Quotes about soccer

A collection of quotes on the topic of soccer, likeness, play, people.

Quotes about soccer

“What I do is play soccer, which is what I like.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“Maybe baseball has to accept that it is now more like classical music than popular music, with football and basketball — and soccer? — being the Justin Biebers and Lady Gagas of sports. Baseball need not hang its head in shame. A lot of things that are good and worthy are not popular. And baseball is plenty popular, for heaven's sake.”

Jay Nordlinger (1963) American journalist

2010s, Baseball and Its Worriers (2018)

Music, Sport, Football

“…the Englishman, George Best, who was an amazing footballer in his day but at the same time he was a bum and a drunk – a bohemian. Because of his soccer art though, he had a royal funeral.”

George Best (1946–2005) British footballer

Dragoslav Šekularac,
quoted in interview with ['Get Out of Here, I am Sekularac', Prvoslav Vujcic, http://www.urbanbookcircle.com/get-out-of-here-i-am-sekularac-by-prvoslav-vujcic.html, Urban Book Circle, 2006-05-01, 2016-05-15]
About

Art, Time, Football

“Soccer is a magical game.”

David Beckham (1975) English footballer

As quoted in David Beckham Pays Tribute to Legendary Pelé http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20185337,00.html (March 20, 2008), People (magazine)

Game

“You have to figure it out you have to be mom and a professional athlete. There’s a lot of athletes going to Tokyo that are also fellow mom athletes and I’m excited to catch up with them and kind of just represent all the moms, soccer moms united.”

Alex Morgan (1989) American soccer player

"‘Soccer Mom’ Alex Morgan Back And Looking For Gold In Tokyo" https://www.teamusa.org/News/2021/July/08/Soccer-Mom-Alex-Morgan-Back-And-Looking-For-Gold-In-Tokyo (July 8, 2021)

Moms

“Crowds of questions stream through me like lines of people exiting a soccer ground or a concert. They push and shove and trip. Some make their way around. Some remain in their seats, waiting for their opportunity.”

Markus Zusak (1975) Australian author

Source: I Am the Messenger

People, Way, Question, Waiting

“Soccer isn't the same as Bach or Buddhism. But it is often more deeply felt than religion, and just as much a part of the community's fabric, a repository of traditions.”

Franklin Foer (1974) American journalist

Source: How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

Religion, Communication, Parting

“Think: who has vans, huh? Soccer moms and serial killers.”

Libba Bray Going Bovine

Source: Going Bovine

Moms, Thinking

“Went for a walk, whistling. Saw a throne in a window. I said: What chair is this? Is it the one great Ferdinand sat in, when he sent the ships to find the Indies? The seat is frayed. Hardly a day passes without an announcement of some kind of marriage, a pregnancy, a cancer, a rebirth. Sometimes they drift in from the Yukon and other far places, come in and sit down at the kitchen table, want a glass of milk and a peanut-butter-and-jelly, I oblige, for old times’ sake. Sent me the schedule for the Little League soccer teams, they’re all named after cars, the Mustangs vs. the Mavericks, the Chargers vs. the Impalas. Something funny about that. My son. Slept with What’s-Her-Name, they said, while she was asleep, I don’t think that’s fair. Prone and helpless in the glare of the headlights. They went away, then they came back, at Christmas and Eastertide, had quite a full table, maybe a dozen in all including all the little…partners they’d picked up on their travels….”

Donald Barthelme book Sixty Stories

“Aria”.
Sixty Stories (1981)

Marriage, Cars, Travel, Thinking

“But the bottom line is that I am still willing to die a painful public death, assuming my execution destroys the game of soccer (or - at the very least - convinces people to shut up about it).”

Chuck Klosterman (1972) Author, Columnist

(George Will vs. Nick Hornby 0:86).
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs (2003)

Death, Pain, People, Game

“I feel like the script to Nightmare 4 is so tender hearted and thought out. I completely related to that character. That’s me in grade school, junior high, etc. Daydreamer, all I did was read books all summer long, looking out the window at the cute guy playing soccer in the backyard. Literally I was Alice. That was my life, so I completely related to the character and I think a lot of us can relate to the character at times in our life when we just want to be part of the wall. We just want to be wallpaper and not bring attention to ourselves and disappear into fantasy worlds. I believe a lot of people, at least a lot of people have told me that they really related to that character. But at one point in life, you have to make a decision to stand up for yourself and stand up for those that you love.”

