68 Football Quotes

When I first came to Arsenal, I realised the back four were all university graduates in the art of defending. As for Tony Adams, I consider him to be a doctor of defence. He is simply outstanding.

'The sense of urgency is real for me, because the window of opportunity is closing. Gotta get back to the Super Bowl, gotta get back there and win it.'

Gerard (Houllier's) thoughts on the matter echo mine. He thinks that what the national coaches are doing is like taking the car from his garage without even asking permission. They will then use the car for ten days and abandon it in a field without any petrol left in the tank. We then have to recover it, but it is broken down. Then a month later they will come to take your car again, and for good measure you're expected to be nice about it.

Since the great days of Jimmy Greaves, it's the only time anyone's managed to score five times in a Chelsea shirt.

Since the great days of Jimmy Greaves, it's the only time anyone's managed to score five times in a Chelsea shirt.

Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life; football begins in the fall, when everything is dying.

I'm ready to take the blame for all the problems of English football if that is what he wants.

We've been remarkably consistent, haven't lost a game and we have played stylish football. We have entertained people who just love football.

I was surprised by the resources they find. They are amazing. It doesn't get any worse than losing a Champions League game the way we did, but I felt the way they responded was absolutely magnificent.

Arsene has undoubtedly been one of the biggest influences on the modern-day Premiership. His 10 years at Arsenal have flown by, and there haven't been too many bad times. It was an absolute pleasure to play under him and I'm sure the players who are currently in the squad would agree.

'Bill was so strong it was unbelievable. You couldn't shake him off the ball. It didn't matter where he was playing, though I suppose his best position was outside-left. He could go round you, or past you, or even straight through you sometimes!'

'Bob's knowledge of players and the game in general is unsurpassed. Football has known no equal in management or prize-winning, but his modesty and dignity were overwhelming as he led this club from one triumph to another. His name will always be synonymous with Liverpool.'

Baseball is a 19th century pastoral game; football is a 20th century technological struggle.

Arsenal winning the Champions League would be a nightmare. It would be horrific if we finished fourth and weren't in it, watching some team from one of those tiny little countries playing in the Champions League.

Everyone tells you that Tottenham Hotspur is his favourite club when he comes to the club, and everybody knows he's lying.

Frank [Arnesen] asked me first to be the head coach, and then he said 'yeah, well we need a big name' so they get another fellow in, and that was ok with me because I knew I only had to wait 'til January.

I wouldn't swap Jermain Defoe for Miss World, but he would probably swap me for her.

There are three things that I know a bit about in my life and that's QPR, my guitar and drugs. I know QPR are the best football team in the world, my guitar is the most beautiful thing I own and that I don't take enough drugs to kill me. It isnt drugs that I need to get rid of; it's the demons that fill my head. Once I have come to terms with my demons, maybe I'll be able to get clean.

I was comparing McNabb's reputation on the field to his reputation in the media. The media has portrayed Donovan McNabb as a great quarterback, and they have credited him almost exclusively with the Eagles' success, and I've always thought that there were more components to the Eagles' success than just the quarterback.

My point Sunday on ESPN was that the defense of the Eagles, I think, deserves a lot of the credit for this team's success. It's a sports opinion, for crying out loud - and I think it's an accurate one.

'I'm out there to play football. Regardless of what numbers I put up, people talk about not throwing touchdowns, or not getting 300 yards passing. You have to do what it takes to win.'

'Now he picks his spots, because he knows those hits take a toll. He sees the field more. Those are the ways he's evolved.'

'No quarterback, no player comes to mind who's played through the injuries and tough situations he has. The numbers don't describe what he is as a player.'

'Steve captures perfectly what you want your quarterback to be.'

'At some point, we're going to see a quarterback who can run and throw, something truly special. Steve McNair is on the cusp of becoming that kind of quarterback.'

'He's about the toughest football player I've ever seen. Not the toughest quarterback-the toughest player, period.'

