FOOTY FAIR

10 Things Jermain Defoe will Never Say about Toronto FC

2015-04-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

It has been almost four months since his departure from Toronto FC of the MLS, but the wound left by Jermain Defoe is far from healing.

His one year stay with the club had mixed reviews and it had its fair share of ups and downs. What started as a promised relationship between club and player, ended in a bitter divorce that left fans wanting his head and calling him a mercenary.

In all interviews that Defoe has given and will give, he is most likely to comment on his time in Toronto, but these are ten sentences that he will never say about his experience in MLS.

“I had plans to finish my career in Toronto, but the club didn’t want to keep me any further.”

“The weather in Toronto is great, almost tropical when compared to the miserable fog and rain of London.”

“Canada is my second home; I am keeping my house there and plan on spending my offseason enjoying the beach in Wasaga.”

“MLS is almost at the same level as EPL, in two more years they may be neck and neck fighting for viewers.”

“Toronto FC is a stronger team now that I left, this year they will be in the playoffs.”

“I returned to London not by choice, but because I am allergic to maple syrup.”

“Toronto FC is not the reason I wasn’t selected to the England National Team, my lack of quality and consistency is the main reason, also the fact that I was injured played a small role.”

“The thing I will miss the most about Toronto is the -35C weather. I couldn’t get enough of that.”

“Leaving Toronto FC was a step back in my career, but sometimes you have to take two steps back before you can take one step forward.”

“Toronto FC is to MLS what Real Madrid is to La Liga, minus the titles, great players, incredible stadium, millions of fans, and incredible history.”

10 Things you Won’t Hear at Chelsea’s Team Meeting

2015-04-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

We would all love to be a fly on the wall during a Chelsea’s team meeting, so we can hear what Mourinho or the players have to say to eachother.

Since we don’t have that ability, I thought I would go the opposite direction and come up with the “10 Things You Won’t Hear at Chelsea’s Team Meeting”. There are better odds at me getting this right than ever being able to get to be a part of the discussions and conversations that happen inside that locker room.

“John, can you take my wife shopping? She needs underwear and I just have no time to take her to the mall.”

“If only our club had money to buy some quality players, we could really contend for the title.”

“Mourinho is such a humble guy.”

“Alright boys, tonight we are going to try something different and play with 3 strikers and no holding mid.”

“I heard that Abramovich took a loan to buy a car, and he is not able to make the payments anymore.”

“Will the guy who took Willian’s Head & Shoulders please stand up?”

“What this team needs is more foreigners.”

“On gameday Stamford Bridge reminds me of ‘La Bombonera’”

“The goal this year is to avoid relegation.”

“Ivanovic, how do you feel about us signing Suarez next summer?”

10 Great Quotes from Jürgen Klopp

2015-03-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

When you think of outspoken coach’s one name must pop into your mind almost immediately, Jürgen Klopp.

The Dortmund coach is one of the most eccentric and outspoken coaches in modern football, a true maverick of the game, someone who does what he wants, when he wants and how he wants it. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he has had a variety of one liners and incredibly funny quotes over the years.

Here are ten of my favorite quotes from the German coach that has been able to set himself apart from all others.

“During the first interview, I was very disappointed. During the second one I already felt a bit better. If I wait half an hour, I’ll probably have the feeling that we won.”

“I told my players during the break: Since we’re here anyway, we might actually play a bit of football.”

“We have a bow and arrow, and if we aim well, we can hit the target. The problem is that Bayern has a bazooka.”

“The reason Gotze is leaving? He wants to work with this extraordinary coach that is Guardiola. So if it’s anyone’s fault it’s mine. I cannot make myself 15cm shorter and learn Spanish.”

“Go through the world and find me a team who can finish champions in the same league as Bayern. If we should finish second this summer, I’ll find a truck and drive it through my garden. If nobody will rejoice, I’ll do it alone.”

“I asked the fourth official: how many mistakes are you allowed to make? If it’s 15, you have one left.”

“Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world. But at United he plays 20 minutes per game. And on the left. My heart breaks when I see that. A tear springs up in my eye.”

“I sent him a text message saying: ‘Schalke????????’. He was a good guy – until this morning. Why Kevin? He was at Milan.”

“If the audience wants emotions, but you offer lawn chess, either you or they must look for a new stadium.”

“In my playing career I never succeeded in bringing to the field what was going on in my brain. I had the talent for the 5th division, and the mind for the Bundesliga. The result was a career in the 2nd division.”

10 Best Quotes from Diego Simeone

2015-03-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

One of the best coaches in world football, Diego Simeone has taken Atletico Madrid to the top of Spanish football. The Argentine coach is not only known for his ability to lead his club but also for the incredible quotes he has given us over the years.

Sharply dressed and with a sharp tongue, Diego Simeone enters every press conference ready to set the world on fire, and these are ten of my favorite quotes from “El Cholo”.

“Call me crazy, but I would never coach Real Madrid. I am a fan of Racing and Atletico. I would never coach Independiente and I wouldn’t coach Madrid. It would be foolish.”

“I want to thank all the mothers of my players for giving them so big balls.”

“I apologize because I laughed at Ronaldo and Ramos comments after el clasico….Neymar is a real actor.”

“When I reach a Cup final, my players already know what is going to be my headline quote: You don’t play finals, you win them.”

“I manage a team as if it were my family. From that feeling, everyone makes up a part of my team. From the club president to the groundsman. The most difficult thing is to make them all feel that they are an important part within the group. It’s a difficult task, but if you achieve such a thing, it’s easier for success to come.”

“A player who prefers to be comfortable at a small club where he is the big fish in a small pond will watch cup finals on television.”

“The members of our group who are substitutes on the bench or in the stands, are just as important as the starting XI. Titles are not won with only eleven players. The entire team wins them.”

