Wit And Wisdom Of Football

Football is a game rich in quotable characters. From the bullish Herbert Chapman to the brashness of Big Ron; from the acerbic wit of Cloughie to the inspired lunacy of Gordon Strachan, we've collected the pick of the musings of football's talking heads. Some are clever, some cliched, some are passionate, some prosaic; all reflect the variety and appeal of the nation's favourite game.

From Ron Atkinson's often incomprehensible 'Ron-glish' statements - to Glenn Hoddle's born-again gibberish - football managers are an endless source of wit, wisdom and pure nonsense. This book collects the most memorable quotes from some of the game's best-known characters.

Lou Holtz is one of the most popular, successful, and quotable football coaches in America. Always out-spoken and quick-witted, Holtz is a high-in-demand motivational speaker and a frequent guest on network TV news programs and talk shows. Photos.

When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United in 2013 he called time on the most successful career in football history. During his twenty-seven years at the helm of the world's most famous club, he has shown himself to be a paragon of leadership, an incomparable man-manager and an unparalleled wielder of the notorious hairdryer. Commentating on the game, its characters and its components, Sir Alex is the complete football philosopher. From dealing with narcissistic footballers to demolishing the overinflated egos of opposition managers, this is The Wit and Wisdom of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired in May 2013 as manager of Manchester United is the most success manager English football has ever seen. He was simultaneously the most admired and feared manager in British football. During almost forty years in the dugout, and over half a century in the professional game, he’s torn up the record books, amassed a treasure trove of silverware, and unleashed the hairdryer – as well as the odd football boot – on countless players, rival managers, referees and journalists. But amid the sound, the fury and the mind-games lurks one of sport’s greatest wits. So here we present Sir Alex Ferguson: uncompromising, unrivalled and uncut. On Arsène Wenger: ‘They say he’s an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I’ve got a fifteen-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages.’ On Dennis Wise: ‘He could start a row in an empty house.' On referees: ‘Can anyone tell me why they give referees a watch? It’s certainly not for keeping the time.’ On his humble beginnings: ‘People say mine was a poor upbringing. I don't know what they mean. It was tough, but it wasn't bloody poor. We maybe didn't have a TV. We didn't have a car. We didn't even have a phone. But I thought I had everything, and I did: I had a football.’ After the winning the European Cup in 1999: ‘I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. Football, eh? Bloody hell.’

"Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck." - Don Shula Football has changed the way we speak, adding new words and rewriting the definitions of old ones. NFL games dominate Sunday's television ratings as millions of fans tune in to watch their favorite teams. Gentlemen, This is a Football is a quote from Vince Lombardi, and this book celebrates more of the wit and wisdom in the game of football. Fascinating quotations taken from superstars and celebrities will engage fans of all ages, who will find plenty to cheer about here. These quotes mix the hilarious with the sarcastic and the sincere with laugh-out-loud zingers. Of course there are groaners -- and lots of "oops" moments, too. Here's a small sampling: Terry Bradshaw couldn't spell cat if you spotted him the C and the A. (Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson) Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing. (Peyton Manning) Most football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental. (Doug Plank) Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing. (Vince Lombardi) Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football. (John Heisman) Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein. (Joe Theismann)