Lisa Wilcox (1964) American actress

Lisa Wilcox Interview: Clinger, Nightmare on Elm Street and Star Trek: The Next Generation http://www.nerdreport.com/2015/10/22/lisa-wilcox-interview-clinger-nightmare-on-elm-street-and-star-trek-the-next-generation/ (October 22, 2015)

Love, Life, People, Books

“In soccer, the blindest player is the one who sees nothing but the ball.”

Nélson Rodrigues (1912–1980) Brazilian writer and playwright

"À sombra das chuteiras imortais: crônicas de futebol", de Nelson Rodrigues, Ruy Castro - Publicado por Companhia das Letras, 1993 ISBN 8571643202, 9788571643208 - 197 páginas, Página 102

“I don't need to say anything to them. Everybody can express his opinion, and not everyone likes you. That's totally fine. I'm not here to be liked. I'm trying to do a good job and I'm privileged to have that role and represent the U. S. soccer program. It's a privilege for me. I do my best, to my capabilities, and leave the judgment out there for you guys and for people who want to express themselves.”

Jürgen Klinsmann (1964) German footballer and manager

Press conference http://www.espnfc.com/team/united-states/660/blog/post/2657429/jurgen-klinsmann-under-scrutiny-after-bad-day-for-us (10 October 2015) <br class="br">2010s, 2015

People, Guy

“The Republicans… are having a hard time getting their members to act as a unit instead of like a bunch of six-year-olds playing anarchist soccer; three teams, two goals, you decide.”

Rachel Maddow (1973) American journalist

The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC (February 16, 2011)

Time

“Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pelé. I have a great responsibility to show them not just how to be like a soccer player, but how to be like a man.”

Pelé (1940–2022) Brazilian association football player

Quoted in "SI Flashback: Soccer's greatest genius" Sports Illustrated, (1 June 1999)

World

“(on soccer) Americans don't need a metaphor for war. We have war.”

John Hodgman book The Areas of My Expertise

June 8, 2006
The Areas of My Expertise (2005), Appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

War

“I was fortunate that my parents were bright, loving people who did everything they could to help me. I’m glad I was able to play baseball and soccer. I’m gratified that I was a smart boy who went to MIT. But looking back, I know there was anger and dislocation. I’m glad I’ve been able to overcome that, as many other immigrant kids have as well. But some haven’t. Some have dysfunctional and destructive families. Some are bitter. Some are blamers. Some are just crazy – call them sociopaths if you prefer — and their alienation has brought out the worst in them. Instead of filing a lawsuit when they felt wronged, as I have done, they bought guns. This is the nation we live in.”

Shiva Ayyadurai (1963) inventor

Immigrant Violence in America, A Big Problem http://vashiva.com/immigrant-violence-in-america-big-problem/ (July 6, 2016)

Love, People, Family, Boy

“This capacity for imitation is possessed by savages, at least by the more intelligent ones, and it has deceived us time after time. The British are as gullible as we are. Hundreds and hundreds of times, at least, they gave scholarships to Blacks from Basutoland or Kenya or Nigeria or one of their other possessions, and the result was almost always the same. With the money given him, the savage bought himself a good wardrobe, attended an English school, learned to play soccer, attended Oxford, wrote a charming essay on Wordsworth or on ancient law, copulated with half-witted English women who thought him "romantic" and themselves "broad-minded," and when he got tired of living on English generosity, went home to his tribe where he had a well-roasted baby served up to him as a delicacy of which he had been long deprived by the stupid prejudices of the stupid British.”

