He has been earning his living playing football abroad since 2015, but football fans from all over the world have only become familiar with Alex Schalk since Friday. The 31-year-old striker personally shot his Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. Manchester City is the opponent on Tuesday. “You sometimes dream about how you cheer when you score an important goal. But when your goal actually goes around the world, you no longer know what you are doing. There was a huge discharge.”
Alex Schalk caused enormous joy at his Japanese club. As a substitute, he scored the only goal in the match against Mexican Club León. “Our striker saw me standing free and I remained calm in front of the goalkeeper. I immediately celebrated the goal with our hundreds of supporters, who traveled almost a whole day to be here at the World Cup in Saudi Arabia. The goal made a huge difference. loose with our fans, but also in the rest of Japan. And I have no complaints about attention, my phone exploded.”
As winners of the Champions League in Asia, Urawa Red Diamonds is a big club. “We always play for trophies. In Asia our supporters are known for the madness they make of it. Singing, shouting, drumming: I also have the passion of the fans as a player. But when the match is over here, peace returns back again. That is also Japan.”
“We want to compete with the absolute top.”
Together with Manchester City, the Japanese will compete for a place in the World Cup final. “We want nothing more than to measure ourselves against the absolute top. Manchester City is a great team with all the top players. If we have a very good day and they have a very bad one, you never know in football. In any case, it is for the club and for me a very nice poster.”
“I’m not worried at all.”
After adventures in Scotland with Ross County and in Switzerland with Servette FC, Schalk has been playing in Japan since 2022. His period with Urawa Red Diamonds will end after the World Cup. “My contract is expiring and I am looking for a new challenge. Especially after my goal at the World Cup, I am not worried at all. You never completely plan out a career, but I am proud of what I have achieved so far. But I want to add more beautiful chapters to my career.”
A return to the Netherlands is a serious option. “After nine years abroad, it would be nice for our family to return. There has been more interest in recent years, but it works out the way it does. I once said that I wanted to join NAC Breda, but in principle I am open to everything.”