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Ademola Lookman: 'Looking Good'
Ademola Lookman’s groundbreaking hat-trick in the Europa League final put the Atalanta striker in a spotlight brighter than he has ever experienced before
WORDS Paolo Menicucci
Interview
Cupping his fingers around his eyes to create a pair of binoculars and looking out into the distance has become Ademola Lookman’s celebration – a literal enactment of his name, Look man! And all eyes were on the Atalanta striker like never before as he scored a breathtaking, match-winning hat-trick for the Bergamo side in their Europa League final triumph against Leverkusen in May.
It is Lookman’s first name, however, that best encapsulates that exceptional performance in Dublin that earned Atalanta’s first European trophy and just their second major piece of silverware. Ademola is of Yoruba origin, one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, and the name can be translated as ‘the crown has honour’ or more generally as an honourable person destined for greatness.
The path which led Lookman from Wandsworth in south London to the pinnacle in Dublin was not an easy one for the 26-year-old. Former England international and fellow Londoner Joe Cole reflected on Lookman’s unusual journey after the final: “A kid from Wandsworth, who played in the cages, playing street football – his name will be etched into the club’s history. This is what these moments are all about.”
Lookman has spoken before about the difficulties he faced as a child. “My mother worked in precarious jobs when I was little and we lived in a deprived area of London, where my family had moved. It was difficult, because the fridge was always empty. I almost always went to eat at friends’ houses,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I am like this thanks to my mother, she taught me what the word sacrifice means. She went to work and I stayed at home with my older sister, but… she never complained, never showed weakness or put pressure on us.” With that in mind, it’s no surprise that clips of Ademola’s mum racing onto the pitch to celebrate with her son after the final whistle went viral – she screams as she hugs him, while telling him he has made it.
I had the privilege to interview Lookman in Dublin soon after the trophy ceremony, still in his kit and with the cup in his hands. He was exhausted but ecstatic as he talked about his heroics and becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the final since it became a one-off match. It’s worth noting that prior to his hat-trick in Dublin, the 26-year-old had only scored four times in European club competition.
Ademola Lookman’s broadest smile of the night was saved for the moment his mum ran onto the pitch to hug him
Ademola Lookman is awarded the player of the match trophy in Dublin
When the team returned to Bergamo, the party still in full flow, it seemed the whole city of 120,000 people was waiting for its heroes. “It was brilliant – brilliant,” Lookman says. “From us landing in the airport to the training ground to the parade that we had, it was incredible. I’ve never seen so many people in Bergamo all at once, but everybody turned out and everybody showed us a lot of appreciation. And as a squad, and just as people, they took to us a lot.”
His comments echo an Instagram post he made after the final. “Africa, Nigeria, South London, Bergamo,” he said. “Coming from where I come from and to be able to achieve something, make history, is something that I need to pay credit to my heritage for. I’m just grateful to be here today, to be able to train every single day, to be able to improve every single day, to become a better person, to become a better player, to help people. I’m fortunate to be where I am today, so I take that very strongly.”
We are speaking ahead of the Super Cup match against Real Madrid – another big step up the ladder. Then there is the challenge of the Champions League – a competition he has played one game in before, for Leipzig in 2019. I ask him how much he has changed since then.
“Two completely different people and, obviously, two completely different players,” he says. “I’ve grown so much. I’ve grown into a man, I’ve grown into a much better player all round and I’ve learnt a lot. There’s still room to improve, to grow and to learn – I don’t think you ever stop learning, so once you have the capacity, there’s never really a ceiling.” So keep looking this way – it will be fun to see how high Lookman goes.
It is Lookman’s first name, however, that best encapsulates that exceptional performance in Dublin that earned Atalanta’s first European trophy and just their second major piece of silverware. Ademola is of Yoruba origin, one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, and the name can be translated as ‘the crown has honour’ or more generally as an honourable person destined for greatness.
The path which led Lookman from Wandsworth in south London to the pinnacle in Dublin was not an easy one for the 26-year-old. Former England international and fellow Londoner Joe Cole reflected on Lookman’s unusual journey after the final: “A kid from Wandsworth, who played in the cages, playing street football – his name will be etched into the club’s history. This is what these moments are all about.”
Lookman has spoken before about the difficulties he faced as a child. “My mother worked in precarious jobs when I was little and we lived in a deprived area of London, where my family had moved. It was difficult, because the fridge was always empty. I almost always went to eat at friends’ houses,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I am like this thanks to my mother, she taught me what the word sacrifice means. She went to work and I stayed at home with my older sister, but… she never complained, never showed weakness or put pressure on us.” With that in mind, it’s no surprise that clips of Ademola’s mum racing onto the pitch to celebrate with her son after the final whistle went viral – she screams as she hugs him, while telling him he has made it.
