Franz Beckenbauer on why Germany has historically been so successful at the World Cup: "It's not that Germany produces the best footballers, it's that the German mentality is stronger than other nations". Inter Milan/Italy legend Giancinto Fachetti on marking Pele at the 1970 WC Finals: "I thought he was made of flesh and bones like everyone else, but I was wrong!"
My mistake, you're correct. Come to think of it I liked this one I forgot to add unapologetic quote from your Juventus/Italian legend Claudio Gentile when questioned about his (some say dirty!) defending: "Football is not a sport for ballerinas". Classic.
Now I remember that quote. It's typical Gentile. When Kevin Keegan won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1978, Gentile told him "You would not have won if I was marking you." I agree with Claudio on that count.
Couldn't it be argued, however, that if Gentile was THAT good, he himself would've won Euro Footballer of the Year?
That's not the point. The point is that the defenders Keegan played against weren't tight markers in the Gentile mould.
In Maradona's biography he talks about his obsession with a quote by Obdulio Varela before the World Cup final game in 1950, when asked if he was happy with his team's performance, Varela responded that "we will only have fulfilled our duty when we have become World Champions" (don't have the book handy to check the exact wording). This drove Maradona on through the World Cups in 86 and 90
Well, I was only joking, as noted by the 'sticking-out-tongue' smilie. But since you bring it up, who in that era would you rate alongside Gentile? Keegan played in the Bundesliga when he won those awards, and during the late-70s the Bundesliga was considered the strongest and toughest league in Europe. As great as Keegan was at Liverpool, English journalists at the time stated that he became an even better player while at Hamburg.
At that time, Gentile was definitely the most ruthless. In the Bundesliga, Manni Kaltz would have been the best right-back at that stage. Berti Vogts was past his best but still a man to fear. Uli Stielike wasn't a right-back but he would have been the only German who would have been just as ruthless as Gentile. In England, Scot Kenny Burns was one of the toughest and he is well rememebered for marking Keegan out of the 1980 European Cup Final. If we talk about all defenders in general, Schwarzenbeck, Krol, Zmuda, Scirea and Passarella were amonst the best at the time.
Gotta love Gattuso. The guy wears his heart on his sleeves like no other. Truly a warrior and a great footballer.
"If I walked on water, my accusers would say it is because I can't swim." Berti Vogts "Offside is, when the referee whistles." Franz Beckenbauer "Nobody loves me, you can ask my wife." Hans Mayer "Sometimes you lose and sometimes the others win." Otto Rehhagel "The ball is round" Sepp Herberger "The game lasts 90 minutes" Sepp Herberger "After the game is before the game" Sepp Herberger "The next game is always the toughest one" Sepp Herberger "The next game is always the next one." Matthias Sammer
Two Quotes from former Celtic manager, Jock Stein "Celtic jerseys are not for second best, They don't shrink to fit inferior players" "I don't believe everything Bill tells me about his players. Had they been that good, they'd not only have won the European Cup but the Ryder Cup, the Boat Race and even the Grand National!" Jock Stein on Bill Shankly(sorry if i peeved a couple liverpoll fans with that one, lol.)
Miguel Angel Lotina, coach: "Crowds are fickle, one day they throw you flowers, another day they throw you the flower pot"
"Do not give me problematic, I'll give you "solutionatic". "There are only three things that can stop in air: a hummingbird, a helicopter, and Dadá." "After Garrincha, Dadá is the greatest joy of the people." "I was so focused in scoring goals that I didn't have time to learn how to play football." "There's no such thing as an ugly goal. Ugly is to not score one." "I do not play football, I score goals." Dadá Maravilha - a center-forward, and As of 2006, is the 3rd top scorer in the history of Brazilian football, trailing Pelé and Romário.
"My Mum breast fed me until I was six or seven. The doctor says that's why I'm so strong" - Joaquín reveals.
summer of 05', FSC were showing highlights of a Chelsea preseason...Drogba headed over the bar Jeremy St. Louis: "Didier Drogba already showing his mid-season form"
Heh! The first one reminds me of Tommy Docherty: Board Director: We're all behind you Tommy Docherty: Well in that case I want you in front of me where I can see you. Also, when he was at Preston playing alongside Tom Finney, they used to get paid very small amounts in the close season: Docherty: How come Finney gets paid more than me? Preston Chairman: He's a better player than you. Docherty: Not during the summer he's not.
I saw the guy playing during the 80's and he was MUCH BETTER than Ronaldo or any other striker we had. After Romario and Pele' no player could score goals like Dada' did... the guy was the bomb!
Now I remember who he is! I know him as Dario though. I heard that he was good enough to play in 1970 for Brazil but Saldanha dropped him and even once Zagallo took charge, he was on the bench, if that. The Brazilian president was a big fan of his. "Everybody loves Dario!"