Revilo P. Oliver (1908–1994) American philologist

"What We Owe Our Parasites", speech (June 1968); Free Speech magazine (October and November 1995)
1960s

Women, Money, Stupidity, School

“We understand the notions of both ethnic pride and hyphenated Americanism, but many of us are still bewildered about contradictory impulses: the emotional need to display Mexican decals on cars and hang Mexican flags on houses and businesses — or boo an American team at a soccer match — coupled with equally heated expressions of outrage that anyone might suggest that those who broke American law in coming to the United States would ever have to return where their hearts would “always be.” That paradox is the most disturbing — and ignored — aspect of the immigration debate: the contradictory impulse to fault the United States for a litany of sins (exploitation, racism, xenophobia, nativism) without commensurate attention to why any newcomer would wish to reside in a place that is so clearly culpable…”

Victor Davis Hanson (1953) American military historian, essayist, university professor

2010s, Western Cultural Suicide (2013)

Law, Cars, Understanding, Business

“Yeah they did, Bob. It was a classic final, and I think the old cliché? Football was the winner there; just a terrific match. Shattering defeat for the USA; so hard to take. But only the hardest heart, Julie? Would deny Japan that. I suppose you could have an inquest in the USA played so well for much of the game. Just seemed to get a little bit panicky when the finishing line was in reach. But, really that's? That's being a little bit picky, isn't it? Because they did ever so well here. I just think the ball had Japan's name on it. They were destined to win it. Uh, just a feeling? Bob, I think Japan won rather more than just a soccer match here.”

Ian Darke (1950) British association football and boxing commentator

Japan v. United States http://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=yKYkxJ6TY0c (17 July 2011). <br class="br">2010s, 2011, 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

Feeling, Game, Thinking, Heart

“(After kicking an extra point in a Bengals preseason game) Esteban' Ochocinco is back, the most interesting footballer in the world. Everyone has to remember, I've always said that soccer is my No. 1 sport. I think Ronaldinho would be proud of me right now.”

Chad Johnson (1978) American football player, wide receiver

"Ochocinco kicks PAT vs. Pats" http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4412952&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines, ESPN.com (20 August 2009)

World, Game, Thinking, Sport

“I have found yet another friend here. And with such a friend we will together form a team, like a soccer team. This will be a fighting team.”

Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) 48th President of Venezuela

Hugo Chávez, referring to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, to reporters during a state visit to Minsk, Belarus, on July 25, 2006. http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2006/07/24/chavez_lauds_belarus_leader_as_friend/ <br class="br">2006

Fight

“European public opinion will apparently tolerate people being fired in industries where they really care about performance. Unfortunately the only industry they care enough about so far is soccer.”

Paul Graham (1964) English programmer, venture capitalist, and essayist

"Why Startups Condense in America" http://www.paulgraham.com/america.html, May 2006

People

“I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music.”

Pelé (1940–2022) Brazilian association football player

Quoted in Parton Keese, The measure of greatness (1980)

Music

“The central idea of quantum theory is that energy, like matter, is not continuous but it exists only in discrete packets. Discreteness of matter and charge on the microscopic scale seems entirely reasonable and familiar to us, based on the modern picture of atomic structure. But, the idea that energy also exists only in discrete chunks is contrary to our experience of the macroscopic world. The motions of a soccer ball rolling up and down the sides of a gully involve arbitrary amounts of kinetic and potential energy; nothing in ordinary human experience suggests that the energy of a system should change abruptly by “jumps.” Understanding quantum mechanics requires that we develop a new kind of physical intuition, based on the results of experiments that are impossible to understand using classical mechanics. These results are completely divorced from ordinary human experience in the macroscopic world around us, and our physical intuition from the macroscopic world cannot be transferred to the quantum domain. We must resist the urge to interpret these quantum results in terms of ordinary experience.”

David W. Oxtoby (1951) President of Pomona college

Principles of Modern Chemistry (7th ed., 2012), Ch. 4 : Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

World, Idea, Understanding, Change

“I think it is important for all those young out there, who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and kick it and run with it and put it in your hands, a distinction should be made that football is democratic, capitalism, whereas soccer is a European socialist sport.”

Jack Kemp (1935–2009) American football player, quarterback, U.S. Congressman

In a 1988 speech to the United States Congress, quoted by himself at Townhall.com http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JackKemp/2006/06/19/what_i_really_think_about_soccer

Hope, Thinking, Sport, Football

“When I see dads being most effective with children, it is usually when they have an intuitive understanding that, for example, the car trip to and from the soccer game is potentially as important as the game itself.”

