Since moving to Malaysia in 2021, GG has found a true home in Kuala Lumpur. In this exclusive interview, he shares his experiences living in Malaysia, the support of his wife Olivia, and the new perspectives brought by fatherhood. GG talks about his daily routine, managing his football career with KL City, and his ambitions with the team. He also discusses his interest in women’s football, the local food scene, and his passion for fashion, including his connection with Peak KL. Join us as GG reflects on his journey, mentors, and unforgettable career moments, while expressing gratitude for the support from fans across Malaysia.
You’ve been living in Malaysia since 2021. How has the experience been for you, and how has Kuala Lumpur treated you and your family?
Wow, I love this question because it gives me another opportunity to express my gratitude for this beautiful country and city! This has become my home for my family and me, which has allowed me to express myself on the field to the best of my ability. Because of the constant support and love I have been shown, propels you to be at your best, and I’m so thankful for that. I think I can confidently say these have been the four happiest years of my career, and I’m hoping for many more.
It must be challenging for Olivia to adapt to the life of a footballer’s partner. Can you share some of the sacrifices she has made and what it means to have her support every step of the way?
There is no GG without Olivia. For the last ten years of my career, she has been a backbone and a driving force in every decision. She is always pushing me to be the best me, at her own cost. She sold her business and moved across the world to support me chasing my dream in England at the tender age of 21 and was always creating a happy environment for me to come home to while balancing work wherever we were in the world! My wife and mother to our beautiful baby is the main reason I have had the career I have had, and I’m incredibly grateful to her.
With baby Zoa now part of your family, how has becoming a parent changed your perspective on life and your career?
Having Zoa has definitely created a different level of motivation. I was always someone who has been very driven, but with a baby, you start thinking a lot more long-term. I guess that outlook has been the main change. I realize every day that my actions and decisions are the memories she will tell her kids, so with that in mind, I try to be the most loving and caring parent that I can.
What has been the most surprising aspect of living in Malaysia for you and your family?
The biggest surprise has been how incredibly good the food is here. As Italians, we are very proud of our cuisine, but Malaysian food and the mix of all the cultures have created a food heaven!
Can you describe a typical day in your household, balancing training, family time, and personal time?
A typical day is waking up at 6:20 am and enjoying family time and having breakfast. Then it’s off to football training. After that, I usually do some form of extra training, whether it’s an extra personalized football session or a workout in the gym (this typically goes for an hour). After that, it is off to the physiotherapist to keep the body in check. Once that is all clear, my daily Dad duty is to fetch food and bring it home to my wife. Then it’s daddy duty till bedtime. Of course, it isn’t always that simple. I spin a lot of plates with some side business and punditry, which forces me sometimes to be away from home more than I’d like, but I understand it’s all part and parcel of this beautiful life I have been given.
KL City has experienced both success and challenges on and off the field. How do you personally navigate and manage these ups and downs?
With humility. I understand that success is only successful in the act; after that, it is over, and the next challenge is on the way. I bring that same principle in the low times. I remind myself every day to be present and enjoy the roller coaster, which is life as a footballer.
What are your short-term and long-term goals with KL City? What do you hope to achieve with this talented group of players?
Short-term goals are more personal. I don’t want to stop learning and bettering myself, so I approach every session as a student. I’m 30 years old and plan on playing the game for many more years, so my short-term goal is to attack every day with the hunger to be better! Long-term goals are more regarding the club and this team and are a bit more specific. It has been 33 years since KL finished in the top 5. That’s my goal—I want to break that record. Also, I would be lying if I didn’t say that I dream of making it four finals in four years! Those are probably my two big aspirations for the season.
Who has been the most influential coach or mentor in your career, and what impact have they had on your development as a player?
Every coach I have had has taught me something at one point or another, but I must say that Bojan Hodak, Nenad Bacina, and Stanley Bernard have been crucial for my development in the Southeast Asian game. I’m eternally grateful to them as now I have made Malaysia my home.
What has been the most memorable moment of your football career so far, and why?
I think I would say it’s a tie between winning the Malaysian Cup at Bukit Jalil and scoring the winning penalty in the semi-final of the AFC Cup in 2022. Both moments were absolutely incredible.
As you know, our page focuses primarily on women's football. How familiar are you with the women's game, and do you believe that Malaysia should invest more in developing women's football?
I’m friends with Steffi Sarge Kuar, and seeing her quality sparked my interest in the women’s game in Malaysia. She is a quality player and a top professional who is consistently doing extra work at the Square One Performance Centre. I hope Malaysia puts a bigger spotlight on female athletes like her to carry the beacon and encourage the young women of this beautiful country.
Now, moving on to fashion, how did you end up at a Peak KL event, and what caught your attention about the brand?
I’m all for supporting local, and Peak KL is not only local but also dope! I’ve been a big fan of their clothes, and fortunately, they are fans of me, so it was a match made in heaven. 😆
If you were approached for a collaboration with Peak KL or any other brand, what types of products would you envision creating together? Would it be shirts, hoodies, boots, or something entirely different?
I love hoodies (although you don’t get to wear them often in Malaysia for obvious reasons), but I would love to collaborate with them for streetwear! On the other hand, I’m an athlete, and activewear is predominately my attire, so I think if ever we were to collaborate, it would be sport-adjacent.
Lastly, is there a special shoutout or thank you message you'd like to extend to those who have supported you, both on and off the field?
In every interview and every article, I try always to acknowledge the fact that my wife and parents have been the foundation on which my whole career has been built. But as I’m now heading into my fourth year in this beautiful country, the country my daughter was born in, I would love to use this opportunity to pen a letter to every Malaysian citizen to say Terima kasih banyak… for all the constant support and love on social mediamand in the stadiums all over the country—from KL fans to opposing ones who have always shown me so much respect, to the thousands of people I have run into on the streets who have asked for photos or screamed “KLGG”! Y ou have made me and my family feel like one of you, and for that again, I say Terima kasih Semua.