Gary Lineker Quotes

After much deliberation I have made the decision to retire from playing international football.

Nobody wants to retire from football.

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.

Retire? Me? I'll go when they get tired of me at Old Trafford or when I can no longer do the job.

It's terrible to consider never playing another Test again but what's more terrifying is the thought of never playing again at all.

There comes a time in any proud sportsman's career when you have to make the difficult decision to stop.

How do I imagine my last-ever game? Maybe I'll go out like Zidane, headbutting someone on the pitch!

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.

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

I would have loved to have had a farewell match, and would have wanted the DFB to make that offer. But certain people did not plan that for me. I have to accept that.

The first time I retired, only Sir Alex Ferguson and I knew that the last league game of the 2010-11 season against Blackpool was to be my final game at Old Trafford. I was a little bit sad, but I am not one for tears. The end of a career comes to us all, and there is not a lot you can do about that.

I wish to play again for West Ham before I finish my career.

I've said many times in the past that my career's not going to go on much longer; I'm not going to keep going and riding until I'm in my 30s and things like this.

I think you always hope you can play forever, but you always realize that time will come... I was fortunate I was able to make a decision, move on and do it comfortably.

Once I retire, I'm retiring. I'm done.

I never felt I would get to the stage where I would to have to actively think about retiring from international football as I always thought it would pass me by.

To retire is to begin to die.

I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional player. But I won't stop playing the game.

I had a great time in the NFL. To make it in the amount of time that I did was awesome; it's a dream come true, and hell, it gave me the opportunity to go wrestle.

At some point, it comes to an end regardless, however it comes, whether it is retirement or injury; at some point, it comes to an end.

I can imagine finishing my career at Chelsea.

I don't ever want to be carried off the court.

It's sad to see boxers sometimes when they've come from these massive highs with thousands of people screaming for them. They're the best at what they do - then, that's it: stopped, finished.

I will not play a farewell game with the national team. I would like to thank the federation for expressing an interest. But I prefer to leave football with an official match because I am not a fan of farewell games.

When I retire, I want to retire the right way.