Alex Gogic says that he is in the best shape of his life as he paid tribute to St Mirren’s fitness department for keeping him in tip-top condition.
The Buddies enforcer has been the heartbeat of Stephen Robinson’s Greenhill Road revolution and the Cypriot international insists the reason he is always fit and available is down to backroom boys Gerry Docherty and Gary McColl.
“It’s Gaz, the sports scientist, and Gerry, the physio. They’re the secret to this,” he told the Paisley Daily Express. “They keep me fit, I do what they tell me and, touch wood, I’ve been lucky.
“Gerry treats me and fixes me before gamedays and stuff. But then Gaz, I think with the gaffer, their training, their sessions, they always monitor how much we run, how many sprints.
“If we need more sprints in the gym, he knows the work load, how much to load and I follow the programme. They’ve studied it and you just have your trust in other people.
“There is no [special diet], luckily. I’ve got a good metabolism so no special diets for me. I’m lucky in that. I don’t have to be strict on my diet.”
He added: “I think with experience I just feel better and better. I don’t feel any older and I think in the position I am as a centre-back, I think the gaffer made it easier for me because you run less, so it’s a good position to play in.
“It’s nice [to get lots of game time] and I think last year I played all the minutes. I just enjoy every minute and I want to play every minute, so hopefully I can go as much as I can like that and just stay injury-free.”
Gogic was, however, forced to miss the dramatic 3-2 Premiership win over St Johnstone having picked up a red card in the 1-0 defeat to Motherwell but came off the bench for Saturday’s equally exciting 2-1 victory at Ross County.
Off the pitch, though, Gogic also had plenty of reasons to celebrate.
The 30-year-old tied the knot with his long-term partner, Chloe. He revealed the news on social media when he posted an image of himself and his new wife walking down the steps outside the church with their children.
Buddies boss Robbo nodded towards the occasion as he joked that he had planned the whole thing for the team’s day off.
The gaffer said: “I didn’t see him [beforehand] so he’s obviously planned it for a day off. Alex is a great lad with a lovely family so we wish him nothing but the best.
“He will have had the weekend off to go and celebrate and spend some time with his wife. We’re delighted for both of them. He’s a genuinely nice boy with a beautiful family and we are all very pleased for him.”
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