Jack Rodwell Quotes

I was about five or six when I went to the little foundation camps. I got into the academy when I was nine, and I've gone through every age group since and into the first team.

I had expected to be playing in the reserves and, all going well, that I might get a chance in the first team towards the end of the season. But it has all happened much faster than I could ever have thought.

My first obsession was actually sports. I was a very good handball goalkeeper. With special permission, I played in the premier league in Germany before I was even old enough.

I was playing first-team football at Cardiff at 16.

For the fans, for the club, for the young players, I want to show there is a pathway at Fulham for young players to go through in the first team.

Mostly as a No 10. When I was really young, I played as a striker, but I grew a lot when I was 15 or 16.

I didn't play JV because I went straight to varsity and started as a 10th grader - that was back in the day when you could not play varsity as a ninth grader. I went right from playing junior high football to varsity.

I don't know how many 19 year-olds are playing in the Championship, there's certainly not any playing in the Premiership. It depends on what type of character you are really.

So, growing up myself, I played flag all the way up until seventh grade. So, we didn't tackle until I was 12, 13 years old or whatever it was.

You don't want an 18-year-old girl who's very talented thinking: 'I want to play for the first team but I've got to give up my education to do so.' That has happened a lot in the past.

I first realised I was good at football when I started getting scouted by United, Liverpool, Everton; clubs like that had a lot of interest at an early age, and you kind of know then you're on the right path. I was about six years old and had to sign a contract at nine.

At 13, Stade Rennais came to sign me, and the whole family moved to Rennes. I wanted my family to follow me and be by my side.

My dad always wanted me to be a cricketer, study no chance. Once he saw that I was quite good for my age, no school. So, as soon as I did my GCSEs, I got signed by Warwickshire at 15.

I got to play first-team men's football from a young age.

A lot of young players relax a bit when they reach the first-team, thinking they have reached the finish line, but really, it's just the beginning.

I've been playing for England at every single youth team level, so it's like a natural progression into the seniors, and I'm obviously delighted with my progress.

I've practically grown up with FC Bayern Munich since the age of 11. In my case, a talent scout noticed me when I was playing for a local youth team at Gern in Munich.

I really didn't want to play basketball for the longest time, but I just wouldn't stop growing. But I always wanted to be a professional soccer player.

I was at a local club, Penketh United, and Mike Glennie, a Manchester United scout, came to watch me. He spoke to my grandad and offered me trials, but there was also interest from Liverpool, and I had to pick - I was only young, but obviously my heart was with United at the time.

I started doing well at Villa when I was six or seven.

England Under 16, Under 17, Under 18, I played centre-half. But back then, David Moyes thought it was difficult to throw a 16-year-old in there. There was a big hype around me. He wanted me to fulfil my potential; he wanted to get me in as early as possible.

In the U.S. system, too often the best player on an under-17 team will be treated like a 'star' - not having to work for the ball, being the focus of the offense at all times, etc. - at a time when they should be having to fight tooth and nail for their spot.

I started playing from the age of 11-12. I loved the game immediately but started playing the game seriously only in 1993-94.

I had my first trial at Villa at five.

My story is like many other stories. I started very young. As the years went by, I only cared about playing football. I was never obsessed with money or being a professional though.