--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I only started playing top football when…" description: "\"I only started playing top football when I was 17 and a half.\" — Divock Origi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/divock-origi-17273_football_i-only-started-playing-top-football-when_3233582.jpg" --- # I only started playing top football when I was 17 and a… ![“I only started playing top football when I was 17 and a half.” quote by Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/divock-origi-17273_football_i-only-started-playing-top-football-when_3233582.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/divock-origi-17273_football_i-only-started-playing-top-football-when_3233582.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/divock-origi-17273_football_i-only-started-playing-top-football-when_3233582.jpg) > “I only started playing top football when I was 17 and a half.” [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Late start in a sport can still lead to professional success with dedication and talent. **In simple terms:** Starting late doesn’t preclude achievement. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique timeline. Themes perseverance talent late bloomers Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - youth sports - career transitions - personal development Key Concepts growth mindset skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can you maximize growth after a late start? - What support systems help late bloomers? A Different Perspective Late starters may face reduced peak performance windows. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [17 Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/17-half-6127136/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football 17](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-17-6127135/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Playing football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-football/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-playing-257076/) [Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/top/) ## Related quotes > [I started playing football young, and my career was on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/i-started-playing-football-young-and-my-career-was-on-the-pitch/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [I have always been in love with football. As a child, I started playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-capello/i-have-always-been-in-love-with-football-as-a-child-i-started-playing/) [Fabio Capello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-capello/) > [Ever since I started playing football, just trying to make a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/ever-since-i-started-playing-football-just-trying-to-make-a-play/) [Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/) > [I was getting well paid but I never started playing football for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-started-playing-football-for-the/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [I started playing football at the age of 6. I've been playing quarterback ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamarcus-russell/i-started-playing-football-at-the-age-of-6-i-ve-been-playing/) [JaMarcus Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamarcus-russell/) > [I started playing football in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-started-playing-football-in-the-streets/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I started playing football in Abidjan, my African town, without even having shoes on my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/i-started-playing-football-in-abidjan-my-african-town-without-even/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [I just started playing football because it's fun for me, it's the best thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kimmich/i-just-started-playing-football-because-it-s-fun-for-me-it-s-the-best/) [Joshua Kimmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-kimmich/) > [At the end of the day, we started playing football because we loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/at-the-end-of-the-day-we-started-playing-football-because-we-loved-it/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [I started playing football at seven or eight but I was not really into it as I was still going with my sisters to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-osimhen/i-started-playing-football-at-seven-or-eight-but-i-was-not-really/) [Victor Osimhen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-osimhen/) > [I started playing football when I was ten years old, and the main reason was because I wanted to make my parents proud. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-cajuste/i-started-playing-football-when-i-was-ten-years-old-and-the-main/) [Devon Cajuste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-cajuste/) > [I've been a versatile player since I started playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-been-a-versatile-player-since-i-started-playing-football/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I started playing football with my mates and my brothers, in the playground or the park or the front garden. It was just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-alexander-arnold/i-started-playing-football-with-my-mates-and-my-brothers-in-the/) [Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-alexander-arnold/) > [I started playing at six. I was at a school always playing football with my friends. But I was always bored at home. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/i-started-playing-at-six-i-was-at-a-school-always-playing-football/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [I started playing football in a school back in Sao Vicente when I was five years old, going towards six. Those were my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/i-started-playing-football-in-a-school-back-in-sao-vicente-when-i-was/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) ## More by Divock Origi > [Things went so quickly from being a sub in Lille to scoring in the World Cup to signing for Liverpool, but I always had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/things-went-so-quickly-from-being-a-sub-in-lille-to-scoring-in-the/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [It's on the pitch you have to do your talking, and it is the coach who makes the decisions, so the best I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/it-s-on-the-pitch-you-have-to-do-your-talking-and-it-is-the-coach-who/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [I focus just on the important issues, and I know I can make a lot more progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-focus-just-on-the-important-issues-and-i-know-i-can-make-a-lot-more/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [I am feeling comfortable at Liverpool, and I think that's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-am-feeling-comfortable-at-liverpool-and-i-think-that-s-important/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [In the younger ages, maybe you can rely more on your talent, but when you get older, you see that when you combine it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/in-the-younger-ages-maybe-you-can-rely-more-on-your-talent-but-when/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [I still remember my days in Komarock estate, the days when it was all normal, and even though I am born and bred in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-still-remember-my-days-in-komarock-estate-the-days-when-it-was-all/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [Kenya is a land of great people, and during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I remember meeting some Kenyan fans at the hotel where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/kenya-is-a-land-of-great-people-and-during-the-2014-fifa-world-cup-i/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [There are a lot of things you learn from playing wide. You also understand the way that you can coordinate with the front three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/there-are-a-lot-of-things-you-learn-from-playing-wide-you-also/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [I think it's hard to describe my style in one sentence. It depends on how I'm feeling. Sometimes I'll dress more street; other times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-think-it-s-hard-to-describe-my-style-in-one-sentence-it-depends-on/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [You realise you have to be physically strong when you come to the Premier League because it is a very intensive league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/you-realise-you-have-to-be-physically-strong-when-you-come-to-the/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [I am the younger version of my father. I try to be as normal as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-am-the-younger-version-of-my-father-i-try-to-be-as-normal-as-i-can/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [I have worked under several coaches and wish to appreciate each one of them. Jurgen Klopp, though, has helped me improve. He knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-have-worked-under-several-coaches-and-wish-to-appreciate-each-one/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [The more you play with the other players, the more you understand them and they understand you, and that's very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/the-more-you-play-with-the-other-players-the-more-you-understand-them/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [I like to speak with more experienced people - with the staff, the manager - and get a lot of advice. But from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-like-to-speak-with-more-experienced-people-with-the-staff-the/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [When you are a footballer, you eat, sleep, and breathe football. If I have a bad training session, I can go home and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/when-you-are-a-footballer-you-eat-sleep-and-breathe-football-if-i/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) [Explore all 37 Divock Origi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I only started playing top football when I was 17 and a half.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Divock Origi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-only-started-playing-top-football-when-i-was-17-and-a-half/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-only-started-playing-top-football-when-i-was-17-and-a-half/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/divock-origi-17273_football_i-only-started-playing-top-football-when_3233582.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/divock-origi-17273_football_i-only-started-playing-top-football-when_3233582.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/divock-origi-17273_football_i-only-started-playing-top-football-when_3233582.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I only started playing top football when I was 17 and a half.” — Divock Origi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Divock Origi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I only started playing top football...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-only-started-playing-top-football-when-i-was-17-and-a-half/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/i-only-started-playing-top-football-when-i-was-17-and-a-half/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```