“The ‘Cholo’ nickname was given to me by a Velez Sarsfield youth coach, Oscar Nessi. He had a footballer at Boca Juniors named Simeone who they called ‘Cholo’. One day in training he called me that and it stayed with me.”

“No, absolutely no. Madrid and Barcelona play in a different league. This is a boring championship for the rest of the supporters who can only aspire to be third or fourth. We’ll have to wait for a different distribution of television money because now the league is only of two.”

“The group has to be with you. It has to believe in you, if it doubts or doesn’t trust you, obstacles begin to appear in your path.”

10 Most Interesting Quotes About David Beckham

2015-03-10T16:00:00.000-04:00

Far from the football fields but surely not forgotten, David Beckham has proved to be a winner in his professional career, playing for some of the biggest clubs on the planet and winning titles in some of the most demanding leagues.

The former LA Galaxy player is better known for his passing, free kicks, underwear commercials and his off the field persona, and while plenty has been said about David Beckham, one thing is surely true, he has always proven to be a professional.

Hated or loved, there seems to be no grey area when it comes to how one feels about David Beckham. Here are ten of the most interesting quotes about David Beckham, the player, the person, the man.

"He was never a problem until he got married. He used to go into work with the academy coaches at night time, he was a fantastic young lad. Getting married into that entertainment scene was a difficult thing - from that moment, his life was never going to be the same. He is such a big celebrity, football is only a small part."
Sir Alex Ferguson in 2007 speaking about Beckham's marriage to pop star Victoria Beckham.

"Maybe he's not a leader, maybe he's not a captain. Fair enough. But at a minimum you should bust your ass every day. That hasn't happened. And I don't think that's too much for us to expect."
Los Angeles Galaxy team-mate Landon Donovan. He eventually apologised for airing his opinions in a book.

"How can you forget that 60-yard goal? He tried it about 10 minutes before he scored and I said to my assistant Brian Kidd, "If he tries that again, he's off. At the time, David was getting carried away a bit and you are always trying to keep his feet on the ground. When the goal goes in, Kiddo turns to me and says, "We'll have to take him off!"'
Sir Alex Ferguson on Beckham's goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996

"What better person to look at than my husband to see how somebody can turn that all around. David is...eh...I call him Goldenballs."
Wife Victoria revealing her nickname for Beckham on Parkinson in 2001

"I've tried to speak to him about it - but I can't understand him."
Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos on Beckham's affair with Rebecca Loos

"His football does not seem to suffer by all of this going on around him. You look at his passing and he makes it look so simple. When he passes the ball, it always seems to go where he wants it to go. That sounds simple, but believe me, it is not."
Coach Graham Taylor

"Signing players of Beckham's stature would be a wonderful step in the right direction not just for the Galaxy but for soccer in America."
Former Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas

"He is a tremendous player and he has contributed so much to the success of Manchester United. He is a world-class performer, so any team would want to accommodate him."
Zinedine Zidane

"He's a winner. There's no doubt about that, and it's stating the obvious to say that he's a tremendous talent."
Former English football great Kevin Keegan

“In my opinion David Beckham is the one footballer of the modern generation who has done the game a great service. Football needs someone like him terribly badly, and providing he can keep a lid on his temper, he's the perfect frontman for the game."
Media personality Michael Parkinson

10 Best Arsène Wenger Quotes

2015-03-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Arsène Wenger is one of the most well respected coaches in the world, and the Arsenal manager is known not only for all the success he has had with Arsenal over the years but also for his analytic and financial decisions while in charge of the London club.

He as a different look at the game and those that are in it, and that is very reflective of his personality and how he embraces the game of football.

This week I have decided to look at Wenger and at what I consider his ten best quotes and like a door to his soul, it gives you a glimpse at the man that has lead Arsenal for nearly two decades.

“Young players need freedom of expression to develop as creative players... they should be encouraged to try skills without fear of failure.”

“When you look at people who are successful, you will find that they aren't the people who are motivated, but have consistency in their motivation.”

“A football team is like a beautiful woman. When you do not tell her, she forgets she is beautiful. It is the same with a team. When you do not tell them they are good, they can also forget.”

“If you have the money and you find the one player who can make you win and make the difference, no matter how expensive he is, you should do it. But there are not many players in the world who will make a real difference.”

“I tried to watch the Spurs match on television in my hotel yesterday, but I fell asleep.”

“Some are wrong because they are not strong enough to fight temptation and some some are wrong because they do not know.”

“Football is an art, like dancing is an art - but only when it's well done does it become an art.”

“The communist model does not work economically, we all realized that, but the capitalist model in the modern world also looks to be unsustainable.”

“It's silly to work hard the whole week and then spoil it by not preparing properly before the game.”

“For me, motivation is a person who has the capability to recruit the resources he needs to achieve a goal.”

10 Best Ronaldinho Gaucho Quotes

2015-02-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ronaldinho is one of the game’s all-time great players. Currently playing in Mexico and away from the lights of Champions League football or the big stages of Europe is easy to forget how great he was and how incredibly talented he still is.

Ronaldinho has always been able to amaze us with his ability on the field but one aspect of him that is most often forgotten is how smart and eloquent he is. When sitting down for an interview, away from the stadiums lights or the night life he enjoys, Ronaldinho gives the fan a different side of him. A side that allows us to truly look inside the man and see what makes him tick.

Here are 10 of the best Ronaldinho quotes.

“My game is based on improvisation. Often, a forward does not have the time to think too much. You have a second, rarely more, to decide whether to dribble, shoot or pass to the right or left. It is instinct that gives the orders.”

“A lot of the moves I make originate from futsal. It's played in a very small space, and the ball control is different in futsal. And to this day my ball control is pretty similar to a futsal player's control.”

“Paolo Maldini and John Terry are two of the toughest men I have met on the field.”

