Anwar El Ghazi: “Maybe I’ll be playing at my first amateur club until I’m 45, if my knee can still handle it”
In this interview, Anwar El Ghazi speaks openly about style, routine, faith, and responsibility, revealing a calm, grounded perspective shaped by experience at the highest level. This conversation offers insight into how El Ghazi balances fashion, mentality, and long-term thinking in his life as a professional footballer.
El Ghazi approaches fashion with the same clarity he brings to football. His style choices reflect comfort, maturity, and a strong sense of personal identity rather than trends.
Anwar, we asked you to bring your favourite items to the interview. What kind of items are they and why did you choose them?
Anwar El Ghazi: “I brought my four nicest outfits and I have to say: it was difficult to choose. I also brought my wedding suit. It was tailor-made in Italy. I do plan to wear it again sometime, but only for special occasions. It’s casual, simple and clean. I also brought a Burberry sweater. It’s classic and not too busy.”
How would you describe your clothing style?
“Very neat. And classic. My style is often simple, but I value quality and I want to look well-groomed. I’m an athlete of course and I wear sportswear a lot, but when I have a dinner I always try to dress properly. I’ve been in many dressing rooms with many different teammates. Sometimes you see an outfit and think: that looks good on you, but I could never wear that.”
With experience across Europe and a growing family, El Ghazi thinks carefully about the future. His reflections show a strong sense of responsibility and long-term perspective.
Are you thinking about smart ways to invest your money for the future?
“Good people around me take care of that for me. Lately I get asked more often what I want to do after my career. I’m 27 now and I hope to play football for another eight years. Time goes fast, so I do have to start thinking about it. Working with young talents is something that appeals to me right now. But maybe I’ll still be playing at my first amateur club BVV Barendrecht until I’m 45, if my knee can still handle it haha.”
What did you buy with your first big paycheck?
“The money from my first big contract at Ajax went straight to my parents. That felt very logical to me, because they did everything for me and I was living with them at the time. It’s more important for me to make the people close to me happy than to spend it on myself. That gives me much more satisfaction.”
Structure, discipline, and self-care form the foundation of El Ghazi’s daily life. In this part of the conversation, he reflects on rituals, responsibility, and listening to his body.
Do you have a fixed morning or evening ritual?
“Praying and brushing my teeth, that’s basically it haha. I think structure is important and I’ve noticed it’s good for your body. Once you know what time the coach wants to train, you can build a routine around that as a footballer. Only during hectic transfer periods that can be difficult. I believe that whether you’re a footballer or not, you have to take good care of your body, because investing in it is the best investment you can make. I pay close attention to my work-rest balance, I do pilates and I get massages. Every football match you play takes a toll on your body. It’s important to listen carefully to your own body.”
In what way are you concerned with personal grooming?
“I’m busy with personal grooming every day! I always try to moisturise my skin properly and I like to have a clean shave. If I don’t have gel in my hair, I wear a cap. I don’t like walking around outside without having done my hair. You won’t see me walking into the supermarket without having showered. I always want to freshen up before leaving the house.”
What do you consider an essential accessory?
“A watch really suits me. I think a watch gives off something masculine. Let’s skip mentioning my favourite watch brand, because these days that can be tricky considering the kind of criminals it attracts. I only wear watches on special occasions.”
Which retro item would you never wear again?
“Lacoste shoes! I used to get those as gifts from my parents or my sister, but I wouldn’t wear them anymore now. I don’t have bad memories of them, but I feel a bit too mature for that now. My mother has kept a lot of my old things though, like the djellabas I used to wear. I actually love that now, because I can give them to my son.”
Ready for more?
Enjoyed reading about Anwar El Ghazi sharing his story in our exclusive interview? Read the full interview in our magazine issue 75.
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