JOHAN CRUYFF ON ROMÁRIO AND THE RIO CARNIVAL
One day, Romário asked me for three days off to go to the Rio Carnival. I replied, ‘If you score two goals tomorrow, I’ll give you two more days off …
MICHEL PLATINI AND THE MARSEILLAISE BEFORE FOOTBALL MATCHES
Today it seems that if you don’t sing the Marseillaise, you don’t love France. I’ve never even sung the Marseillaise, and yet I love France. It’s a war anthem, which …
GEORGE BEST AND THE CRUYFF TUNNEL
“It was 1976, Northern Ireland vs. Holland. I was playing against Johan Cruyff, one of the greatest players of all time. In the fifth minute, I took the ball, went …
WALTER SAMUEL AND THE HOPE OF WINNING THE BALLON D’OR
“I’ll tell you that I always hoped to compete for the Ballon d’Or over the years. It was always a topic of conversation in the dressing room at the clubs …
STEVEN GERRARD ON FRANCESCO TOTTI, THE KING OF ROME
Totti has exceptional technique; he’s a fantastic player. The reason I respect him so much is because in Rome, all the weight rests on his shoulders. Totti is the King …
SEBASTIEN FREY’S RETIREMENT
I’m retiring. I don’t play anymore, I’m tired. Over the last three or four years, I’ve realized that this world belongs less and less to me. Kids today think they’re …