Dennis Bergkamp
“The only team that needs to win trophies is the first team. The youth teams don’t need to win, they just need to make their players better.”
“Before the age of 14 it’s just playful skills and everything and developing good habits, like controlling the ball and passing and positions, and we’re also thinking a lot about the mental side.’
“So in the end you have not just a complete football player, but a person who is good for others, who means something in the world.”
Carli Lloyd
“it’s just sad to me, it’s sad the way things have changed”
“There is more focus on winning, even at 6, 7 and 8 years old versus developing. We shouldn’t be concerned with wins and losses. I can’t remember when I was 7 years old. How many games did I win? Or even when I was 12 years old”
“Who remembers that stuff and why is it relevant? We should be developing, teaching kids life lessons, working hard, being a good team-mate and respecting your coaches, that type of stuff.”
Frank Martin
“The only team that needs to win trophies is the first team. The youth teams don’t need to win, they just need to make their players better.”
“Before the age of 14 it’s just playful skills and everything and developing good habits, like controlling the ball and passing and positions, and we’re also thinking a lot about the mental side.’
“So in the end you have not just a complete football player, but a person who is good for others, who means something in the world.”
Ruud Gullit
“Players like that (Roy Keane as a leader on the pitch), who can take matters into their own hands, are increasingly hard to find.”
“Players tend to not think things through and that starts with the youngest kids, who everything is worked out for in advance, with a couple of coaches standing on the touchline barking orders at them.”
“And in such a way that they are too scared to colour outside the lines, and so lose all sense of initiative. That is the kiss of death for football.“
