Jermain Defoe Quotes

#1. When you are young, nothing is more important than football, but as you get older, you get married, have kids and lose people. Then you realise your family is more important. This comes with age.

Jermain Defoe

#2. 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.

Jermain Defoe

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

Jermain Defoe

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

Jermain Defoe

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

Jermain Defoe

#6. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#7. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#8. I don't feel like I'm getting older. I think it's the way I've looked after myself. I take my football seriously. I love scoring goals and I get a good feeling from it, so I'll do whatever it takes to be fit and feel good in games.

Jermain Defoe

#9. I prefer not to fly, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

Jermain Defoe

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

Jermain Defoe

#11. 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.

Jermain Defoe

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

Jermain Defoe

#13. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#14. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#15. Before games, people ask whether I get nervous. To be honest, I don't get nervous, I just enjoy it. I am living the dream. When I was a kid I always wanted to play for my country and now I am here, I will enjoy it.

Jermain Defoe

#16. I feel 21. I've looked after myself and take my football seriously.

Jermain Defoe

#17. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#18. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#19. When you've something to fight for, you get the best out of yourself.

Jermain Defoe

#20. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#21. 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?'

Jermain Defoe

#22. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#23. 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.

Jermain Defoe

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

Jermain Defoe

#25. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#26. 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.

Jermain Defoe

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

Jermain Defoe

#28. I am still young and being the [England] squad is really good for me although I've still got a lot to learn.

Jermain Defoe

#29. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#30. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#31. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#32. I love scoring - even in training.

Jermain Defoe

#33. I knew I could play really well in one game, score the winning goal and then, come the next game, I wouldn't play at all or I might come off the bench for the last five minutes. So I was frustrated towards the end of my time at Spurs. I wasn't happy.

Jermain Defoe

#34. I'm a forward, but I can't be the only forward at a club. Over the years, the clubs who've won titles have had several strikers.

Jermain Defoe

#35. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#36. I just get up in the morning and say: 'Yeah man, I'm ready to score goals.'

Jermain Defoe

#37. If you're good to your body, your body's good to you.

Jermain Defoe

#38. There is always going to be competition. When you play for a top club, you're going to attract top players. It's part and parcel of football.

Jermain Defoe

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

Jermain Defoe

#40. 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.

Jermain Defoe

#41. For me, there's nothing that beats playing. When I'm not playing, I'll watch games on the television, watch stuff on You Tube, everything. I just live for football, love watching great players.

Jermain Defoe

#42. 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.

Jermain Defoe