CIAO, PIERLUIGI!

After recently completing his loan move to the Club, goalkeeper PIERLUIGI GOLLINI discusses the footballing journey which has led him to north London as well as his aspirations ahead of the new campaign.

- Liam Carson

Pierluigi Gollini’s journey to N17 has been all about ambition and perseverance.

From his formative years in Italy to now as he embarks on a new challenge in his career here in north London, Pierluigi has always been fuelled with a yearning for success. Perpetually dogged in his desire to progress, he is a man who takes challenges head-on, makes significant sacrifices to thrive, while he also makes use of any setbacks to stoke the fires which propel him forward.

His journey in the beautiful game kicked off when he was just four years old as he played with friends on the streets of his hometown of Poggio Renatico, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Soon he was signing for local club S.P.A.L in the city of Ferrara and it was there that his enterprise and talent was noted.

Showing considerable ability with the ball at his feet, his coaches played him at the heart of the defense, however, it was between the sticks that Pierluigi dreamed of playing. For a year, he played as a center-back in the S.P.A.L youth team but, in training, his eyes would always be drawn across the pitch to where the goalkeepers were being drilled. Seeking a positional change, his coach was at first hesitant to his pleas but, once the Italian was given his chance in the net, he never looked back.

“I always wanted to be a footballer. I started to play when I was four. I always played in midfield, yet I always wanted to be a goalkeeper, but they never let me play in goal because I was quite good outfield as well,” the 26-year-old began.