Footballer Biography Quiz: Who said it?

“This was the journey: from Blackheath Bluecoats, my school, I’d take the number 53 bus to New Cross. That was 20-minutes. From New Cross I’d take the East London line to Whitechapel, then walk through to Bank and get the tube to Stratford from where I caught an overground train to Dagenham and Redbridge. Then it was another bus to Chadwell Heath and then a 10-minute walk to the West Ham training ground.”

“The end of every season is the same, whether it results in glory, failure or mid-table obscurity, there is only one thing on my mind: holidays. We’ve learnt over the years not to book a holiday in the first two weeks immediately after the season. Why? Because all I do is sleep. I’m sure many people are aware of this phenomenon – when your body seems to shut down when you get a break after a particularly hectic period – and I know it hits most of my teammates, too. When the season stops, I don’t simply have a few lie-ins – I can barely stay awake for most of the day.”

“Then there is cricket. Your quaint little English game has become a major passion in my life. I just love the whole thing – the setting, the beer, the eccentric rules, the numbers. I’m a big numbers man, but more about that later.”

“My mum was good at sports. She was keen on running, net-ball and rounders, and she represented her school. She was asked to enter for national trials, so she always used to tell me, but she never did – couldn’t be bothered, I suppose.”

“That shirt, with its Smurf-like blue, gives you a whole new image across the world. It takes you to a higher level. Much better to be a soldier on the pitch than in the bedroom.”

“I look at the current players and they should be doing a lot better. Not liking a manager can never be an excuse for not going out and doing your best.”

“I sit down and watch videos. I take notes. That’s when that 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’s the moment that my job becomes truly meaningful”

“The advance publicity was that Benitez was a control freak, which turned out to be correct”

“I mentioned it again and he snapped. He got s****y about it. He got up and started shouting. “Listen,” he yelled, “I’m not singing and I’ve had enough of you banging on about it.”

“I didn’t qualify for Ireland. I was a fraud. A fake Irishman.