'Michael Vick is the next Steve McNair, not the other way around. Michael hopes to one day have the experience and poise that Steve has.'

'That joker is a warrior. He has the mentality of a linebacker playing quarterback. His toughness is unbelievable.'

Since the great days of Jimmy Greaves, it's the only time anyone's managed to score five times in a Chelsea shirt.

Of course it [football] is brutal. So is Homer brutal, and Tolstoi.

That's good for us, because teams won't be able to key on one receiver. They're going to have to play all of us.

The guy should never ever play football again

Fabio being the first player presented has a special symbolic meaning, being that he is true number one with great leadership skills. We are convinced he will be a role model to help build a winning team. Upon arriving in Madrid, Cannavaro's first words demonstrated his pride, happiness, and satisfaction for joining such an admired Club.

Cannavaro is having a fantastic World Cup. He is without question the strongest defender at this tournament and the absolute number one in the world.

Fabio Cannavaro was the best player of this World Cup.

Talking about Fabio's height is the same as talking about the fog in Milan.I have never felt that he is short when I play with him,because he can jump higher than anybody else. He is always good at heading. It doesn't make any sense talking about Cannavaro like that.

Cannavaro has that unmistakable presence as a leader and in my impression, is exactly like that tough and cool-headed defense he shows on the pitch.

I can't choose just one! Real Madrid only has great players. Raul, David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo... The one that impressed me the most after having actually played together is Cannavaro. He's sturdy and lithe and his attitude when he faces a match is exceptional too. I think he's the best center-back in the world.

[On David Beckham:] 'He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right.'

'Pele called me the greatest footballer in the world. That is the ultimate salute to my life.'

[On Paul Gascoigne:] 'I once said Gazza's IQ was less than his shirt number and he asked me: 'What's an IQ?''

[On Paul Gascoigne:] 'They say Paul Gascoigne is the new George Best but has he shagged three Miss Worlds?'

[On Eric Cantona:] 'I'd give all the Champagne I've ever drunk to be playing alongside him in a big European match at Old Trafford.'

[On the infamous Battle of the Buffet between Manchester United and Arsenal players:] 'That's what children do - throw food. That's not fighting. We were real men. We'd have chinned them.'

[On Kevin Keegan:] 'He's been very, very lucky, an average player who came into the game when it was short of personalities.'

'Boss, I think I've found you a genius.' (The telegram sent to Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby by talent scout Bob Bishop, who discovered a 15-year-old Best playing for Cregagh Boys' Club.)

'He's not George Best, but then again, no-one is.' (Commentator Clive Tyldesley.)

'The closest I got to him was when we shook hands at the end of the game.' (Northampton Town player Roy Fairfax, who had been marking Best when he scored six goals in an 8-2 FA Cup win for Man Utd in 1970.)

'Shellito was taken off suffering from twisted blood!' (United team-mate Pat Crerand after Best had given Chelsea full-back Ken Shellito a torrid time.)

'He was able to use either foot - sometimes he seemed to have six.' (Sir Matt Busby)

'The only thing I have in common with George Best is that we come from the same place, play for the same club and were discovered by the same man.' (Norman Whiteside)

'After his first training session in heaven, George Best, from his favourite right wing, turned the head of God who was filling in at left-back. I would love him to save me a place in his team, George Best that is, not God.' (Eric Cantona has pays tribute to the late George Best)

'What he had was unique, you can't coach it.', 'I think if you talk about Europe, you talk about five or six and if you talk about his qualities he'd always be in there. 'It was a short career but if you go back to the basic qualities he was exceptional.' [1] (Johan Cruyff)

'Maradona good; Pele better; George Best' (A banner near the Best family home in the Cregagh Estate on the day of Best's funeral)

'George Best invented rock 'n' roll football' (Former France and Juventus midfield great Michel Platini)

'From the second best player in the world' (On a signed football left as tribute to George Best by Pele)