“When I got to the senior national team, there was another Ronaldo, so they started calling me Ronaldinho because I was younger.”

“Football is about joy. It's about dribbling. I favour every idea that makes the game beautiful. Every good idea has to last.”

“I think each player has an individual style. Each is concerned with giving the best to his team, and I think my best talent is dribbling and setting up goal situations, giving an assist or deceiving one of the other team's players.”

“Of course, I follow Bollywood. In fact, it's widely followed in Brazil.”

“When I was 7, I started playing with a club. The only grass on the field was in the corner. There was no grass in the middle! It was just sand.”

“I am passionate about music - and people think because I go to places where I can enjoy music I have to be partying. It isn't true.”

“I have never imagined doing anything other than football, but now, thinking about it coldly, if I hadn't been a footballer, I would have been a musician.”

10 Best Andrea Pirlo Quotes

2015-02-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Andrea Pirlo is an icon of Italian football but also one of the greatest players in world football. His midfield play has been a topic of many discussions, his passing and free kicks are at a level that not many can even dream of reaching, but his prowess is not only on the field but also off the field.

The Chuck Norris of football has delighted fans with some unique takes on football and life, the latest has been the book that he released earlier in the year entitled “I think therefore I play”, a perfect title for a book that gives you a glimpse into the life, passions and career of the Italian maestro.

Here are 10 of the funniest and most outstanding quotes from Pirlo.

“After the wheel, the PlayStation is the best invention of all time. And ever since it’s existed, I’ve been Barcelona, apart from a brief spell way back at the start when I’d go Milan.” – His views on Playstation

“Take someone like (Parma striker) Antonio Cassano. He says he’s slept with 700 women but he doesn’t get picked for Italy any more. Can he really be happy? I wouldn’t be.” – Talking about Cassano

“I didn’t need to be asked twice. In I went. The room was furnished in sober fashion and there was some red wine on the table. “Always a good start,” I muttered to myself. Thankfully the most envied coach in the word didn’t hear me. His way of speaking is very similar to mine – not really tenor style, let’s say. “Make yourself comfortable, Andrea,” he began, his Italian absolutely perfect.” – When he met Guardiola

“I thought about quitting because, after Istanbul, nothing made sense any more. The 2005 Champions League final simply suffocated me.” – Instanbul 2005

“I pictured myself in that white jersey. Pristine, and at the same time aggressive; a mean streak running through its unusual purity. My thoughts often wandered to the Santiago Bernabeu, the Temple, a ground that struck terror into opponents. Bruised and battered slaves at the king’s banquet.” – His view on Real Madrid

“Even Sir Alex Ferguson, the purple-nosed manager who turned Manchester United into a fearsome battleship, couldn’t resist the temptation. He’s a man without blemish, but he ruined that purity just for a moment when it came to me. A fleeting shabbiness came over the legend that night.” – On Sir Alex ferguson

“He called me Pirla (a term used in Milan dialect roughly translated as dickhead), perhaps understanding my true nature more than the other managers. We went through four coaches that year (1999). I’d wake up in the morning and not remember who my coach was.” – On Roy Hodgson

“To most people’s minds, the reason we lost on penalties was Jerzy Dudek – that jackass of a dancer who took the mickey out of us by swaying about on his line and then rubbed salt into the wound by saving our spot kicks.” – On Jerzy Dudek

“You could see the red mist coming down and he just wasn’t able to hide it. We could tell what was coming and so we’d commandeer all the knives. Gattuso would grab a fork and try to stick it in us.” – On Gattuso

“It’s nothing but masturbation for conditioning coaches.” – His view on pre-match conditioning

Top 10 Silvio Berlusconi Quotes

2015-02-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

The AC Milan owner is one of the most charismatic owners in World Football. Not only does he own one of the giants of Italian football he has also been the Prime Minister of Italy for three terms.

Now, one would think that the fact that he has an estimated net worth of US$9.0 billion and is a former Prime Minister would give this loose cannon a bit more stability and accountability. Instead he is a complete maverick, someone who plays by his own rules, says what he wants when he wants it and has no concern for what others may think of him.

Finding quotes to make a top 10 list wasn’t difficult, what was difficult was to narrow it down only to ten.

“Mussolini never killed anyone, he just sent dissenters abroad for vacation.”

“Only Napoleon did more than I have done. But I am definitely taller.”

“Barack Obama being young, handsome and sun-tanned is going to get along with you swimmingly.”

“Obviously the government of [Mussolini's] time, out of fear that German power might lead to complete victory, preferred to ally itself with Hitler's Germany rather than opposing it … The racial laws were the worst fault of Mussolini as a leader, who in so many other ways did well.”

“I am absolutely sure to be the most democratic man to ever become Prime Minister in Italy.”

“Go and read the black book on communism and you'll find that under Mao's China they didn't eat babies but they boiled them to fertilize the fields.”

“The women of the Right are certainly the most beautiful … the Left has no taste, not even when it comes to women.”

“They keep calling me a dwarf, but I'm taller than Sarkozy and Putin.”

“The public prosecutor … should be subject to regular examinations to attest to sanity.”

“I used all my playboy skills and courted the Finnish President.”

Ray Hudson’s Top 10 Quotes

2015-02-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

I am a huge fan of Ray Hudson and it has been a while seen I have written something about the best football commentator on the planet.

After looking at who should I feature in this weekly piece, what better way to start the month that celebrates love and affection than to give some love to the man who makes beIN Sports his home and uses his vocal prowess to enchant the airwaves.

