Guglielmo Vicario reflected on his first six months at Tottenham, his goalkeeping inspirations and his favourite things about the Premier League.
The 27-year-old Italian shot stopper joined Spurs from Empoli in the summer in a deal worth circa €20m, penning a five-year contract. He was brought in to be the long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris and he hasn’t disappointed between the sticks in North London.
Vicario has continued to prove himself a top goalkeeper with Tottenham in the Premier League this season, regularly making crucial saves and acting as the team’s starting point in build-up play. Many Italy fans are calling for the 27-year-old to start at the upcoming European Championship.
Speaking on pages 27 to 30 of today’s magazine edition of Sportweek, Vicario first discussed his goalkeeping inspirations.
“I grew up with the myth of Gigi Buffon and with Handanovic as my idol. I’ve always had this double vision of the role. Buffon lifting the World Cup in 2006, when I was turning 10, he certainly gave me a lot of inspiration.
“Then, as a young Friulian who went to watch Udinese every Sunday, I admired Handanovic as a goalkeeper for a team that achieved magnificent results. And he left me with just as much.”
The 27-year-old Italian goalkeeper commented on his rapid growth over the last few years.
“The only secret of my rapid growth is what I can control. Dedication in training day after day, being concentrated and thinking exclusively about what needs to be done immediately, trying to improve, staying within an idea of football and trying to be a better athlete day after day.
“Together with trying to live the journey to the fullest.”
He looked back at his first six months with Tottenham and how things have changed.
“It’s undeniable that a club like this is different from those I have known in the past. Expectations change, there’s many dynamics. However, I think that the football changes but at the same time stays the same, in the sense that the ball is always the same and you’re trying to get into the coach’s ideas, his requests, the level of the teammates you have.
“For me the level has risen considerably here and it’s nice to be able to compete day after day with very high-quality players.”
Finally, Vicario discussed what he likes about life in the Premier League.
“There’s not just one thing I like about the Premier League. If I really had to choose, I’d say the passion of the fans, the crazy atmospheres that are created every weekend wherever you go. And we are lucky enough to have a packed stadium, where people have great passion.”