Luca Toni in German GQ
Last month there was an interview with Luca Toni in the German GQ and finally I managed to translate and post it here. Sorry for the delay, liquidhalcyon ;))
On and off the pitch- the man from Modena is always premier league. A conversation about questions of style.
No wrong questions now- people say that the most wanted of the Bundesliga players is as keen on interviews as he is on, let’s say, cappuccino with whipped cream and tends to leave the room after two minutes when in really uncomfortable surroundings.
In this case he has a home game, in the catacombs of the Allianz Arena, VIP- lounge, an afternoon between two training sessions.
Toni arrives, grunts, needs one or two minutes to adjust himself- and then refreshingly open talks about anything that makes him so popular (apart from his goals).
Signor Toni, let’s talk about outward appearances. How important is fashion for you?
I like to dress well. How exactly depends on my mood. Depending how I wake up I follow the current fashion or not. I dress how I feel. One day a bit more wilful, another day more classic. Athletic one day, posh another.
Your average dressing time?
Sometimes two minutes, sometimes ten. In general, maybe five.
You’re not interested in other people’s opinion on your style?
Not at all, in this case.
How easy does the new environment make it for you? In the rest of the country they say that Munich is the most Northern of Italian towns. As a North Italian you must feel really comfortable then.
I really like Munich, a city worth living in, a very wealthy town in which many people can live comfortably and that offers famous people quite an undisturbed life. Munich reminds me of Milan in that respect.
And it’s not far from home.
When I drive my car flat out it takes me about four hours from our flat in Munich to my parents’ home in Modena.
Where do you get the best espresso in Munich?
At my flat.
And the best pasta you get at Mamma’s?
No, one can eat really well in Munich, that’s well known. Since I’ve been here I sometimes even visit Bavarian restaurants, I like these round things, the ones our manager produces as well, these, come si dice?
Würstel.
Esatto! (sausages)
How many perfumes do you have?
No idea, my girlfriend always gets me those. When I get a flask I use it until it’s empty then I take the next one, as simple as that. I like to change perfumes every once in a while but mostly I’m switching between two or three scents.
Very undecided for the new style icon of the country. After all you’re seen as the most attractive and best- dressed Bundesliga player since the young Günter Netzer.
Ah well, one shouldn’t take oneself too serious when it comes to style questions, that is still the best manner. Listen to yourself, follow your moods and you will feel the most comfortable in your skin.
You’re from the mother country of stylish men fashion. Do your team mates sometimes seek your advice when it comes to fashion?
It happens that team mates want to talk to me about Italian fashion. But I keep myself from giving them any advice or even making fun of them. Better to be a great guy than a well-dressed one.
The Bayern player with the worst dress sense?
Oh, I know him very well. But I will keep myself from making fun of him here. I rather do that in the dressing room.
What do you prefer- blue jeans or white jeans?
In principle I prefer jeans in brighter colours, even in winter, am very Italian in that case, in combination with tops in happy colours. When it is raining and cold outside a pink shirt or a green jumper lifts the mood. When the weather is good I like to wear black sometimes.
T-shirt or polo shirt?
T-shirt.
Bow tie or tie?
I’m uncomfortable with both. I like elegance but always combined with a well-groomed carelessness. I only wear dinner jackets on special occasions that call for a classic appearance.
Round neck or v-neck?
V-neck of course.
Wet or electric shaving?
Wet.
Blondes or brunets?
She must be beautiful. No further rules.
Aftershave or lotion?
Depends on what I just have at home. I’m not someone caring much for body lotions.
Hair gel or hair wax?
Gel, but a soft one. I don’t like my hair sticking to my head.
Printed media or TV?
Back in Italy I liked to buy magazines, now I do so only occasionally as I don’t understand the local ones. But I’ve installed a satellite dish in our flat, so we can watch all the RAI channels as well as Sky, the Italian counterpart of Premiere (German pay TV).
According to you- what should be found in every stylish man’s wardrobe?
A dress for every situation, and every mood. Something crazy, something normal, something grey, something flashy and so on. A stylish man loves the constant change of moods.
On a scale from 1 to 10: How vain are you?
Let’s say I’m a six. I don’t have to admire myself in the mirror all the time. But beauty and a stylish appearance are still important to me. Everyone wants to look perfect these days, which annoys me a little. No charisma without a little imperfection that is what I believe in.
Where can we Germans do better when it comes to taste?
I have to admit that sometimes you dress pretty badly, especially when it comes to combining clothes. Some people mix the worst colours. But all in all I have to say the differences to Italy are not as big as I thought. When it comes to taste Germany is much better than its cliché.
