Rafael van der Vaart Quotes

I like to play with my back to the goal, but my colleagues have to tell me when I'm alone or how much room I have so I can choose to pass or to go straight for the goal.

Usually, the most intelligent player is a midfielder.

You need to know exactly where to be on the pitch at all times.

Rather than opera, football is more like ballet or a chess game. You can really see it in a team like Arsenal, especially when Dennis Bergkamp was playing. He seemed to be able to read the game like a chessboard and knew where a player would be several seconds later and put the ball there for him.

You should pull him back besides in all the lines before the quarter, just as you make the others advance.

I've always had one in my teams - that sort of central pivot that orchestrates the game.

I like to play anywhere in the middle.

As kids we'd be forever shooting at dad and I started as a striker, but I eventually became a pivote, the position I like most and best suits my characteristics.

You work to make sure that, in the game, everybody knows where they're supposed to be at, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But if you put them in a position to be successful, that's all you can ask for.

I had very good players around me in the team, like in the German national team. Andreas Brehme was one of my best partners in the team because he had good eyes; he could always hit the best ball.

I think that by playing centre midfield in the middle of the park, I'm doing something which comes naturally to me.

To succeed in hockey, you need teamwork.

I was captain of the volleyball team and the basketball team, and I ran track.

I love sports, and when I was playing soccer, I was always trying to be the leader on the team and the one who takes control.

Almost any game with any ball is a good game.

It's not enough just being a good passer of the ball.

What captains want is players who move well in the field.

I know when I step into midfield I have to sharpen my feet up and be more aware of what's around me, at centre back it's more about timing, positioning and communication.

I'm kind of like the quarterback: being able to orchestrate a lot of things out there on the field and being able to run different schemes and coverages.

I think as a central defender you grow as a player.

For me it's best to play midfield but if the team needs it, I can play anywhere.

When I play, I like to use my pace and to link up with my team-mates.

Being on the court you can really negate your athletic ability by just being in the right position.

The game of football requires attention constantly. If you miss one play, you can miss a lot of action - unlike some other sports.

I'm a versatile player, I'm a technical player, and I play with my head, but I can progress further.