Warren Farrell (1943) author, spokesperson, expert witness, political candidate

Source: Father and Child Reunion (2001), p. 118.

Children, Cars, Game, Understanding

“You've got to be kidding me, you're doing great. The country's really proud of the team. A lot of people that didn't know anything about soccer, like me, are all excited and pulling for you. Absolutely. Well, I appreciate it. I just got off the phone a little earlier with the president of Mexico. I was gracious. I hadn't declared victory yet, but I felt pretty confident. Yeah, well God bless you all. Tell the team how proud we are. Alright, well give it all you got. I know you will. God bless you and I look forward to a great victory.”

George W. Bush (1946) 43rd President of the United States

Telephone call with https://listenonrepeat.com/watch?v=-hzbmDRsgxg Bruce Arena (June 16, 2002) <br class="br">2000s, 2002

God, People, Confidence, Victory

“"Our family comes first" Strong families support each other's dreams; they sacrifice to show support. A friend turned down a company trip to the Bahamas so he could attend his son's championship soccer game. "the beach will always be there," he said, "but my son won't always be 14 and team captain." this "family first" attitude begins with a bond of loyalty between marital partners. But single-parent families (28% of all families with children, according to the latest census) can be just as successful in raising strong children if they develop a "family first" attitude.”

Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) Joyce Brothers

10 Keys to a Strong Family (2002)

Children, Family, Dreams, Game

“I'm a rugby player, really, and I knew I was going to get to him, and when he was about two yards away I just put my head down. There was no malice. I was going for the ball with my head, which I understand is a legitimate move in soccer.”

Boris Johnson (1964) British politician, historian and journalist

Ed Harris, "Boris bites Herr legs...: The MP for Henley does his bit for Anglo-German diplomacy", Evening Standard, 4 May 2006, p. 9.
On his tackle on German midfielder Maurizio Gaudino in a charity football match.
2000s, 2006

Understanding

“I don’t believe there is such a thing as a ‘born’ soccer player. Perhaps you are born with certain skills and talents, but quite frankly it seems impossible to me that one is actually born to be an ace soccer player.”

Pelé (1940–2022) Brazilian association football player

“Maybe baseball has to accept that it is now more like classical music than popular music, with football and basketball — and soccer?”

Jay Nordlinger (1963) American journalist

being the Justin Biebers and Lady Gagas of sports. Baseball need not hang its head in shame. A lot of things that are good and worthy are not popular. And baseball is plenty popular, for heaven's sake.
2010s, Baseball and Its Worriers (2018)

Music, Football

“You can't give the average Wall Street CEO really lenient standards of accounting and expect the figures to be good. The accountant is like the referee in soccer. The accountant has to be the adult that prevents the mayhem. Accountants don't want to be the adults because it causes liability, it causes responsibility, it causes difficulty ... they failed us terribly.”

Charlie Munger (1924) American business magnate, lawyer, investor, and philanthropist

[A Conversation with Charlie Munger, Ross School of Business, YouTube, March 22, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pph3Bg8Pihg] (quote at 23:30 of 1:59:58)

“I have found yet another friend here. And with such a friend we will together form a team, like a soccer team. This will be a fighting team.”

Alexander Lukashenko (1954) President of Belarus since 20 July 1994

Hugo Chávez, referring to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, to reporters during a state visit to Minsk, Belarus, on July 25, 2006. <nowiki>[24 http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2006/07/24/chavez_lauds_belarus_leader_as_friend/</nowiki>]

Fight

“The fight that we are doing right now for equal pay does not mean that we will achieve it in the short term. We are not going to get the equal pay right away, but it may be done by the time my daughter plays soccer and she will not suffer what we suffered.”

Alex Morgan (1989) American soccer player

"Alex Morgan says she is fighting for equal pay for her daughter" https://en.as.com/en/2021/05/10/soccer/1620674328_417702.html (May 10, 2021)

Daughters, Suffering, Time, Fight