Jack Rodwell Quotes

Once I reached about 14 or 15, I started to steady myself and get into a midfield role and carried that on until I was 17. Then I dropped into right-back, and I have played there ever since.

I didn't see myself playing regularly at right-back for Manchester United or making my England debut in that position.

At school, I was always a central midfielder from a young age. Then, when I joined Villa at 16, the pre-season didn't go too well, so they looked at me as a centre-half.

I started out as a defender. I played as a full-back, and then I moved into the centre. I played defence right the way through until the Under-18s. Honestly!

When I broke into the Everton side under Roberto Martinez, I was playing in the No. 10 role, and I had never played there before, so I was getting used to that role as a first-team player.

At Under-11/12, I was playing as a right-back. The manager then was Cyril Helstone, and he said to me, 'No, you're not a defender. You should be in midfield.' That was the big change in my career because from that moment until I made my debut in the first-team at Feyenoord, that was the position I played.

One day I won't play for Barcelona. I'll go and play somewhere else, and I'm sure I'll do so as a central midfielder. That's what I'll try to do because it's the position I like.

Eventually, I think I'll probably end up at centre-half. By the time I get to 28 or 29, I imagine I'll be a defender.

I played at White Hart Lane against Michael Carrick and Edgar Davids when I was 18.

So long as I keep performing week in, week out for Everton, I will have the chance to stay England number one.

I didn't win a trophy with Everton, but that time is just as special as my playing career at United.

Growing up I've been playing as an attacking midfielder, more central in the midfield. I wouldn't say if I'm most comfortable there but that's where I grew up playing.

When I first came in Stuart Pearce was great for me, gave me my debut at 17. Back then I wasn't really playing for much and you could just go out there and enjoy it.

I started as a winger and played there for about six years but when I came to Arsenal they told me 'now you have to play me at the back' and everything just changed.

I got scouted at six by Everton. My parents said it was maybe a bit too young. A year later, I went down to trials at Everton and have been there ever since.

I signed as an 11-year-old for Everton. I broke into the Under-18s at the age of 14, then the reserves at 15, then I was in the first-team squad at 16.

My position at Tottenham was in the centre of midfield, and I have played there for Croatia, I feel I am best there.

As a rookie, I had changed positions. In college, I was a quarterback, and I had never played other positions.

When I play in central midfield, that's my favourite position.

I started going training with Southampton, and they were selecting the team for the under-9s. I did a six-week trial and got in. I was quite lucky to play at a good standard from a very young age.

When I was at Doncaster Rovers Belles, I used to play up front or as a number 10, but when I joined Chelsea in 2015, I was more a midfielder, and over the last few years, I've moved into the back four.

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.

From Under 15s to Under 19s, I was concentrating playing for England, it was close to me, I could just go to St George's Park, it was nice. Going back to school when you've just played for England, it was amazing, you're one of the best players in the country, that's why you're getting picked.

To be honest, I started playing for Belgium in the youth team stages. As a kid, Belgium was all I knew. We played football with my schoolmates as well as at the academy.