Quotes About Football

I had the luck of being in Madrid. They sign some of the best players in the world, and that really leaves fewer opportunities for young players.

I've always enjoyed the coaching side, working with young players, trying to improve them and to make them not only see football different but to see life differently.

There is a big emphasis at Liverpool to have an academy that brings through young players.

Liverpool give young players a good opportunity.

Ajax always bring through young players from their academy - we can't pay €20m for a player, so we make sure we develop those players and give them the opportunity to play.

Bryan Gray at Preston gave me a chance, even though Joe Royle and Ian Rush were being linked with the job. He taught me an awful lot about structuring the job and encouraged me to invest in young players.

I'm a great believer in the lower leagues, the pyramid system, but there is mileage in having B-teams in England with young players playing competitively.

I am dreaming that Italy can return to having lots of important talent. We need to grow our young players.

If Jurgen Klinsmann thinks that the best way for his team to be successful is if his young players go to Europe, there is nobody in the world who can argue with that. That is his opinion, whether you agree with it or not.

Always be confident on the ball and have no fear when going out on the pitch. That is one thing young players need to have in their game to develop and play their best football, so that is what I do.

For a kid that just played for Oviedo, to then going to play for a team like Real Madrid, it felt fantastic. But being taken out of my family home and moving away alone, into the residence Madrid have for young players, it was a bit difficult. But as time passed, I got used to it.

Of course that's Ajax development, giving young players a chance.

Many young players tell you that they want to play for Manchester United or Arsenal. My dream was to play for Arsenal and I realised it. When I arrived, I thought: 'Wow, I'm here!'

Young players will of course always improve upon coming to England. But I came here at 27 and already had a lot of experience from earlier in my career.

Football is much more than 1,500 N.F.L. players. You've got to realize that the N.F.L. sets the standard for young players. Whatever they see on TV, that's what football is.

First, as an owner of the club, you must choose a style of football. After that, you must find the managers that will work with the young players in your team in that style. After that, you must put a manager in the squad with the same mentality.

Perception is a big thing in football and people need to be more careful about how they choose to perceive young players in the first instance.

The advice I would give to young players is always give St Mirren an opportunity.

I have experienced a lot in football and if the young players need advice, they know they can ask me.

I want kids to continue to enjoy our game and benefit from the rewards of playing the ultimate team sport. That's why it's important for young players, parents, and coaches to know about U.S.A. Football's Head Up Football program.

I played for Barcelona, for Ajax, where it's important to develop and integrate young talent.

There's a lot of young talent. I felt strongly that we wanted somebody with a great football mind who'd make it their mission to succeed. And a coach, likewise. Somebody young, energetic, open.

We are a religious family. My mum still goes to church every Sunday. There was a time when I was younger when I started getting games on a Sunday, so it came down to a choice between going to church and playing football. I think my mum knew what I really loved, and she did not stop me from going to football.

Thierry Henry is one of my heroes; he is one of the players I watched when I was younger. When I was 17, I changed position to be a forward, and he, along with the Brazilian Ronaldo, were the two players I tried to mirror my performance on, so I would watch how they scored goals.