I had the privilege to interview Lookman in Dublin soon after the trophy ceremony, still in his kit and with the cup in his hands. He was exhausted but ecstatic as he talked about his heroics and becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the final since it became a one-off match. It’s worth noting that prior to his hat-trick in Dublin, the 26-year-old had only scored four times in European club competition.
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Ademola Lookman’s broadest smile of the night was saved for the moment his mum ran onto the pitch to hug him
Ademola Lookman is awarded the player of the match trophy in Dublin
When the team returned to Bergamo, the party still in full flow, it seemed the whole city of 120,000 people was waiting for its heroes. “It was brilliant – brilliant,” Lookman says. “From us landing in the airport to the training ground to the parade that we had, it was incredible. I’ve never seen so many people in Bergamo all at once, but everybody turned out and everybody showed us a lot of appreciation. And as a squad, and just as people, they took to us a lot.”
His comments echo an Instagram post he made after the final. “Africa, Nigeria, South London, Bergamo,” he said. “Coming from where I come from and to be able to achieve something, make history, is something that I need to pay credit to my heritage for. I’m just grateful to be here today, to be able to train every single day, to be able to improve every single day, to become a better person, to become a better player, to help people. I’m fortunate to be where I am today, so I take that very strongly.”
We are speaking ahead of the Super Cup match against Real Madrid – another big step up the ladder. Then there is the challenge of the Champions League – a competition he has played one game in before, for Leipzig in 2019. I ask him how much he has changed since then.
“Two completely different people and, obviously, two completely different players,” he says. “I’ve grown so much. I’ve grown into a man, I’ve grown into a much better player all round and I’ve learnt a lot. There’s still room to improve, to grow and to learn – I don’t think you ever stop learning, so once you have the capacity, there’s never really a ceiling.” So keep looking this way – it will be fun to see how high Lookman goes.
It is Lookman’s first name, however, that best encapsulates that exceptional performance in Dublin that earned Atalanta’s first European trophy and just their second major piece of silverware. Ademola is of Yoruba origin, one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, and the name can be translated as ‘the crown has honour’ or more generally as an honourable person destined for greatness.
The path which led Lookman from Wandsworth in south London to the pinnacle in Dublin was not an easy one for the 26-year-old. Former England international and fellow Londoner Joe Cole reflected on Lookman’s unusual journey after the final: “A kid from Wandsworth, who played in the cages, playing street football – his name will be etched into the club’s history. This is what these moments are all about.”
Lookman has spoken before about the difficulties he faced as a child. “My mother worked in precarious jobs when I was little and we lived in a deprived area of London, where my family had moved. It was difficult, because the fridge was always empty. I almost always went to eat at friends’ houses,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I am like this thanks to my mother, she taught me what the word sacrifice means. She went to work and I stayed at home with my older sister, but… she never complained, never showed weakness or put pressure on us.” With that in mind, it’s no surprise that clips of Ademola’s mum racing onto the pitch to celebrate with her son after the final whistle went viral – she screams as she hugs him, while telling him he has made it.
I had the privilege to interview Lookman in Dublin soon after the trophy ceremony, still in his kit and with the cup in his hands. He was exhausted but ecstatic as he talked about his heroics and becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the final since it became a one-off match. It’s worth noting that prior to his hat-trick in Dublin, the 26-year-old had only scored four times in European club competition.
Ademola Lookman’s broadest smile of the night was saved for the moment his mum ran onto the pitch to hug him
Ademola Lookman is awarded the player of the match trophy in Dublin
When the team returned to Bergamo, the party still in full flow, it seemed the whole city of 120,000 people was waiting for its heroes. “It was brilliant – brilliant,” Lookman says. “From us landing in the airport to the training ground to the parade that we had, it was incredible. I’ve never seen so many people in Bergamo all at once, but everybody turned out and everybody showed us a lot of appreciation. And as a squad, and just as people, they took to us a lot.”
His comments echo an Instagram post he made after the final. “Africa, Nigeria, South London, Bergamo,” he said. “Coming from where I come from and to be able to achieve something, make history, is something that I need to pay credit to my heritage for. I’m just grateful to be here today, to be able to train every single day, to be able to improve every single day, to become a better person, to become a better player, to help people. I’m fortunate to be where I am today, so I take that very strongly.”
We are speaking ahead of the Super Cup match against Real Madrid – another big step up the ladder. Then there is the challenge of the Champions League – a competition he has played one game in before, for Leipzig in 2019. I ask him how much he has changed since then.
“Two completely different people and, obviously, two completely different players,” he says. “I’ve grown so much. I’ve grown into a man, I’ve grown into a much better player all round and I’ve learnt a lot. There’s still room to improve, to grow and to learn – I don’t think you ever stop learning, so once you have the capacity, there’s never really a ceiling.” So keep looking this way – it will be fun to see how high Lookman goes.
