Football is not just a great sport on the pitch. It has also given rise to some legendary football quotes over the years. Here is a selection of our top 10:
Top 10 legendary football quotes of all time
Diego Maradona: “When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success.”
Diego Maradona is easily of the greatest players of all time. He is known for being incredibly talented, but the Argentine famously quoted how hard work was crucial than any other factor. For all his incredible talent, Maradona has labelled hard work as the reason for his success. Whilst it is possible to get a few goals through luck, one does not score several hundred goals like Maradona without working hard.
Lionel Messi – “I always want more. Whether it's a goal, or winning a game, I'm never satisfied.”
Just like Maradona, Lionel Messi has also elevated himself to a position where he is considered as one of the all-time greats. After having won every major trophy with Barcelona, Messi has kept going to new heights.
Sir Alex Ferguson – “I’ve never played for a draw in my life.”
Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is an icon in the sport for having transformed the fortunes of the Red Devils. His incredible success with United came in more than two decades. During this period, he was in charge of the team for an astonishing 1500 matches. Even then, there were only 338 draws and he concluded his United career with an astonishing win ratio of 59.7%. The ability to go for wins rather than draws was highlighted by United’s ability to get so many late goals under Ferguson.
Johan Cruyff – “To win you have to score one more goal than your opponent.”
Dutch icon Johan Cruyff managed to keep fans in a spell during his playing days and his managerial career was no different. The attacking midfielder was able to score an incredible 412 goals in just 514 appearances for the likes of Ajax and Barcelona. The astonishing number of trophies picked up by Cruyff was done so in an entertaining manner. His exemplary desire to score goals was displayed extremely well in this famous quote.
Dennis Bergkamp – “Behind every kick of the ball there has to be a thought.”
Regarded as one of the top players of his generation, the former Arsenal and Ajax forward Dennis Bergkamp is known for his extraordinary skills on the pitch. At many an occasion, it would appear as Bergkamp was controlling the ball with his mind rather than the feet. Many years later, Bergkamp opened upon his ability to control the ball with the thought rather than the feet.
Jose Mourinho – “Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.”
Former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has emerged as one of the successful names in the sport with numerous trophies to his credit. The Portuguese came to the limelight in 2004 after winning the Champions League with FC Porto. Immediately after the success, Mourinho was asked to take over at Chelsea. In his first press conference as the Chelsea manager, Mourinho stunned the world media with a kind of arrogance that had never been seen before. To his credit, the Portuguese enjoyed an immensely successful time with the blues.
Arsene Wenger – “If you do not believe you can do it, then you have no chance at all.”
Arsene Wenger is regarded as one of the most successful Premier League managers. Yet, he arrived as an unknown from Japanese football in 1996. Over the period of more than two decades with Arsenal, the Frenchman managed to create a revolution at the club. Apart from bringing a new identity to Arsenal, Wenger also took his chance extremely well and created the famous ‘Invincibles’ team of the 2003-04 season. Few would have imagined that he would have enjoyed such a success after having been a relative unknown in the game.
Paolo Maldini – “If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake.”
Former Italian international Paolo Maldini is regarded as one of the icons of the game. The defender was able to play at the top level well into his 40s. He ended up making more than 600 appearances for AC Milan since his debut in 1984. Despite not being blessed with amazing pace, Maldini was able to keep out opposition for more than two decades. The defender opened up on his secrets by saying that he focuses on timing the intervention rather than specialising in tackling the ball from an opponent.
Jurgen Klopp – “I never succeeded in bringing to the field what was going on in my brain. I had a talent for the first division, and the mind for the Bundesliga.”
Former Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp may not have had a successful playing career, but he has been immensely successful as manager after winning multiple honours with Dortmund and Liverpool. After having won trophies like the Champions League, few will be able to question the managerial skills of the former Mainz 05 player. However, his football skills did leave a lot of to be desired.
Pep Guardiola – “We do not pass to move the ball. We pass to move the opposition.”
Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has been able to inspire several managers and teams with a passing style of football during his time with the Catalan club. Guardiola may have had a successful career as a player, but he has gained more prominence as a manager. While his passing style has captivated many, Guardiola tried to explain the essence of his philosophy in this famous quote. Guardiola’s style of football has been a major challenge to opponents for more than a decade and it has given him an opportunity to lift major honours like the Champions League.
Best quotes of 2024
Mauricio Pochettino – “In football, you need to move on quickly. If not, you are dead.”
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino ironically said this when he was first appointed at the start of the 2023/24 season, as he would then go on to lose his job just a few months later. It is a reminder of how perilous a manager's position can be, and also how rapidly football is growing in general.
Rodri – “The only team that can fail this season is us. Everyone, if they don't do what they want, it won't be a failure. It will be ‘normal' in a sense, because Man City wins every year. That's something, when you win, that's the price.”
Rodri demonstrated his elite mentality midway through the 2023/24 season with recent treble-winners Manchester City the team to beat once more. Their unprecedented four Premier League titles in a row shows the hunger the club and its players still have to win.
Jurgen Klopp – “If you don't limit yourself with bad thoughts, you can fly.”
Another Jurgen Klopp quote features after he said this as Liverpool mounted an unexpected title challenge in the 2023/24 campaign. The German has always had a way with words, and he has now sadly departed the Premier League.
Virgil van Dijk – “Success is not guaranteed. That's pretty obvious. We are going to work our socks off in order to make it happen and we have a good coach coming in, a good backroom staff.”
Virgil van Dijk has been the Premier League's best defender for a number of years now, and this quote demonstrates how his success has not come without hard work. Under new manager Arne Slot, Van Dijk is hungry to get Liverpool back up to where they feel they belong.
Jude Bellingham – “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming.”
Real Madrid and England star midfielder Jude Bellingham cited an extract of “The Man In the Arena”, part of a speech made famous by Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. He posted this on his Instagram after scoring an exceptional bicycle kick in the last minute to save England against Slovakia in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in Germany, in a game in which the Three Lions eventually went on and won. Gareth Southgate's team had plenty of critics for their somewhat underwhelming performances, so this quote is quite appropriate for what Bellingham went on to produce.
Bernardo Silva – “Maybe that Liverpool have already won a Premier League, Arsenal haven't. That Liverpool have won a Champions League, Arsenal haven't. Liverpool always faced us face to face to try and win the games.”
Manchester City and Portugal star midfielder Bernardo Silva was asked about the difference in rivalry between old title challengers Liverpool and new ones Arsenal after the Gunners drew 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium with what was labelled as a “dark arts” approach. In fairness, Mikel Arteta's team were reduced to 10 men when Leandro Trossard was sent off at the end of the first half, and Silva's sly dig at them suggests that they are being taken as serious title contenders once again by City.
Mikel Arteta – “I want to wear flip-flops, shorts and a T-shirt, but in this weather? I think I would be very silly to do that. ‘I am very brave' – yeah but tomorrow you are sick.”
Arsenal manager Arteta's response to criticism of his team's tactics against City was genius. Criticism would have been heightened further had the Gunners ended up losing the game, so perhaps praise is needed for them coming away from the Etihad with a point with 10 men.
Pep Guardiola – “In football you are going to lose games. You have to choose how you lose games. That's what defines the best teams.”
City manager Pep Guardiola said this after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title, and it seems very appropriate to modern-day football. As long as you play well, losing does not hurt as much, and the best teams continuously put in good performances that yield them more wins than losses.
