Football Role Model Quotes

Once I started playing as a striker, I'd say I looked up to Julie Fleeting and Thierry Henry.

I want to be the complete midfielder, someone who can defend and attack. Steven Gerrard is someone who's done that very well over the years, and he is someone I am trying to emulate.

The players who played for Milan when I was a child are legends for what they've won and given to football. Then, when I got bigger, Nesta became my idol and I went on to become a defender.

As a young footballer I used to look up to a number of stars for inspiration and I understand what Bhaichung must have done for all young Indians aspiring to be footballer.

When I was younger, I had two players: Luke Shaw and Gareth Bale. When Shaw was at Southampton, he was a left-back, and I loved watching him bomb up and down the wing, create goals, score goals, so I think I try to emulate that. Gareth Bale - same thing, really.

The player I look up to is Rio Ferdinand. I have always played at the back, and I've always tried to base my game on his.

People compare me to Batistuta, and he is the player I base myself on.

Jamie Carragher was someone who I looked at as to how to organise, how to defend and how composed he was, how good he was at reading the games and he was one I looked up to.