Skip to content

Just as the England football manager starts with bells and…

“Just as the England football manager starts with bells and flags and balloons and ends up reviled, so do prime ministers. Tony Blair - is there anyone more despised now? Gordon Brown - all right, nobody voted for him but, you know... just think of any of them. Margaret Thatcher. John Major. Steve…” quote by Terry Wogan
Download Open image
“Just as the England football manager starts with bells and flags and balloons and ends up reviled, so do prime ministers. Tony Blair - is there anyone more despised now? Gordon Brown - all right, nobody voted for him but, you know... just think of any of them. Margaret Thatcher. John Major. Steve McLaren. Fabio Capello.”

Terry Wogan

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Prime ministers often start with fanfare but may end unpopular, similar to sports managers.

In simple terms: Leaders begin with celebration, may end despised.

Key Takeaway

Beware of fleeting popularity.

Themes

politics leadership public perception celebration disfavor

Mood

critical reflective

Type

political observational

When to use this quote

  • campaign launch
  • press conferences
  • post‑term analysis

Key Concepts

celebrity media scrutiny public opinion

Questions to Reflect On

  • What factors cause leaders to lose favor?
  • How can leaders maintain respect after initial hype?
A Different Perspective

Popularity can be fickle and dependent on outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Terry Wogan

Explore all 81 Terry Wogan quotes

More Any quotes

Browse all 6,938 Any quotes