"Like a happily married couple, Messi washes, Kun Aguero dries." (Argentina vs. Sweden, February 2012)

"Milito uses the old Jedi mind trick on them. Fabulous. Picks his spot, finds the target. Laser beam. Darth Vader death ray hit again…" (Barcelona vs. Real Zaragoza, December 2007)

"He better check his pulse as well, the doctor, because this game has enough tranquilizers in it to put a sperm whale to sleep…" (Hertha Berlin vs. Bayern Munich, December 2007)

“Barcelona were like a three pound chicken trying to lay a four pound egg …. Just constipated in front of goal.” (Villareal vs. Barcelona, April 2007)

“I’m telling you man, this kid could be the best thing on two legs since Sophia Loren” - Comparing former Barcelona player, Bojan Krkic to the Italian actress.

"Victor again does his impersonation of the Exxon and spills it." (Racing vs. Barcelona, 11 March 2012)

"Llorente has an absolutely impossible task to hit that first time. Well, he just threw a pint glass into a shot glass. Astonishing." (Athletic Bilbao vs. Manchester United, 15 March 2012)

“Messi…the Mozart of our game. The rest? Banjo players.” - Describing Messi’s play.

"He's a competitor. . . . He'd stab his grandmother in the eyes just for another bowl of porridge." - Describing DC United midfielder Dema Kovalenko

"Without penetration, it's just masturbation, and right now, we're playing with ourselves." - Discussing DC United inability to score goals when he was coaching them

10 Best Eric Cantona Quotes

2015-01-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

Eric Cantona is an icon of French football and of Manchester United. It is very hard to think of either one without thinking of the other.

Cantona was a free spirit on and off the field, leaving everything he had inside the playing surface and always being outspoken about the game and its participants.

If you decide to look at what his best quotes are, some are football related and some are not, but all of them give you a glimpse into the man that he is. Eric Cantona has no equal for what he did and for who he is.

Here are ten of his best quotes.

"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea."

"Sometimes you surprise the goalkeeper and sometimes the goalkeeper surprises you. In my career, I tried to do more of the first than the second."

"When times are difficult, I tell myself, 'I'm just passing through.'"

"My best moment? I have a lot of good moments but the one I prefer is when I kicked the hooligan."

"It's my country but I don't want to know about France - I was born there but I feel English."

"The French have only negative things to say about everything and everyone."

"Often there are players who have only football as a way of expressing themselves and never develop other interests. And when they no longer play football, they no longer do anything; they no longer exist, or rather they have the sensation of no longer existing."

"Sometimes you get submerged by emotion. I think it's very important to express it - which doesn't necessarily mean hitting someone."

"The real fans of football come from the working class. Now they cannot afford to come and watch the game."

"I don't think we can be entirely happy seeing such misery around us."

10 Best Sir Bobby Robson Quotes

2015-01-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

While not a fan of any of the teams coached by Sir Bobby Robson, I cannot say enough about how great this man was. He was indeed one of the great gentlemen of the game of football and when he died the game lost someone who was loved and adored by all.

I have never met anyone that has had anything bad to say about him and I don’t think such a person even exists. I had the pleasure to follow his career as a coach when he moved to Portugal to first coach Sporting CP and then FC Porto, and while I hated those teams and the titles he won with FC Porto the league was better just for having him in it.

It is only fair that this week’s best quotes are from Sir Bobby Robson, a man that has become synonymous with class in a game that sometimes can be classless.

Here are my ten favorite Sir Bobby Robson quotes.

"We can't replace Gary Speed. Where do you get an experienced player like him with a left foot and a head?"

“We didn't underestimate them. They were a lot better than we thought.”

"With Maradona, even Arsenal would have won the World Cup." (in 1986)

"He's the only man I know who could start an argument with himself" (On Craig Bellamy)

"People want success. It's like coffee, they want instant."

“Alan Shearer has done very well for us, considering his age. We have introduced some movement into his game because he has got two good legs now. Last season he played with one leg.”

"Gary Speed has never played better, never looked fitter, never been older."

“The margin is very marginal.”

"When Gazza was dribbling, he used to go through a minefield with his arm, a bit like you go through a supermarket."

“Some of the goals were good, some of the goals were sceptical.”

10 Best Franz Beckenbauer Quotes

2015-01-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

Frans Beckenbauer is one of the most iconic German players of all time. He has won the World Cup with Germany as a player and as a manager something that is not at the reach of everyone.

Der Kaiser, as he is known by fans, has never been a man that has lacked passion or opinion, and is always quick to let everyone know what he thinks on any given subject.

Here are 10 of his most incredible quotes, like him or not, he is one of the few former players left that tells it as it is.

"They are all like prostitutes: they smoke, they're lazy, and they sleep all day." – referring to Bayern Munich players.

"Abroad, a perfect World Cup in Germany is taken as a given because the Germans are regarded as perfectionists there." – On how Germany is viewed

"The trouble for today's footballers is they have too many distractions. We used to get our old players coming to watch training with football magazines in their hands. Now, more often than not, they are checking the share prices." – On today’s players.

“As someone who played a team sport, I feel a bit uncomfortable being ranked as an individual so high.” – On how people rate him

"We are unfortunately not perceived as a particularly friendly people. We have to improve on that." – On how German’s are viewed

“The strong one doesn’t win; the one that wins is strong.”

"I was told to mark what was then the best player - Bobby Charlton. Bobby told me later that (England manager) Alf Ramsey had told him to keep an eye on this young, good-looking German guy."

"The Dutch are braver and more creative players, but less disciplined. They want to let the opponent see and feel that they're better, but they forget to score and settle the game." - On the Dutch style of play

“The most important thing however is the money. What use would it be to us, to have a mighty stadium but a useless team, because we couldn't afford anything better?”

“Certainly it is a different world for players nowadays. But it depends on the individual.”

10 Best Eusebio Quotes

2015-01-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the day the world lost Eusebio. By far the greatest Portuguese player of all time, Eusebio was someone that was admired and loved by all, fans, opponents, people in general.

He has left a legacy behind that not many will be able to achieve and his humbleness made him an even more special person that made this world a better place.

