While most footballers spend the off-season unwinding on a beach or sticking to light training, Josko Gvardiol had a very different idea: become a full-blown action hero.
Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, the Manchester City defender threw himself into a “real-life commando mission” back home in Croatia – courtesy of Commando Squad 9, a company that turns tactical video game-style war scenarios into immersive, real-world experiences.
Decked out in full military-style gear, Gvardiol took part in a full range of simulated combat challenges.
Photos shared on his Instagram showed the Croatian centre-back storming through forests, blending into the terrain, navigating water missions, and even mock-choking an “enemy” – all with airsoft replicas and professional supervision.
“The ultimate mental and physical prep for the upcoming season!” Gvardiol captioned his post. “@commandos_9 is the transformation of a tactical video game into reality – all airsoft replicas, and with these pros, I felt 100% safe.”
“I’ve always wanted to know what it feels like to be part of a special forces team and complete a real commando mission,” he added.
Fancy living out your own war movie fantasy? You can – but the packages start at a steep £7,000. A sun lounger in Tenerife might be the safer (and cheaper) bet.