On and off the pitch- the man from Modena is always premier league. A conversation about questions of style.
No wrong questions now- people say that the most wanted of the Bundesliga players is as keen on interviews as he is on, let’s say, cappuccino with whipped cream and tends to leave the room after two minutes when in really uncomfortable surroundings.
In this case he has a home game, in the catacombs of the Allianz Arena, VIP- lounge, an afternoon between two training sessions.
Toni arrives, grunts, needs one or two minutes to adjust himself- and then refreshingly open talks about anything that makes him so popular (apart from his goals).
Signor Toni, let’s talk about outward appearances. How important is fashion for you?
I like to dress well. How exactly depends on my mood. Depending how I wake up I follow the current fashion or not. I dress how I feel. One day a bit more wilful, another day more classic. Athletic one day, posh another.
Your average dressing time?
Sometimes two minutes, sometimes ten. In general, maybe five.
You’re not interested in other people’s opinion on your style?
Not at all, in this case.
How easy does the new environment make it for you? In the rest of the country they say that Munich is the most Northern of Italian towns. As a North Italian you must feel really comfortable then.
I really like Munich, a city worth living in, a very wealthy town in which many people can live comfortably and that offers famous people quite an undisturbed life. Munich reminds me of Milan in that respect.
And it’s not far from home.
When I drive my car flat out it takes me about four hours from our flat in Munich to my parents’ home in Modena.
Where do you get the best espresso in Munich?
At my flat.
And the best pasta you get at Mamma’s?
No, one can eat really well in Munich, that’s well known. Since I’ve been here I sometimes even visit Bavarian restaurants, I like these round things, the ones our manager produces as well, these, come si dice?
Würstel.
Esatto! (sausages)
How many perfumes do you have?
No idea, my girlfriend always gets me those. When I get a flask I use it until it’s empty then I take the next one, as simple as that. I like to change perfumes every once in a while but mostly I’m switching between two or three scents.
Very undecided for the new style icon of the country. After all you’re seen as the most attractive and best- dressed Bundesliga player since the young Günter Netzer.
Ah well, one shouldn’t take oneself too serious when it comes to style questions, that is still the best manner. Listen to yourself, follow your moods and you will feel the most comfortable in your skin.
You’re from the mother country of stylish men fashion. Do your team mates sometimes seek your advice when it comes to fashion?
It happens that team mates want to talk to me about Italian fashion. But I keep myself from giving them any advice or even making fun of them. Better to be a great guy than a well-dressed one.
The Bayern player with the worst dress sense?
Oh, I know him very well. But I will keep myself from making fun of him here. I rather do that in the dressing room.
What do you prefer- blue jeans or white jeans?
In principle I prefer jeans in brighter colours, even in winter, am very Italian in that case, in combination with tops in happy colours. When it is raining and cold outside a pink shirt or a green jumper lifts the mood. When the weather is good I like to wear black sometimes.
T-shirt or polo shirt?
T-shirt.
Bow tie or tie?
I’m uncomfortable with both. I like elegance but always combined with a well-groomed carelessness. I only wear dinner jackets on special occasions that call for a classic appearance.
Round neck or v-neck?
V-neck of course.
Wet or electric shaving?
Wet.
Blondes or brunets?
She must be beautiful. No further rules.
Aftershave or lotion?
Depends on what I just have at home. I’m not someone caring much for body lotions.
Hair gel or hair wax?
Gel, but a soft one. I don’t like my hair sticking to my head.
Printed media or TV?
Back in Italy I liked to buy magazines, now I do so only occasionally as I don’t understand the local ones. But I’ve installed a satellite dish in our flat, so we can watch all the RAI channels as well as Sky, the Italian counterpart of Premiere (German pay TV).
According to you- what should be found in every stylish man’s wardrobe?
A dress for every situation, and every mood. Something crazy, something normal, something grey, something flashy and so on. A stylish man loves the constant change of moods.
On a scale from 1 to 10: How vain are you?
Let’s say I’m a six. I don’t have to admire myself in the mirror all the time. But beauty and a stylish appearance are still important to me. Everyone wants to look perfect these days, which annoys me a little. No charisma without a little imperfection that is what I believe in.
Where can we Germans do better when it comes to taste?
I have to admit that sometimes you dress pretty badly, especially when it comes to combining clothes. Some people mix the worst colours. But all in all I have to say the differences to Italy are not as big as I thought. When it comes to taste Germany is much better than its cliché.