Either while representing Benfica, the club of his heart, or Portugal, Eusebio always gave his all and his best and he was someone who history will always remember for what he did on the field during the time he played. While we can all watch videos of some of his incredible goals and victories, one thing we tend to forget or neglect is how insightful he was. He was a wonderful and intelligent man that when he spoke people listened.

Here are ten of Eusebio’s best quotes.

“I was never afraid of getting whacked. My left knee alone was operated six times, but I was never afraid, because I always loved to play.”

“If they gave me a choice I would die there, at Benfica's stadium. Its the house that made me a man, where I am since I was 18. We do not get to choose, but I'd like to... And in an intense match and with a Benficas victory.”

“The greatest joy I had was with my first international victory, in 1962, when Benfinca won the European Cup. The greatest sorrow was the defeat in the semi-finals at the 1966 World Championship.”

“I told Coluna, our captain, that I wanted to take it. He agreed. I put the ball down and Real’s goalie Araquistan began to call me, in Spanish: litte negro, bitch, faggot. I asked Coluna what it all meant. He told me, “Just shoot and I’ll tell you later”. I shot and I scored. At the end of the game, Araquistan spoke to Coluna. Then he came to me to apologize. Only then did Coluna translate the ugly words for me.”

"I could have bought half this city." – Talking about Lisbon

“Benfica never used players from other countries – not even Brazilians, who spoke the same language but were considered foreigners. Everybody was from Portugal or from the Portuguese African colonies. It's not like that today, unfortunately.”

“I can't forget my older team-mates who always gave me advice. I was always around them because it was with them that I learned how to be a man and learned how to respect your adversary and to earn respect on the pitch.”

“The team didn't change much in 10 years. Can you imagine playing with the same team for 10 years? Today, unfortunately, this doesn't happen any more. After playing together for 10 years we didn't even need a coach! If I picked up the ball, other players knew what I was going to do, or when Simoes got the ball we all knew what he was going to do, and where we had to run to collect the pass and score a goal. It was easy!”

“In my opinion, one player was the most complete: Alfredo Di Stefano. They are all great players, but Di Stefano had it all.”

“I'm not sad about my experiences at Wembley. I played there, I scored goals – I'm just disappointed I didn't win the matches. But I'm glad I played there because for me it will always be one of the best stadiums in the world.”

10 Best Quotes of the 2014 World Cup

2014-12-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

As we wrap up 2014 I have decided to look back into this summer’s World Cup and put together the 10 best sound bites that we had during this summer’s tournament.

It was a good tournament, and one that used all spectrums of social media. It had a direct impact on the fans and viewers and gave us a different outlook on the games and emotions that the participants were feeling.

Here are my ten favorite quotes from this year’s World Cup.

"I didn’t like Brazil from the start, but I didn’t think Germany were going to be so imposing, so devastating, so decisive." – Diego Maradona

"Messi could be the best player in the world - if he was human." – Carlos Queiroz

"As amazing as it sounds, the ball hit my mustache, It was a mustache goal" – Fred

"If I had played this way I would have been destroyed by the Belgian press," said Wilmots, "we were not impressed by the Argentines, absolutely not, it’s just an ordinary team." – Marc Wilmots

"If we beat Costa Rica I want a kiss, obviously on the cheek, from the UK Queen." – Mario Balotelli

"The truth is that my colleague Giorgio Chiellini suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision he suffered with me" – Luis Suarez

"He (Suarez) should go for a treatment." – FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke

"Everyone knows what they’ve done to Luis. They wanted him out of the World Cup. Perfect, they did it. They chucked him out of there like a dog." – Suarez grandmother

"It was a very violent, unlawful tackle. It was an evil tackle." – Ronaldo

"I taught Romero how to save penalties, so yes - it hurts." – Louis van Gaal

10 Best Quotes from Pep’s Guardiola New Book

2014-12-23T12:00:00.000-05:00

Spanish journalist Marti Perarnau was given incredible access to Pep Guardiola during his first year in charge of Bayern Munich and the result is one of 2014 best football books.

Very candid and open, a side of Pep Guardiola that we hadn’t seen before is what you get when you open the book and dive in. Once you sit down with the book, you realize that you have been granted a glimpse at the life of one of football’s top managers. The book is “The Inside Story of Pep Guardiola’s First Season at Bayern Munich”.

Here are 10 of the best quotes from the book.

"I know Mourinho only too well and he's trying to provoke me into a reaction. I'm not going to react, I'm not going to answer back. Only when I think the time is right."

"I hate tiki-taka. I always will. I want nothing more to do with tiki-taka. Tiki-taka is a load of shit, a made-up term. It means passing the ball for the sake of passing, with no real aim or aggression - nothing. I will not allow my brilliant players to fall for all that rubbish."

"Mesut Özil is the dangerous one - he's the one we need to keep the closest eye on. Mikel Arteta draws you in, Özil pops up in that zone with Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - that's the way that they achieve superiority. We can't afford that to happen."

"Lahm is a scandal. He is super-intelligent, understands the game brilliantly, knows when to come inside or to stay wide. The guy is fucking exceptional."

"The first half against Arsenal at the Emirates in the Champions League [2010] and the first half against Chelsea in the semi-final of 2012. We never played better than those two days."

"I like this atmosphere. I could see myself coaching here one day."

"I sit down and watch two or three videos. I take notes. That's when that flash of inspiration comes - the moment that makes sense of my profession. The instant I know, for sure, that I've got it. I know how to win. It only lasts for about a minute, but it's the moment that my job becomes truly meaningful."

"When you see Leo in the space between the lines down the middle, don't hesitate. Give him the ball."

