Sporting Icons Quotes

When you look at role models, you tend to look at players who have played at the highest level, your Viv Andersons and so on.

I didn't have one single hero. Many footballers I looked up to and said, 'Wow, I want to be like them,' but be like them not just as a person but also for their skills.

Arsene Wenger was talking about comparisons with Johan Cruyff, a player who only comes around every 10 years and Thierry Henry is definitely one of those

My sporting heroes were Ken Jones, Stanley Matthews, and Cliff Morgan.

A weak, insecure nation needs sporting heroes, players larger than life on the cricketing field, who can transcend the limitations of their country and team.

Athletes are given a really special platform. It's our duty, as athletes, to be role models.

Alex Higgins was my hero, so to play in Belfast, at the superb Waterfront Hall, is very special to me.

There are hundreds of Beckhams playing football all over the world.

Statues of sports stars are all the rage - especially in baseball.

I have kids, so I can understand the image that footballers have. They are fans of some players; I see in their eyes. They admire and try to imitate their gestures, their words, their celebrations. They love Ronaldo and Messi. Since Euro 2016, though, they have no right to pronounce the name of Ronaldo!

We exalted that Michael Phelps-consecrated water. Rose petals were strewn in Peyton Manning's path when he retired. But hey, that's natural. As we should, we admire those in any craft, no less so in sports, who appear out of nowhere to achieve remarkable feats.

Growing up, you watch players like Ronaldinho playing in World Cups, doing the business, and you idolise these people.