Quotes

All our favourite quotes from the world of football...

George Best Quotes

"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." Discussing another Manchester United wideman, David Beckham, in August 2000.

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

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

"We're not signing Messi. He's a good player but not a player who's going to get the ball and make things happen." The Crystal Palace defender isn't exactly enthusiastic at the club's new record signing, Christian Benteke, in August 2016.

"If you want entertainment go and watch a bunch of clowns." The Stoke City manager in 1980 after a dull 2:0 defeat at Arsenal.

"When I see clubs like Liverpool and Man United celebrating getting into the top four, I cringe at it, I really do. Do you think that Real Madrid and Barcelona would be celebrating getting fourth ? Come on, get a grip. It's about getting your hands on a trophy. People talk about getting into the top four because of the financial rewards and it was great for teams like Leicester to qualify but for the big teams, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, celebrating fourth ? I say shame on you." The no-nonsense Irishman talks some sense for once. The glory in Football should be about winning trophies, not sneaking into fourth place in the Premiership.

"He was like a hunting dog. If you went to the toilet, he'd follow you there." Kempes comments on the man-marking skills of Italian hardman Claudio Gentile.

"Football is a simple game - 22 men chase the ball for 90 minutes, and at the end the Germans win."

"You can lose a game, but what you cant lose is the dignity earned playing good football." Spoken like a true futbol romantic.

"My sayings were never addressed to the assistant, but they were said to the air." Argentina's captain protested his innocence after receiving a four-match ban for abusing an official in a World Cup qualifying match against Chile in March 2017.

"I saw a banner that said the real battle against modern football is to wear the same jersey for 25 years. I know how hard it is to be in a city and a club that divides everyone, but Totti managed to unite everybody. Nobody can argue with Totti." De Rossi pays tribute to team-mate Francesco Totti after his emotional last game for the club.

"Someone said 'Football is more important than life and death to you' and I said 'Listen, it's more important than that.' " The classic quote from the Liverpool legend back in 1981.