Quotes About Soccer

I might not be very approachable because through my whole life, from when I was eight years old, I had people camping behind my goal and hearing the whispers, 'It's Peter Schmeichel's son.'

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players not only of his time, but of all time. He is an absolute phenomenon.

The best goalkeeper I played with at United was Schmeichel. He was a phenomenon in training, never mind on match days. He just never wanted to concede, and he would do everything to stop you scoring.

I played behind Phil Thompson and Alan Hansen, and they were both brilliant centre-halves.

Phil Neville could be on the road to one day, maybe, becoming the England manager. I know him closely. He was a great captain, a great leader. He's had great experience.

I never imagined playing in El Clasico. I used to watch the games and look at photos, and I used to say how incredible to play in it was.

I think, in the U.S., we have such a focus on the physicality, on being the best athlete, that it sort of overshadows the football aspect of it.

Ryan Giggs just had an athlete's physique. He could run all day.

I think I was called 'the pianist' because of the way I play. It's true that I don't score many goals, just a few, but they are beautiful when I do score! I think it's more about my style of play, how I touch the ball, how I pass the ball, how I move it.

From Under 15s to Under 19s, I was concentrating playing for England, it was close to me, I could just go to St George's Park, it was nice. Going back to school when you've just played for England, it was amazing, you're one of the best players in the country, that's why you're getting picked.

Before, sometimes if the ball was played over my head I wouldn't know where I was but now I feel a lot more comfortable. Sometimes I would be going forward when it really wasn't the right time to go too, but now I'm picking my moments better.

I think playing for England is the pinnacle of every young English player's career.

I don't like getting pinned back with a line of four in midfield. You risk losing too much space.

I just know that I love football,and when I'm on the pitch, I want to win.

I never enter in the pitch under pressure to score goals, but I know my position requires me to score goals.

The pitch is the most beautiful part of the game; it gives you emotions which bring meaning to life.

Communication is important, and when you have an understanding with someone on the pitch, it is the most important thing.

I prefer to play as a striker, but I will do my best and try to win the game for my team as long as I am on the pitch.

When I first joined the team, I was playing with the likes of Mia Hamm, Shannon MacMillan, Tiffeny Milbrett - all those big-time players. It was very intimidating. I had some of these players' posters on my wall growing up, and now I was able to play with them.

Ajax is a multicultural club, and we have found that many talented immigrant players quit when they reach puberty. So we wanted to tackle this problem with someone from the same background who had come through it. And that was Edgar Davids. During one of our fights, I pointed that out to him. But it had nothing to do with his skin colour.

Like every Brazilian child, I always wanted to be a footballer.

I think what we really want to do is to create a real soccer nation. We want to have kids really wanting to play the sport.

We started a new movement called street soccer, so I was already breathing and living the style. Since street soccer is not a game but a lifestyle, it required a matching wardrobe.

Like it or not, I've come to appreciate soccer. Any kid can play, which fits with the inclusive agenda of progressive schools. Although the corollary to 'any kid can play' is that every kid must play because there is an iron grip to the warm hug of progressive inclusionism.