Alastair Cook Quotes

For me, I still wish every day that I could play tennis again. It's such an incredible, wonderful job to have.

It's still my ambition to be at the top level and be playing for England - especially, like, a competition like the World Cup.

When I grew up, I always had the idea that I would play for England.

Football brings you lots of lovely things, but then you have to realise that it's actually a job.

If I could still play, I would be trying. It's been 15 years.

If I had known what it would be like to have it all - I might have been willing to settle for less.

Those who gave away their wings are sad not to see them fly.

Football's cruel sometimes.

There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.

I remember as a kid watching one of the Olympic games, and I was cheering for a big track athlete. He was the favorite to win, and he lost. I realized in that moment the pain he felt was so much greater than the pain that those who never thought they were going to win would have felt had they lost.

At a young age, I had to give up a lot of things, like being able to hang out with my friends.

Even in past years, when I wasn't in the Super Bowl, I wished I was.

I always wanted to be a futbol player, but I was never good enough.

The matches with the national team give me life.

I never played in a European Championship. I wasn't good enough.

I always wanted to play in the Super Bowl. That never happened. It hurts. I'm not going to lie about it. It's reality. You deal with it.

What I miss about football is being in the dressing room. But do I miss three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon when matters are totally out of your hands? No, I don't. Do I miss placing my destiny in the hands of others? No, I don't. I loved it as a player. I liked it as a manager. But that's all come and gone.

I play in the Champions League. I don't have anything to complain about.

I was full of confidence in myself that I would reach the top or be a professional player as a midfielder.

I see myself as being a long-term England player - I am 100 percent focused here to try and get into that team.

It's a dream to play for England, so if I'm selected, I'd look forward to playing. But it's down to the powers above me.

Playing for England is the most important thing in my life.

I tried hard to create my own records when a lot of them belonged to Steve Davis, so to see someone else beat yours, you'd be lying if you said there wasn't a twinge of regret there.

To be in the national team is wonderful in it's own right. For me, playing against Brazil or Venezuela is the same.

Playing for England is always the main priority.