---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a goalkeeper, I needed good players…"
description: "\"As a goalkeeper, I needed good players around me. I needed Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney. It's the same as a CEO.\" — Edwin van der..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/edwin-van-der-sar-5901_around_as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-ar_1974023.jpg"
---

#  As a goalkeeper, I needed good players around me. I needed…

![“As a goalkeeper, I needed good players around me. I needed Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney. It's the same as a CEO.” quote by Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/edwin-van-der-sar-5901_around_as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-ar_1974023.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/edwin-van-der-sar-5901_around_as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-ar_1974023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/edwin-van-der-sar-5901_around_as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-ar_1974023.jpg)

> “As a goalkeeper, I needed good players around me. I needed Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney. It's the same as a CEO.”

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

## About This Quote

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

Success depends on surrounding yourself with talented, complementary people who elevate the whole team.

**In simple terms:** Great results need strong teammates.

Key Takeaway

Build a team of high‑performers.

Themes

leadership teamwork talent acquisition

Mood

confident inspirational

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- Corporate board
- sports team
- startup founding
- project groups

Key Concepts

Strategic networking role complementarity collective intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you identify talent that fits your style?
- What qualities make a teammate indispensable?

A Different Perspective

A strong team can’t compensate for poor leadership.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Ceo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Goalkeeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goalkeeper/) [Goalkeeper Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goalkeeper-needed-3331790/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-players/) [Players Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players-needed-3119164/) [Ronaldo Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ronaldo-wayne-3331791/) [Same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/same/)

## Related quotes

> [They thought we were going to hurt the game, but we just wanted to help ourselves, because the players needed to get together to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lindsay/they-thought-we-were-going-to-hurt-the-game-but-we-just-wanted-to/)

[Ted Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lindsay/)

> [Mourinho was always very strong for his players, and you needed to deliver for him. For me, it was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/mourinho-was-always-very-strong-for-his-players-and-you-needed-to/)

[Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/)

> [You don't need only your strikers. You need your defenders to be on top of their game. You need a midfield to work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/you-don-t-need-only-your-strikers-you-need-your-defenders-to-be-on/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [As a goalkeeper, you always expect every team to give you nightmares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/as-a-goalkeeper-you-always-expect-every-team-to-give-you-nightmares/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [I know I'm a good goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/i-know-i-m-a-good-goalkeeper/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [I've definitely seen a lot of good players since I've came to Australia and I've definitely seen a lot of players that could easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mccormack/i-ve-definitely-seen-a-lot-of-good-players-since-i-ve-came-to/)

[Ross McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mccormack/)

> [Human affairs are like a chess game. Only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only-those-who-do-not-take-it/)

[Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/)

> [If you become world champions, there is nothing to top that. It's the result of many years of work, good decisions inside the association,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joachim-low/if-you-become-world-champions-there-is-nothing-to-top-that-it-s-the/)

[Joachim Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joachim-low/)

> [There are many good players, in Italy and abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimiliano-allegri/there-are-many-good-players-in-italy-and-abroad/)

[Massimiliano Allegri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimiliano-allegri/)

> [I don't bet against really good players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kittle/i-don-t-bet-against-really-good-players/)

[George Kittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kittle/)

> [What separates the good players from the greats people remember is consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/what-separates-the-good-players-from-the-greats-people-remember-is/)

[Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/)

> [I've always been able to stay focused on trying to recruit good players and trying to develop those players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/i-ve-always-been-able-to-stay-focused-on-trying-to-recruit-good/)

[Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/)

> [Because we are a small country, unlike England, Italy, or Brazil, we don't have as many good players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-berbatov/because-we-are-a-small-country-unlike-england-italy-or-brazil-we-don/)

[Dimitar Berbatov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-berbatov/)

> [I don't see myself as the ultimate star. There are other good players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ousmane-dembele/i-don-t-see-myself-as-the-ultimate-star-there-are-other-good-players/)

[Ousmane Dembele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ousmane-dembele/)

> [That's what good players do, try to help their team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/that-s-what-good-players-do-try-to-help-their-team/)

[Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/)

