Bill Shankly, English soccer manager.
Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.

Phil Woosnam, Welsh soccer player and manager.
The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it until it does.

Jean Paul Sartre, French philosopher.
In football everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team.

Roy Keane, Irish soccer player and English football club manager.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Ronaldo, Brazilian soccer player, after winning 2002 World Cup.
I'm sure sex wouldn't be so rewarding as this World Cup. It's not that sex isn't good but the World Cup is every four years and sex is not.

Johan Cryuff, Dutch soccer player.
Italians can't win the game against you, but you can lose the game against the Italians.

Anthony Burgess, English writer.
Five days shalt thou labour, as the Bible says. The seventh day is the Lord thy God's. The sixth day is for football.

Bill Shankly, English soccer manager.
If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing.

Eric Cantona, talking nonsense:
When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.

George Best, on women and alcohool:
In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol; it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.

David Beckham, on Sir Alex Ferguson while still at Manchester United:
Alex Ferguson is the best manager I've ever had at this level. Well, he's the only manager I've actually had at this level. But he's the best manager I've ever had.