The next play: Gregory Gomis
(FIFA Master 25th edition)
Imagine a young boy in Versailles, bursting with energy, leaping from staircases, and diving into every sport—from tennis to swimming, karate to football. That boy was Gregory Gomis, the youngest of four in a Senegalese family, whose disciplined upbringing and boundless curiosity laid the foundation for an extraordinary life. From backyard goalkeeping to standing in a packed stadium at the Emir Cup final, Greg’s journey has been anything but ordinary. Yet, it wasn’t just about the accolades. When injuries closed the door on his playing career, Greg pushed himself into new arenas, proving that the hardest turns in life can lead us exactly where we’re meant to be.
Greg initially started out as a defender, but like many youngest siblings, he was pushed into goal during family games. “When you play with your dad or your brother, you’re the youngest, so you’re going into the goal,” Greg recalls with a laugh. What began as a role assigned by family hierarchy quickly became his passion. A local scout soon recognized his talent, and at 14, Greg signed a five-year contract with CS Sedan, then a Ligue 1 club. By 17, he was training with the first team.
But his time at Sedan tested his resilience. The club signed another goalkeeper—older and more physically developed—pushing Greg aside. “He was bigger than me, but I had more potential. Still, it wasn’t my moment to play with the first team,” he admits. It was a humbling lesson: talent alone doesn’t guarantee success.
At the end of his contract, Greg signed for French side, Vannes, but the frustrations of limited playtime followed him. “I really enjoyed my time down there, but I was young and thought I should play. I was on the bench most of the time,” he reflects. Yet, even in disappointment, there were lessons. “I learned patience and humility. You have to keep working because you never know when your chance will come.”
That chance arrived when Qatari club Al-Sailiya offered Greg a five-year contract. His parents were hesitant, but after preseason in Munich, Greg knew this was home. “Everyone was checking in on me, making sure I was okay. I thought, ‘Wow, these people actually want me to be part of the team.’”
Still, his parents wanted more than just athletic success; they wanted security. Their one condition: Greg had to commit to earning a degree. Balancing professional football with academics wasn’t new to him but earning a law degree while playing abroad would be his greatest challenge yet. Greg attended classes online, squeezing in studies between grueling training sessions and matches, and sat for his exams at the French Embassy. “It wasn’t easy by any means, but if I was going to put in the work to get my degree, it was going to be the best one.”
Qatar provided Greg with the opportunity to rewrite his football narrative. “I spent 14 years in Qatar, and it was probably the best time I had. I felt respected. I had the chance to win a trophy, to travel in Asia for the Asian Champion League, to play against amazing players like Raúl, Xavi, and Sneijder.” But nothing compared to the career-defining moment of lifting the Emir Cup with his teammates. “The stadium was packed with maybe 45,000 people, including the French ambassador,” Greg remembers. “I thought, ‘I worked hard for this moment.’ It was the highlight of my career.”
But success, as Greg would learn, can be fragile. At the height of his career in Qatar, he began struggling with recurring and severe knee injuries that slowly chipped away at his ability to perform. The timing couldn’t have been crueler: he was on the verge of achieving a lifelong dream. “I was at the top of my career. I had the chance to potentially play in the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar. I was very close to being in the team,” he recalls. But one conversation would haunt him. “I remember what the surgeon told me: ‘Greg, you should stop. Not just for football, but for your life after.’”
Greg had built his career on defying limitations placed on him by others, but this was different. He brushed off the warning, something he now admits with regret. “I ignored it, and that’s one of my regrets,” he reflects. The relentless deterioration of his knee not only robbed him of the chance to step onto the world stage but also forced him to confront his own vulnerability. Still, Greg chose to see the lesson. “Now I take this as a learning experience. When someone gives you advice, listen—especially if it’s a professional who’s dedicated years to their field.”
Yet, in true Greg fashion, when one door closed, another quietly opened. His years of playing in Qatar had introduced him to the world of broadcasting, where he occasionally appeared as a guest commentator on beIN Sports. What once felt like a side gig became a lifeline. As his playing days ended, Greg seamlessly transitioned into punditry, staying close to the game he loved. “Working with beIN Sports was exciting. It kept me connected to football when I couldn’t play. And I learned a lot. I used to be only on the pitch and didn’t see what happens behind the scenes on TV.”
For five years, Greg thrived as a football analyst, but eventually, he felt it was time to exercise some different muscles. Growth, not comfort, was his next goal. “I know quite a few people who have gone through the FIFA Master programme, and speaking with them got me excited about how the experience could support my career development,” he explains. With global experience, fluency in multiple languages, and a law degree, Greg was a natural fit. Now in the FIFA Master programme, Greg is blending his experience in sports, law, and leadership. His story is a reminder that the paths we’re led down, no matter how winding, often place us exactly where we’re meant to be.
By Geneva Decker
FIFA Master 25th edition student
FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked Europe's No.1 course a record 12 times by SportBusiness.
Organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).