"I got it wrong, man. I got it totally wrong. It's a monumental fuck-up. A total mess. The biggest fuck-up of my life as a coach." (speaking about Real Madrid’s 4-0 win at Bayern Munich

"If you train badly, you play badly. If you work like a beast in training, you play the same way. And these guys, they train like beasts"

10 Best Joey Barton Quotes

2014-12-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

Nobody provides better sound bites in English football than Jose Mourinho but a very close second has to be Joey Barton. The bad boy of English football has the ability to throw more verbal jabs than any of his fellow team mates and opponents, and they are vicious, funny and sometimes just plain stupid, but always entertaining.

The invention of Twitter has given Barton an open medium to vent all his anger and his frustrations, and begs the question of what would he do if he didn’t have Twitter. Perhaps he would write a best seller, I don’t doubt his ability to put something together in time for the holiday season. Until he decides to do that, we have him on Twitter and other social media, unleashing jabs at anybody that crosses his path.

"If there is a God. If you do exist. Prove yourself. Take out either Chiles or Townsend with a stray bolt of lightning. The nation awaits."

Joey on his former team mate and manager Alan shearer:
"I really don't like that prick, in fact I honestly despise him...I'd take it off Hansen and Lineker but not from that bell, same fella that stamped on Neil Lennon,then threatened FA if they banned him"

"Can someone take the helium of Carragher for the after the match stuff. Dogs all over England standing to attention every time he speaks..."

Barton on Justin Bieber:
"He looks little a shaved little bird with earrings. This is a truly fucked up world, if he's 'cool'".

On Suarez incident:
"People are going on like he's actually eaten someone. Nobody has died. Worse things happen in nurseries every day of the week. Move on FFS!"

More Ranting on Thatcher-
"£8m cost to the taxpayers for a state funeral? She enriched her friends at cost of millions of jobs. She should pay for her own funeral!"

After seeing David Beckham's Super Bowl advert for a new range of underwear, Joey tweeted. ..
"Not arsed if they're Beckham's or not. 9.99 pounds for a pair of gruds for H&M is an outrage, do one Becks. They cost about 1p to make in a sweat shop in the Third World, is there no limit to what 'Brand Beckham' will endorse for a pound note?"

"If your over the age of 14 and are male and listen to Justin Bieber, then you my friend are on a slippery slope."

"The reason I'm successful is that I work hard. I'm more intelligent than about 97% of the British Isles. If anything football has held me back. If I wasn't a footballer I'd be still more successful than 97% of youse. Still harder working than 97% of youse. Still living life not just taking part. Some of you want to get off you arse's and take part in life. Before you know it you will be dead and know one will even know u existed"

"Neymar is like the Justin Bieber of football. Brilliant on the old YouTube. Cat piss in reality ..."

Top 10 Thierry Henry Quotes

2014-12-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

Thierry Henry has been one of the most iconic footballers of his generation. From his time with Arsenal to the trophies he won with Barcelona to a move to MLS to represent the NY Red Bulls, Henry has always been a recognizable name in the football world not only for his goals but for being a winner.

He helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and the Euro in 2000 in what will be one of the golden generations of French football. He is currently the captain of the NY Red Bulls and his legacy in the game of football will live on with future generations.

He is also a very well-spoken man outside of the field of play and that can be easily seen in the following ten quotes that I have put together. It is obvious in these quotes his desire to succeed and to always push himself to the limits. These are Thierry Henry top 10 quotes.

“I know at times I’m a pain in the neck, The Boss [Arsene Wenger] knows that for a fact! But that’s me, I’m 100%. Whatever I do, I do it with my heart. I don’t calculate – I act.”

“When I go home, sometimes, even when I had an amazing game, I always think about what I missed.”

“Arsenal is in my blood as well as my heart. I will always, always, always remember you guys. I said I was going to be a Gooner for life and I did not lie because when you are a Gooner, you will always be a Gooner. This club is in my heart and will remain in my heart forever.”

“Sometimes in football, you have to score goals.”

“When I step on the pitch, when I have the ball I know it’s mine. It’s just a feeling.”

“Everybody knows how much I love Arsenal – I became a fan. And to be out here [in front of the Emirates as a statue] celebrating a goal against Tottenham, there’s not much else to say after that…Like I’ve said before, Once a Gooner, always a Gooner.”

“That is something that I always want to do when I arrive somewhere, is to know about the culture, the country and about the club, to make sure I know what it takes to wear the jersey.”

“I don’t regret leaving [Arsenal]. I don’t regret stuff in my life, it happens for a reason, whatever reason, in my personal life also, I don’t regret stuff.”

“It took me a while to understand what that club [Arsenal] meant. That why sometimes I got so mad, because I was so in to it. I became a fan. I actually became a fan.”

“When we won the league at Tottenham, they came back 2-2 in the last-minute of the game, and they’re celebrating – because they’re happy to draw against us, obviously. And I remember saying to Mauricio Tarricco, do you realise we only need a point to be Champions? And they all [were really shocked]. So I said ‘Yes. Now we’re going to celebrate on your pitch. Bye bye!'”

10 Best Del Piero Quotes

2014-12-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

Del Piero is an icon of world football, but for Juventus fans he has reached almost a God like status. His love for the club and his determination to play under any conditions in order to help his beloved club win has made him a cult hero among the diehard Juventus fans.

He has left the club to continue his career but he will forever be linked with Juventus, and he will always be one of the classiest players you will ever see.

When we think of Del Piero we perhaps don’t think of great quotes or even of someone who is extremely outspoken, but he is someone that when he talks, everyone should listen as it is proven by the quotes below.

“Money is not everything. My ambition was football itself, not the money I'd make from it. If that brings me and my family a more comfortable lifestyle, then that's fine. But I don't spend my time between games and training sessions thinking about figures.”

“Luckily, thanks to the way my parents taught me, I think I can handle the fame in the right manner.”

“I even scored Monaco's goal too. Please, put it down as an own goal for me!”

