Top 35 Jermain Defoe Quotes

I think my faith is important. Being young as well, sometimes it’s difficult, but I’ve got a good family behind me as well.

I understand it’s difficult but you’ve got to think about yourself, you know, and not just follow the crowd.

Going to a major tournament, having that buzz – it’s hard to put into words. It’s a dream to go there, and to play. It’s the biggest thing you can achieve in your career, and to go again would be a dream.

I want to again highlight the desperate need for us to pull together – the world over – to tackle knife crime and teach everyone how sacred a life is.

I prefer not to fly, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.

I pray every day. In the mornings and, before I go to bed. I think it’s important to pray not just when things are going bad. When things are going bad, it’s easy to pray and ask God to help you out, but it’s also important to pray when things are going well and show your appreciation.

When you’ve something to fight for, you get the best out of yourself.

If you’re good to your body, your body’s good to you.

To win a major tournament you have to face the top teams at some point, but if you avoid those at the beginning then you can win games and build confidence. I think the key is just to get off to a good start.

It was easy to get wrapped up in some of the negative stuff, but obviously I chose not to. I didn’t want to get in trouble and end up in prison where I can’t play football. It was as simple as that.

I had to tell Dad, ‘It will be okay and be positive; keep praying and have faith’. I have always known about cancer, but to be around someone who has it and to see what it does in such a short space of time was hard. It makes you think about your life, about what is important.

When you play with good players, they will always create chances for the forwards to score.

If I ever score against Spurs, I won’t celebrate. Even if it’s the best goal in the world, I’ll keep it subdued. It’s a respect thing. The fans were brilliant towards me; I’ll be playing against my friends and I can’t forget that.

I still bump into Spurs fans who say: ‘Why did you have to go?’ I say back: ‘What more could I have done?’ I talk to them and I think they appreciate I had good reasons.

I don’t do chat-up lines. Girls often tell me I’m cheeky. Being cheeky seems to work OK for me.

The key for me is movement. When the ball comes into the box, or when the wide players get it, that’s where I have to be clever and make my runs. That’s where I come alive.

I just get up in the morning and say: ‘Yeah man, I’m ready to score goals.’

You want to play in the best stadiums against the best players – your Real Madrid’s and Barcelona’s – you want to play those teams.

It doesn’t matter who you are, football’s a business. At some stage you’re going to have to leave a football club; that’s just normal.

I’ve always been a religious person, and I try to think that every disappointment might just be a blessing in disguise.

I don’t go out drinking and stuff like that. My friends say ‘Just have one drink, JD.’ I say ‘What’s the point?’ I’ll go to a club and have a Red Bull, get my buzz. And the next day I feel cool. It’s discipline, not just with drinking but a lot of things in life. You’ve just got to look at the bigger picture.

I’ve got a Ferrari 430. It’s black. I don’t know what it cost but it wasn’t cheap. I bought it because I was being a boy. It’s fast and looks good.

I don’t think I could ever describe myself as unlucky because people would look at me, playing football for a living, and say: ‘Are you winding me up?’

People know what they’re getting with me. It’s part and parcel of football that people want to see new faces, but all I can do is play games, score goals and prove I can do it. My record is there for everyone to see.

If you have an argument with someone and you sulk, sometimes you don’t want to speak to them. But it is important to keep your friends close to you and do the right things.

I don’t know about anyone else, but if I had problems or issues, maybe I wouldn’t feel as comfortable talking about them in a group.

When I get up in the morning, I look forward to the games and I’m just buzzing. At the end of the day, if you are nervous or scared before games, you are not going to perform. I just go out there and think, ‘If I get a chance, I’m going to score’ and that’s it.

When you get up in the morning and know you’re doing something you love, feel fit and look after yourself, it’s just a great thing to do.

I am a bit of a control freak. If I get married, my wife isn’t going out. No way. She’s staying at home. She’s not going out to clubs without me. I’ve already decided the rules, whoever she is.

The role that I play as a lone striker, I enjoy it and particularly playing with great players.

I feel 21. I’ve looked after myself and take my football seriously.

I love scoring – even in training.

I am doing my job and trying to win a game for my team. I shouldn’t be getting racially abused; it’s silly.

The best thing about football is that the rules are so simple. Anyone can play anywhere.

I scored in a World Cup and I want that buzz again.