Jermain Defoe Quotes:

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.

source: - "'There's more to life than football': Jermain Defoe bares his soul on matters of life, death and the beautiful game" by Martin Lipton, www.mirror.co.uk. September 4, 2012.

Topics: Dad, Cancer, Thinking

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

Topics: Player, Play, Chance

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

source: - "Jermain Defoe: 'I give my looks 11 out of 10. I don't need improving'". Interview with Mirror.co.uk, www.mirror.co.uk. June 6, 2010.

Topics: Girl, Lines, Cheeky

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.

Topics: Real, Team, Player, Best Players, Real Madrid

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

Topics: Jobs, Team, Silly

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

Topics: Morning, Men, Goal

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

Topics: World, Want, Buzz, World Cup

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.

Topics: Thinking, Important, Sometimes, Good Family

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.

Topics: Talking, Issues, Groups

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

Topics: Body

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

Topics: Player, Roles, Enjoy, Strikers

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.

Topics: Boys, Black, Ferrari

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

Topics: Squad, England, Young

I love scoring - even in training.

source: - "Tottenham's Jermain Defoe eyes "great feeling" of being just 19th man to score 20 goals for England" by Martin Lipton, www.mirror.co.uk. May 30, 2013.

Topics: Training

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.

Topics: Football, Player, Competition, Parcel

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

source: - "Jermain Defoe: 'I wanted to put something back and stop all this youth violence'". Interview with Andrew Anthony, www.theguardian.com. April 7, 2012.

Topics: Thinking, Crowds, Difficult

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

Topics: Fighting

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

source: - "Jermain Defoe: 'I give my looks 11 out of 10. I don't need improving'". Interview with Mirror.co.uk, www.mirror.co.uk. June 6, 2010.

Topics: Sometimes

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.

Topics: Morning, Looks, Fit, Look After Yourself

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.

Topics: Years, Titles, Clubs, Strikers

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.

source: - "Tottenham's Jermain Defoe eyes 'great feeling' of being just 19th man to score 20 goals for England" by Martin Lipton, www.mirror.co.uk. May 30, 2013.

Topics: Football, Player, Games, Tubes

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

Topics: Football, Feels

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

Topics: Football, Simple, Play

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

source: - "Prayer helped Defoe bounce back". Interview with "Football Focus", news.bbc.co.uk. December 22, 2006.

Topics: Religious, Disappointment, Blessing, Blessings In Disguise

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.

source: - "'There's more to life than football': Jermain Defoe bares his soul on matters of life, death and the beautiful game" by Martin Lipton, www.mirror.co.uk. September 4, 2012.

Topics: Dream, Country, Kids, Living The Dream

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.

Topics: Football, Thinking, Games, Scoring Goals

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.

source: - "'There's more to life than football': Jermain Defoe bares his soul on matters of life, death and the beautiful game" by Martin Lipton, www.mirror.co.uk. September 4, 2012.

Topics: Football, Kids, People

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.

source: - "'There's more to life than football': Jermain Defoe bares his soul on matters of life, death and the beautiful game" by Martin Lipton, www.mirror.co.uk. September 4, 2012.

Topics: Important, Want, Argument, Keep Your Friends Close

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.

source: - "Jermain Defoe: 'bereavement changes you completely. It makes you strong'". Interview with Anna Kessel, www.theguardian.com. July 12, 2013.

Topics: Football Clubs

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.

Topics: You Can Win