“Italy have plenty of high-quality players. Newcomers need time to get adjusted to the set-up and the system of play. I'm very young, and although I think I have shown good quality in my international games, I realize that there are plenty of others competing for places.”

“As far as our fans are concerned, I'm the only one who counts; along with my teammates, obviously.”

“I'm the leading scorer in the cup, and that's lovely, but don't forget this is also a great moment for the whole squad, when the two things coincide you can't ask for more.”

“As captain, I must always be an example to my team-mates. I'm calm and I don't have any problem with the coach or with the club. My only goal is to be ready whenever I have the opportunity to play.”

“As for Sweden v Denmark it is hard for it to end 2-2. 0-0 and 1-1 are results which are easier to achieve but 2-2 would make you think of an accord between the two sides.”

“One bad showing will not stop us. Having so many games so close to one another on the one hand makes things very difficult but on the other it gives us the possibility to remediate things right away.”

"The championship was won by me and my teammates in equal measure, Naturally, it's nice to be the center of attention, and the fact that I've scored more goals than in past years and have scored more than my teammates has obviously given me a high profile. I've just tried to do my best as always... and I've definitely grown. But I have to thank my teammates and all those who have worked with us."

10 Greatest George Best Quotes

2014-11-25T12:00:00.001-05:00

Today is the anniversary of the death of George Best. He passed away in November 25th 2005 at the age of 59 but he left the footballing world incredible memories of his playing days and of his off the field stories.

He was a larger than life person, with an appetite for alcohol and woman that perhaps was only matched by his incredible ability to play football. A legend of the game that left us too early but for sure will never be forgotten.

He was one of the greats that this beautiful game has ever seen and one that we will all remember.

What better way to celebrate his life on the anniversary of his passing than to put together his 10 best quotes, these should all remind us of how funny he was but also how aware he was of his own daemons and problems.

"I once said Gazza's IQ was less than his shirt number and he asked me: "What's an IQ?"
George Best on Paul Gascoigne

"He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right." Best on David Beckham

"There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it's been a compliment to me." Best on Cristiano Ronaldo

"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." Best on his spending

“I was born with a great gift, and sometimes with that come a destructive streak.” Best on his life

“I've stopped drinking, but only while I'm asleep.” Best on his alcohol abuse

“Love is about mutual respect, apart from attraction.” Best on love

“I used to go missing a lot... Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World.” Best on his sex life

"In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life." Best on his additions

"If you'd given me the choice of going out and beating four men and smashing a goal in from thirty yards against Liverpool or going to bed with Miss World, it would have been a difficult choice. Luckily, I had both." Best on his life

10 Best Zlatan Ibrahimovic Quotes

2014-11-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most iconic and outspoken players of his generation. The PSG and Sweden international is known to have a way with words, similar on how he seems to have a way with defenders that try to mark him.

It is very difficult to narrow down to 10 quotes, when he has so many great one liners and responses to journalist during media scrums, but these are to me his 10 best quotes.

Talking about defender Stephane Henchoz

"First I went left, he did too. Then I went right, and he did too. Then I went left again, and he went to buy a hot dog.”

After receiving some criticism from John Carew

“What Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange.”

When asked by a reporter about a scar on his face

"Well...I don't know... you'll have to ask your wife about that."

Asked by a journalist if Ajax could lose 9 points in 9 games

“According to my calculations it is possible to lose nine points in only three games.”

Following his move to PSG he was asked about finding a house in Paris

“We are looking for an apartment [in Paris]. If we don’t find anything, then I’ll probably just buy the hotel.”

Commenting on how Pep Guardiola used him at Barcelona

“When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari. If you drive a Ferrari you put premium fuel in the tank, you drive onto the motorway and you floor the accelerator. Guardiola filled up with diesel and went for a spin in the countryside. If that’s what he wanted, he should have bought himself a Fiat from the start.”

At the age of 17 he was offered a trial at Arsenal by Arsene Wenger

“I couldn’t believe it. I was like ‘No way, Zlatan doesn’t do auditions’.”

When asked about what he had bought his wife for her birthday

“Nothing, she already has Zlatan.”

Commenting on Balotelli's fireworks incident

“I like fireworks too, but I set them off in gardens or in kebab stands. I never set fire to my own house.”

When asked about Ligue 1 and if he knew any of the star players in the league

It’s true that I don’t know much about the players in Ligue 1 but for sure, they know who I am.

10 Best Quotes about Cristiano Ronaldo

2014-11-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Cristiano Ronaldo will always be remembered as one of the greatest if not the greatest player of his generation. What he has done at club and country put him in a place that many would only dream of reaching.

As we look back at what is quickly becoming another record breaking season for Cristiano Ronaldo and the most then likely third Ballon d’Or, I have put together a list of the 10 best quotes about the legend, Cristiano Ronaldo.

"There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it's been a compliment to me." - George Best

"The kid makes you sick. He looks the part, he walks the part, he is the part. He's six-foot something, fit as a flea, good-looking - he's got to have something wrong with him.... Hopefully he's hung like a hamster! That would make us all feel better!" - English football manager Ian Holloway

"After we played Sporting last week, the lads in the dressing room talked about him constantly, and on the plane back from the game they urged me to sign him. That's how highly they rated him." - Sir Alex Ferguson

"He does things I have never seen from any other player and it really is marvellous to watch. It takes a great player to grab the bull by the horns and make things happen, but he has done it repeatedly." -Bobby Charlton

“There are some things Ronaldo can do with a football that make me touch my head and wonder how on earth he did it.” – Figo

"I liked Ronaldo straight away. He had a nice presence about him and a good attitude. After watching him train for a few days I thought: 'This lad is going to be one of the best players in the world.' - Roy Keane

"He's 6'2", brave as a lion, strong as an ox, quick as lightning. If he was good looking you'd say he has everything!" - English football manager Paul Jewell