## More by Edwin van der Sar

> [Every flaw you have or lapse of concentration can cost you a goal, so you have to be on your toes every minute of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/every-flaw-you-have-or-lapse-of-concentration-can-cost-you-a-goal-so/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [Ajax always bring through young players from their academy - we can't pay €20m for a player, so we make sure we develop those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/ajax-always-bring-through-young-players-from-their-academy-we-can-t/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [If you win, everyone asks what's your secret, when most of the time you did exactly the same in the ones you lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/if-you-win-everyone-asks-what-s-your-secret-when-most-of-the-time-you/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [I think every player gives a bit extra when he sees that his manager is fighting, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/i-think-every-player-gives-a-bit-extra-when-he-sees-that-his-manager/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [For everyone, the World Cup is important. It doesn't matter if you are 21, going for your first one, or 35 and going for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/for-everyone-the-world-cup-is-important-it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-are/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [We need a solution for European football. You need to help smaller clubs in European competitions get the right distribution of money so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/we-need-a-solution-for-european-football-you-need-to-help-smaller/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [At Ajax, Juventus, and with Holland, I have played with top teams, and now I want to use my experience to reach the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/at-ajax-juventus-and-with-holland-i-have-played-with-top-teams-and/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [Matthijs is very mature for his age: he has the physique of a 24-year-old. He is also strong with both feet, has an extremely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/matthijs-is-very-mature-for-his-age-he-has-the-physique-of-a-24-year/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [The leagues in the countries around us are probably more interesting and played at a higher level, but in general, we are happy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/the-leagues-in-the-countries-around-us-are-probably-more-interesting/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [Nothing can replicate the thrill of making a great save at an away ground, or hearing your own fans cheering you, or the atmosphere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/nothing-can-replicate-the-thrill-of-making-a-great-save-at-an-away/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [United is a special place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/united-is-a-special-place/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [A lot of the guys who played in the 1995 final for Ajax had been there since the age of 12 or 13. Patrick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/a-lot-of-the-guys-who-played-in-the-1995-final-for-ajax-had-been/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [I think, on one end, we need to understand that goalkeeping is an art and is also a very important position to have in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/i-think-on-one-end-we-need-to-understand-that-goalkeeping-is-an-art/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [The most time players get off is during the international breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/the-most-time-players-get-off-is-during-the-international-breaks/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [Celtic and Ajax are great names in history. They both have great followings all over the world, not just in Holland and Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/celtic-and-ajax-are-great-names-in-history-they-both-have-great/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

[Explore all 100 Edwin van der Sar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

## More Around quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/)

[James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/)

> [I guess I'm attracted to things that are fun. I guess what is fun about this role in 'Suburgatory' is that there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-fun-i-guess-what-is-fun/)

[Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/)

> [When I was a teen, I would draw a really, really long line around my eyes with eyeliner, like Lola Flores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-i-was-a-teen-i-would-draw-a-really-really-long-line-around-my/)

[Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/)

> [I think the issues around diversity of all kinds are really a huge problem in the startup world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/i-think-the-issues-around-diversity-of-all-kinds-are-really-a-huge/)

[Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/)

> [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/)

[Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [I can look around a room and tell you if there are hidden cameras or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-can-look-around-a-room-and-tell-you-if-there-are-hidden-cameras-or/)

[Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/)

> [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/)

[Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/)

> [I drink maple syrup. Then I'm hyper so I just run around like crazy and work it all off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-drink-maple-syrup-then-i-m-hyper-so-i-just-run-around-like-crazy/)

[Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/)

> [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/)

[Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/)

> [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/)

[Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/)

> [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I became an MP in 2017 and have been around to watch Liberal Democrat party membership soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-became-an-mp-in-2017-and-have-been-around-to-watch-liberal-democrat/)

[Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/)

[Browse all 7,275 Around quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "As a goalkeeper, I needed good players around me. I needed Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney. It's the same as a CEO.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Edwin van der Sar"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-around-me-i-needed-nemanja/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Around"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-around-me-i-needed-nemanja/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/edwin-van-der-sar-5901_around_as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-ar_1974023.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/edwin-van-der-sar-5901_around_as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-ar_1974023.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/edwin-van-der-sar-5901_around_as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-ar_1974023.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As a goalkeeper, I needed good players around me. I needed Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne…” — Edwin van der Sar",
                "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": "Edwin van der Sar",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "As a goalkeeper, I needed good...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-around-me-i-needed-nemanja/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/as-a-goalkeeper-i-needed-good-players-around-me-i-needed-nemanja/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
