--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I only ever wanted to be a footballer." description: "\"I only ever wanted to be a footballer.\" — Declan Rice" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/declan-rice-11525_ever_i-only-ever-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-29_2982826.jpg" --- # I only ever wanted to be a footballer. ![“I only ever wanted to be a footballer.” quote by Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/declan-rice-11525_ever_i-only-ever-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-29_2982826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/declan-rice-11525_ever_i-only-ever-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-29_2982826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/declan-rice-11525_ever_i-only-ever-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-29_2982826.jpg) > “I only ever wanted to be a footballer.” [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A singular dream can drive lifelong dedication and identity. **In simple terms:** Dream fuels dedication. Key Takeaway Pursue your passion. Themes ambition identity dedication Mood focused inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - sports training - personal branding Key Concepts career planning goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What does your dream mean to you? - How can you stay flexible while pursuing it? A Different Perspective May limit adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Footballer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/footballer/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Like every Brazilian child, I always wanted to be a footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldo/like-every-brazilian-child-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-footballer/) [Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldo/) > [I was always clear in my mind what I wanted to do. Becoming a footballer is a dream that is unattainable for most people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aymeric-laporte/i-was-always-clear-in-my-mind-what-i-wanted-to-do-becoming-a/) [Aymeric Laporte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aymeric-laporte/) > [It is very nice Kasper has now also won the Premier League, too. I am very proud; I think he has done a fantastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/it-is-very-nice-kasper-has-now-also-won-the-premier-league-too-i-am/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [I've always wanted to be a top footballer since I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-top-footballer-since-i-was-young/) [Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/) > [When I was seven I wanted to be a footballer, but when I was 14, I wanted to be a model. Look where it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/when-i-was-seven-i-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-but-when-i-was-14-i/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [I always wanted to be a footballer; I always wanted to play. I was born to be a footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-i-always-wanted-to-play-i-was-born/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [If I hadn't wanted to become a footballer, Dad wouldn't have made me do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/if-i-hadn-t-wanted-to-become-a-footballer-dad-wouldn-t-have-made-me/) [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/) > [Like any working-class boy growing up in north London, I wanted to be a footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/like-any-working-class-boy-growing-up-in-north-london-i-wanted-to-be/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [I've always wanted to be a footballer, and I've always believed that's the path I was going to go down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kane/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-and-i-ve-always-believed-that-s/) [Harry Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kane/) > [Many clubs rejected me, but I wanted to be a footballer and to learn as quickly as possible, so I persisted until I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-griezmann/many-clubs-rejected-me-but-i-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-and-to-learn/) [Antoine Griezmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-griezmann/) > [I just loved kicking a ball but I was determined to be a footballer and I wanted a professional contract, I would go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/i-just-loved-kicking-a-ball-but-i-was-determined-to-be-a-footballer/) [Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/) > [I had no doubts I wanted to be a footballer because that was the only option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/i-had-no-doubts-i-wanted-to-be-a-footballer-because-that-was-the-only/) [Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/) > [I am a lucky man because when I was young, I wanted to be a footballer. Suddenly, around 30 years old, I thought, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/i-am-a-lucky-man-because-when-i-was-young-i-wanted-to-be-a-footballer/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [It's impossible to be more of a footballer than Messi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-rijkaard/it-s-impossible-to-be-more-of-a-footballer-than-messi/) [Frank Rijkaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-rijkaard/) > [Being a footballer was about analysing performance, never being satisfied, seeing what lessons you can learn and who you can learn from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-scott/being-a-footballer-was-about-analysing-performance-never-being/) [Alex Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-scott/) ## More by Declan Rice > [I think it's important that I keep playing international football, whatever level it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/i-think-it-s-important-that-i-keep-playing-international-football/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [I just try to keep level-headed and try to improve every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/i-just-try-to-keep-level-headed-and-try-to-improve-every-day/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [You've got to test yourself against the best to know you are the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/you-ve-got-to-test-yourself-against-the-best-to-know-you-are-the-best/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [The crowd are entitled to their opinion, and as players, we have to go out there and play well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/the-crowd-are-entitled-to-their-opinion-and-as-players-we-have-to-go/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [Coming to the game, my first time with England at Wembley, it's a special moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/coming-to-the-game-my-first-time-with-england-at-wembley-it-s-a/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [Being compared to players, being linked to other teams - I don't really take any of it in, to be honest. If you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/being-compared-to-players-being-linked-to-other-teams-i-don-t-really/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [Without a doubt, the plan was always to stay at West Ham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/without-a-doubt-the-plan-was-always-to-stay-at-west-ham/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [No one is guaranteed their place in the squad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/no-one-is-guaranteed-their-place-in-the-squad/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [I am a proud Englishman, having been born and raised in London. However, I am just as proud of my family's Irish heritage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/i-am-a-proud-englishman-having-been-born-and-raised-in-london-however/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [I've always been good at handling stuff mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/i-ve-always-been-good-at-handling-stuff-mentally/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [I think it's important that you're vocal during the match, especially at centre-half. You're basically the eyes and ears of the team, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/i-think-it-s-important-that-you-re-vocal-during-the-match-especially/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [The likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling - they give you all the confidence you need. 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I was 16…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/at-west-ham-i-was-the-last-person-to-be-offered-a-scholarship-i/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) [Explore all 59 Declan Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) ## More Ever quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? 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