt and defensive conversion.
Instead, football took both players in opposite directions: one became a Premier League goal threat from the flank, the other a towering defender with striker instincts still buried in his game.
And that twist of fate is exactly what makes Disasi’s revelation so intriguing—proof that in football, the path to greatness is rarely predictable.