"When Cristiano Ronaldo gets the ball, you can just leave him to it while he beats player after player." - Ryan Giggs

"He has magic in his boots. The first thing you notice about him is that he is incredibly quick and very, very powerful for such a young man. He has great, close control and his technique is excellent. He believes he can do anything with the ball, and that confidence makes him very special indeed." - Eusebio

"I remember the first time I saw him play. It was for a Sporting CP youth team. I told my assistant, 'There goes Van Basten's son.' Ronaldo had great technique. He stood out." - Jose Mourinho

"He's a world star in football like Michael Jordan was in basketball ... They have both been blessed with a genius that has never been seen before." - Carlos Queiroz

Top 10 Football Legends That Never Won The Ballon d’Or

2014-11-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

In this era of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo we often forget that some of the biggest names in world football played their entire careers without winning a single Ballon d’Or.

These incredible 10 players had careers that would be the envy of most and won almost everything that there was to win, but none of them ever won the so desirable Ballon d’Or.

Here are the top 10 football legends that never won the Ballon d’Or.

Pele

Arguably the worldest greatest footballer of all time never won a Ballon d’Or, not due to his ability or quality, but rather to the fact that the award was only available to European players during his career. The three time World Cup winner and the greatest player during a period of time that stretched from the 50’s to the 70’s.

Maradona

The Argentinian player was with Pele perhaps the best player to have ever played the game of football. The 1986 World Cup winner was the icon of the footballing world during the 80’s, but due to the fact that the award was only given to European players he was never able to receive this honor. The award would eventually be open to all players in 1995, a year after he had retired from football.

Hugo Sanchez

The Mexican striker and Real Madrid star was an icon during the 80’s and 90’s. During his best years he wasn’t eligible for the award, and when he became eligible it was too late for him to have a real chance of winning it.

Puskas

The Hungarian star was one of the best players in Europe during the 50’s. He won everything that he could have won with Real Madrid, and came very close of national glory with his Hungarian national side. Injuries prevented him for giving his country the glory he was able to give Real Madrid. One if not the best European player of the 50’s never won the award.

Dino Zoff

When you think of world class goalkeepers, you always have to mention the name Dino Zoff. He won the 1982 World Cup in Spain with Italy and participated in two more, he was also voted the third best goalkeeper of all time behind the greats Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks, but he never won the single honor of receiving the Ballon d’Or.

Paolo Maldini

He was an icon of Italian football and an icon of AC Milan. He won five Champions League trophies, seven Scudetto’s with AC Milan and was only in the final ballot for the Ballon d’Or once, in 2003 when he finished third in the voting behind Henry and Nedved.

Raul

The former captain and Real Madrid striker has recently joined the NY Cosmos of the NASL in the United States, and while he won all possible titles with Real Madrid and holds several club records, he never won the award. He is the only player in history to have won the Forward of the Year award three times, but he was never close to winning the Ballon d’Or.

Xavi

The main engine of the Barcelona of Pep Guardiola was Xavi. Winning titles with Barcelona and Spain were not enough for him to beat his teammate Messi for the award in 2010 and 2011 when he finished behind the Argentinian star in the voting.

Iniesta

He had the misfortune to have shared the same era as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, which can also be said about Xavi. Had he been around in a different era we would probably be speaking of him in a different way and his mantle at home would have several Ballon d’Or trophies.

Thierry Henry

The French striker was nominated only once for the Ballon d’Or, in 2003. He is one of the greatest offensive players of his generation and he has won every single trophy you can win at the club level as well as for his country. He will look back and see that the only trophy he never lifted was the Ballon d’Or.

10 of the Worst Tackles in Football

2014-10-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

A nice timed tackle can save a goal scoring opportunity, but not every single tackle is a work of art. Some tackles are bad, some are just horrible and then there are those that look more like something out of a Kung Fu movie.

The videos you are about to see are 10 of those tackles. The tackles are not listed in any specific order, but all of them are brutal and spectacular at the same time.

Danny Guthrie vs Hull City

Nigel de Jong vs Spain

Michael Brown vs Portsmouth

Benjamin Massing vs Argentina

Commins Menapi vs Auckland City

Kevin Muscat vs Melbourne Heart

Graeme Souness vs Steau Bucharest

Harold Schumacher vs France

Nuno Claro vs Astra Ploiesti

Ben Thatcher vs Portsmouth

10 Quotes That Best Describe Messi

2014-10-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

This past week Messi celebrated 10 years since he wore the Barcelona kit for the first time with the senior squad. To celebrate that landmark I decided to put together the 10 quotes that best describe Messi.

In the end it is hard to describe what he does on the field, but these 10 quotes do a very good job at getting close to it.

“One day I’ll be able to tell my grandchildren that I coached Leo.” – Guardiola

“For me, to watch Messi play is a pleasure – It’s like having an orgasm – It’s an incredible pleasure.” – Luis Figo

“Once they said they can only stop me with a pistol. Today you need a machine gun to stop Messi.” – Stoichkov

“Messi or Ronaldo best player in the world? In the world, I would say Ronaldo. Messi is from another planet.” – Arda Turan

“They tell me that all men are equal in God’s eyes, this player makes you seriously think about those words.” – Ray Hudson

“I see Maradona every time he grabs the ball and accelerates. We must protect him. I’d personally put him in a drawer of my bedside table.” – Veron

“What Leo does is so incredible that I have to be careful not to stand still watching him make his moves.” – Thierry Henry

“Cristiano knows English, Messi knows football.” – Fabio Capello

“I wear the number 10 jersey for the US National Team in honour of the greatest athlete I have ever seen: Messi.” – Kobe Bryant

“Who is the Best Player in the World? Leo Messi. Who is the Best Player Ever? Leo Messi.” – Arsene Wenger