For almost a dozen years at Tottenham Hotspur, there was a constant presence between the sticks.
France international Hugo Lloris appeared 447 times under eight Spurs bosses, including interims – nine if you count Ryan Mason’s pair of spells separately – and was a safe, reliable comfort blanket for Mauricio Pochettino’s nearly men, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte’s joylessness and Tim Sherwood’s banter era.
Under Ange Postecoglou, though, a new-look Spurs have had a new goalkeeper, and it already feels as if Guglielmo Vicario has been at the club for years.
Last season at Empoli, the Italian made more saves (227) than any gloveman in Europe’s top five leagues – Inter, Juventus and Napoli were all reportedly interested in securing his services, before his transfer to north London for an initial £17.2 million.
As the last line of defence in Postecoglou’s swashbuckling side, the 27-year-old has been both busy and brilliant this term, conceding a league-high five goals fewer than his xG (expected goals) figure. Nominated for the Premier League’s Save of the Month award in every month from August to December, Vicario also has the slick distribution so vital to his manager’s methodology. He’s an Italy squad regular, too, even though he’s yet to make his debut, with Gianluigi Donnarumma long since established as first choice.
On a wet and windy afternoon, FFT is at Tottenham’s training ground to meet a man who speaks impressively good English, given he’s barely been in the country six months. Engaging and thoughtful, the Gianluigi Buffon superfan is keen to tell his Postecoglou-esque underdog story, from overcoming self-doubt in Italy’s fourth tier to the N17 elite…
How did your move to Spurs happen?
My agent said to me, “Tottenham might be interested in you.” I said, “Oh, Tottenham, OK… that’s very nice!” What can you say when you hear that name? From Empoli to Tottenham, it could be a big deal for me. Then the gaffer called me, we spoke about
