Whether looking for motivational and inspirational soccer quotes, or controversial and critical words about the beautiful game of football, then you should find something of interest in the following 50 quotes by famous people, soccer lovers or otherwise…
Image: Luis Louro (Shutterstock)For the purist, football is “football”, but for our American friends, the term “soccer” is equally as acceptable and interchangeable.
To everyone, we hope you enjoy our feast of football/soccer quotes!
Football is the ballet of the masses.
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
(1906-1975: Russian composer and pianist)
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
(1906-1975: Russian composer and pianist)
Some people tell me
that we professional players
are soccer slaves.
Well, if this is slavery,
give me a life sentence.
Sir Robert “Bobby” Charlton
(*1937: former English footballer; still the all-time
highest goalscorer for England and Manchester United)
that we professional players
are soccer slaves.
Well, if this is slavery,
give me a life sentence.
Sir Robert “Bobby” Charlton
(*1937: former English footballer; still the all-time
highest goalscorer for England and Manchester United)
In his life,
a man can change wives,
political parties or religions
but he cannot change
his favourite soccer team.
Eduardo Hughes Galeano
(*1940: Uruguayan journalist, writer and novelist)
a man can change wives,
political parties or religions
but he cannot change
his favourite soccer team.
Eduardo Hughes Galeano
(*1940: Uruguayan journalist, writer and novelist)
You don’t have to have been
a horse to be a jockey.
Arrigo Sacchi
(*1946: former manager of title winning AC Milan,
who never kicked a ball professionally)
a horse to be a jockey.
Arrigo Sacchi
(*1946: former manager of title winning AC Milan,
who never kicked a ball professionally)
If you’re attacking,
you don’t get as tired
as when you’re chasing.
Kyle Rote, Jr.
(*1950: retired American soccer striker)
you don’t get as tired
as when you’re chasing.
Kyle Rote, Jr.
(*1950: retired American soccer striker)
I don’t believe skill was,
or ever will be,
the result of coaches.
It is a result of a love affair
between the child and the ball.
Roy Maurice Keane
(*1971: former captain of Ireland and Manchester United)
or ever will be,
the result of coaches.
It is a result of a love affair
between the child and the ball.
Roy Maurice Keane
(*1971: former captain of Ireland and Manchester United)
Soccer riots kill,
at most, tens.
Intellectuals’ ideological riots
sometimes kill millions.
John Jay McCarthy
(1857-1943: Nebraska Republican politician)
at most, tens.
Intellectuals’ ideological riots
sometimes kill millions.
John Jay McCarthy
(1857-1943: Nebraska Republican politician)
To say that these men
paid their shillings
to watch twenty-two hirelings
kick a ball
is merely to say
that a violin is wood and catgut,
and that Hamlet
is so much paper and ink.
John Boynton Priestley
(1894-1984: better known as J. B. Priestley;
English novelist, playwright, and broadcaster)
paid their shillings
to watch twenty-two hirelings
kick a ball
is merely to say
that a violin is wood and catgut,
and that Hamlet
is so much paper and ink.
John Boynton Priestley
(1894-1984: better known as J. B. Priestley;
English novelist, playwright, and broadcaster)
The ball is round,
the game lasts ninety minutes,
and everything else is just theory.
Josef “Sepp” Herberger
(1897-1977: German football player and manager)
the game lasts ninety minutes,
and everything else is just theory.
Josef “Sepp” Herberger
(1897-1977: German football player and manager)
Galeano’s one is hilarious, but he is right.
soccer and life is like the same thing you can’t score alone you need help in life you can’t accomplish everything alone you need help from your friends and families.
Omelettes, eggs. No eggs, no omelettes. – Jose Mourinho. Truly inspiring.
My favorite has to be: “I would say that I am having less sex now that I’m playing in Serie B – there is more to think about in this division.” – Gianluigi Buffon
Great quotes!
I love this quote…
In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol – it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.
(George Best)