Maduka Okoye on Paris fashion, life in Udine and ambitions with Udinese
On 9 August 2026 Nigeria and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye told the Guardian he had developed a serious interest in high fashion after attending Paris fashion week and described how he balances that with life and work at Udinese.
Okoye said footage of his front-row appearance at the Jean Paul Gaultier show went viral across TikTok and Instagram within hours, and that his audience now stretches near to two million followers. He framed the experience as an artistic discovery rather than a bid for celebrity, saying: “Being at the Paris fashion week was really impressive. It was my first time really coming into contact with high fashion, and it was fascinating. It’s a true art form. I enjoyed it immensely, and since that moment I’ve become a much bigger fan of fashion than I was before.”
He insisted the off-field profile does not interfere with his playing responsibilities and set out a clear divide between the two spheres. “What happens off the pitch is one thing, what happens on the pitch is another,” he said. “You have to separate the two. I never let these two worlds collide. Even though marketing and personal branding are part of the business today, at the end of the day I am a goalkeeper, and my main job is to protect my team’s goal. Outside football, I pursue things that matter to me but my priority and my work remain between the posts. These two worlds don’t overlap. What I do off the pitch has zero impact on what I do on it, and those two spheres will never cross.”
Okoye described Udine and Udinese’s environment as a counterpoint to the Paris spotlight and to his upbringing in Düsseldorf. “I grew up in a big city, so in my heart I am and always will be a city boy, used to the metropolitan rhythm,” he said. “However, as you grow older, you learn to appreciate the peaceful side of life. I really like Udine. It’s a human, quiet city. You have your peace there and you can focus 100% on your work. I’m genuinely happy to live here. The serenity in Udine is good for you as a person and makes you feel very comfortable.”
Having arrived at Udinese after spells with Sparta Rotterdam and Watford — where he only made two senior appearances — Okoye said he has become a regular presence for the club and is committed to ongoing development. “I believe there is always room for improvement in every direction,” he said. “I’m very happy working here with a great goalkeeping staff. I’m on a good path, learning every day, and I can’t wait to show it on the pitch during the season.”
Reflecting on the recent World Cup, Okoye singled out one goalkeeper for particular praise. “I found Spain’s Unai Simón very impressive, especially towards the final stages. Not so much for making hundreds of saves, but for the way he remained inside the game, defending deep balls against France. For me, that was goalkeeping of the highest level. As I said, it’s not just about spectacular saves; it’s about managing those details. Overall it was a great World Cup, and for us young goalkeepers it was a fantastic learning opportunity.”
Okoye also spoke about lessons drawn from other elite sports after visiting the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and meeting rising Italian Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli. “It was fantastic. The whole Formula One experience was extraordinary,” he said. “I think there’s so much an athlete can learn from other sports. Meeting the drivers, especially Kimi, was great. From the outside you only see the race on TV, but behind it there’s an immense amount of work going on. It was impressive to see how much effort and preparation go into competing at that level.”
On Udinese’s ambitions Okoye expressed measured optimism while urging a step-by-step approach. “Everything is possible,” he said. “But I think we should talk about that again in February or March. First we have to get the basics right and take it game by game. Then we’ll see where we are. We certainly have the quality, the players, an excellent staff, and a solid club behind us. Udinese is a club where a player can really grow and make that leap in quality. For me, Serie A remains one of the best leagues in the world and I’m grateful to be part of it. The higher the level of the league, the happier and prouder I am to play in it. We’re working hard and can’t wait to compete against the best.” He also addressed Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup: “Obviously it would have been better to be part of it, but unfortunately we didn’t qualify,” and added, “We’ll try again for the next World Cup. I still enjoyed watching it from the outside; I supported Germany, hoping they’d go a bit further. Now we look to the future, and I really hope to be there at the next edition.”
Okoye said the club’s progress should be reassessed in February or March and offered a closing message for aspiring goalkeepers: “To work hard, believe in yourself, and have faith.”
