‘There are many moments of my career which I wish I could have done different at the time. Knowing where I am now though, I am too frightened to have changed anything knowing that it may have changed where I am now.’
Before speaking to Ziggy Gordon, a little bit of research soon made me realise that I wasn’t chatting to your average Scottish or UK-based footballer. Ziggy, now a 27-year-old plying his trade in Australia with Central Coast Mariners, has also experienced football in the Ekstraklasa league in Poland, held the Scottish national chess champion title as a youngster and, truth be told, is evidently very intelligent. I spoke to Ziggy about why football is absolute hell for people who like to have control, the challenges and rewards of playing abroad and his own psyche.
‘I’d like to think that he wasn’t too dissimilar to the present Ziggy Gordon,’ Ziggy joked when asked what he was like as a youngster. Who is the present Ziggy though?
‘Just a happy guy. I try to be a good human being. I try to value kindess in everything I do. I’m still very fiery, but probably less fiery than I was when I was younger. I’m still a fighter. Still a warrior. I’d like to think I still hold a lot of those good characteristics from then, but moulded them a bit better since I’ve progressed through my career.’
After excelling at both chess and football whilst in school, Ziggy bid farewell to the chess board aged 11, signing for the academy at Hamilton Academical. Rising through the ranks at Hamilton and a succesful spell at Partick Thistle, an opportunity arose for Ziggy that completely changed the route of his career.
‘Jagiellonia Bialystok, a team from Poland, had scouted me for a few years. They tried to buy me when I was at Hamilton Accies, but those transfers never came off and it probably wasn’t the right timing. Then, eventually, it seemed to work for all parties and I felt as if it was the right time for myself to go over there. I felt very fortunate, but it wasn’t easy.’
As confessed by Ziggy, it certainly wasn’t all plane sailing during his time in Poland. In fact, frustration came as early as his debut.
‘The first two weeks were brilliant. We flew out to Turkey and I felt like it was all going well. They really respected me when I went over, the manager seemed to like me and the players were first class. The standard was beyond what I could have even coped with at the time. I had a lot to learn. They were just so far ahead of me in terms of technically and physically. I had to get to grips with that.
‘Then I played my first game and that was really difficult because it didn’t go well for me. I played 12 minutes and gave away a penalty and a goal so it was really tough.’
In this sense, football is exactly the same as starting a new job or going on a first date with somebody: you would like to make a good first impression. It may not appear as that big of a deal at first, but starting off on a bad note can oftentimes set the tone. Especially in football, it’s very easy for supporters to quickly write you off and almost hope you make a mistake again to prove that their opinion was right all along. It requires great mental toughness to be able to successfully overcome an early setback like this.
‘I didn’t get over it for about two years. That one game, I thought about it almost every single day. It motivated me in ways, but it was also a big hindrance on my progression because I was constantly thinking back on a scenario that I knew I couldn’t change although I knew I was still thinking about it.’
There was no specific magic spell that saw Ziggy snap out of this mindset though, instead the pain and frustration just dulled after time.
‘I think that time heals all. Now, whenever I am in a situation in which I am angered or become emotional, I know that after some time that I won’t feel that way. It’s just getting through that and realising that this is just how you feel now. Soon that feeling will suppress and you’ll be onto something else.’
This attitude is somewhat similar to Buddhist teachings in the sense that you aim to become aware that all feelings or moods, whether they are good or bad, are impermanent. When coming to the realisation and acceptance of this, it not only enhanced his performances on the pitch, but his mindset, too.
‘When I came back to Scotland, after I moved, I was certainly a more balanced person. I was a lot less emotional and able to deal with things a lot better. I managed to start to slow down scenarios and look at the bigger picture. Before I was so focused on football that if there was a roadblock or something that interrupted my road to success, I found it difficult to comprehend and get through. Being abroad and going through everything that comes with these big changes, you are able to adapt more. You become a lot more level headed and with a greater perspective on things.’
Whilst Ziggy started to feel more aware of the conditions needed for his mind to function to the best of his ability, this also provided him with heightened clarity in relation to the role of being a footballer.
‘Sometimes in football a lot of decisions are made out with your control. Your life or success professionally is determined by a complete stranger or someone who doesn’t know you — a foreign agent, a club, a scout, Director of Football. They have the capability of changing your life and you have very little say in that process. That anxiety can only be suppressed by time.’
This apparent lack of control and putting your fate in the hands of someone else, Ziggy suggests, is one of the toughest aspects of being a footballer and one that could completely halt the progress of many younger footballers in particular.
‘You don’t see many young players not worried about the future or getting a new club or contract. When you get older, you begin to realise you have very little action on determining where you go or how things work out. It’s best just to be present in the moment and be thankful for where you are. Try to make the most of every day instead of thinking I could be there or I could be doing this.’
Having spent a fair chunk of his first-team playing career overseas now, Ziggy certainly feels that, for him anyway, an injection of new surroundings has brought out the best in him personally and in a footballing sense.
‘I have become a much better all round player. I remember when I came back to Hamilton after two years in Poland, the manager at the time said he saw a completely different player to the one that left. He said that I am far further on than I would have been than if I’d stayed in Scotland, but who’s to say. All I know is that the experience has made me a better player, without doubt. It gave me a lot more metrics and definitely character building that has made me a better human.’
Ziggy throughout the chat was keen to reiterate that what he says isn’t gospel, instead it is his own opinion and what he has found has worked for him. He answered in a similar fashion when asked about the key ingredients needed to taste success abroad.
‘The key is to be open-minded and be strong-willed in your decision. Being abroad and away from the familiarity of home, you’re going to be tested and have moments where you’re not sure if you made the right decision, times where you’re upset, you’re angry or your emotions are a bit more heightened than they would be if you were at home. It’s always about having perspective and remembering why you’re there.’
Describe yourself in 3 words
Kind, open-minded and warrior.
Are you more introverted or extroverted?
Introverted.
What has been your main motivation throughout your career?
In my early career it would be money. Now, it’s about surrounding myself with good people and being as happy as one can be, regardless of material possessions or money.
Biggest mental challenge throughout your career?
That first game in Poland where I struggled.
Best moment of your career?
There’s been a few times where I’ve thoroughly just enjoyed football. One of the best time was during a school game. My school wasn’t a great sporting school we didn’t have a great football team, but the team I played for, I managed to get them to win a cup final in Scotland. I scored two goals and I remember that day fondly more than any professional game I’ve played.
Biggest personality strength
I always try see the best in people.
Biggest Weakness
See above.
Best piece of advice ever given
I could say trivial stuff that I’ve read like don’t sweat the small stuff and only care about things you can control. Recently though, when I was going through a tough time, there was a song ‘keep your head up, keep your heart strong,’ which I thought was good.
