Hidetoshi Nakata Quotes

It's always hard the moment you decide to stop playing. It doesn't matter if you're at a small club or a big club: it's the end of your playing career, so that's always going to be a big moment for any player.

My passion for the game comes from the city of Marseille itself. Unfortunately I can't go back there as much I want to because I play a lot here and abroad.

You know, even though I feel that I can still play the game, God has made the answer clear to me. Retirement is now. I have to retire as a Green Bay Packer.

I love the game and I wanted to continue playing. It came to a time that I had to stop.

You retire when you are sick and when you can't do it any more or when the public retires you. That's the most painful, because that's the one that leaves you wanting to accomplish more.

There will be a time when I won't be able to perform in the ring.

When I retired in 1994, I was never tempted to drop down the divisions to carry on playing. In fact, I never kicked a ball again, not even in a charity match.

I know too well how much I am going to miss football after my career for me to put up my own barriers.

I've played for 15 years and played in five major tournaments. I know what it gives me in terms of the joy, in terms of the love for the game. But I'm done with it.

For me, I just focus on playing, playing at a high level. And when you can't do that any longer, you've got to get off the train.

I'd like to finish my career in Turin.

Of course we all dream about doing big, playing for big clubs, but I wanted to play football because of the love for the game.

When I first signed for Newcastle, I was still a boy.

I hope to continue playing until the age of 40, just like Francesco Totti.

I have said goodbye to international cricket.

I've been out for four months and when you have been out that long you start to miss the game and when you are out there you realise just how much you really do live it and enjoy it.

I love playing football, and that's all I'm going to do.

I'd been coaching since the end of my playing career, first with England's Under 21s, then Manchester United, and finally, in Spain with Valencia.

I have always been in love with football. As a child, I started playing football.

I just want to play football. I love the game. I love everything about it.

The end of a career comes to us all, and there is not a lot you can do about that.

I wanted to be at Arsenal for my whole career. It is the club I love. It is the club I still support. I gave everything to play there.

Unfortunately, everyone's football career does come to an end.

The time you are happy to sit on the bench, is the time you should retire in my opinion.

I never liked going to school and would sham and play football. I played in the centre forward position. If ever given a choice, I would love to represent Barcelona.