--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have played plenty of matches where I…" description: "\"I have played plenty of matches where I thought I had left everything on the field and given a game my all, but what I have come to realise since I ret..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/fabio-cannavaro-5879_coaching_i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i_508873.jpg" --- # I have played plenty of matches where I thought I had left… ![“I have played plenty of matches where I thought I had left everything on the field and given a game my all, but what I have come to realise since I retired and began coaching - 90 minutes on the field do not compare to life as a manager.” quote by Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/fabio-cannavaro-5879_coaching_i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i_508873.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/fabio-cannavaro-5879_coaching_i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i_508873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/fabio-cannavaro-5879_coaching_i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i_508873.jpg) > “I have played plenty of matches where I thought I had left everything on the field and given a game my all, but what I have come to realise since I retired and began coaching - 90 minutes on the field do not compare to life as a manager.” [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success on the field differs from managerial success; coaching requires broader strategic thinking, people skills, and long‑term planning beyond the 90‑minute match. **In simple terms:** Playing well isn’t enough to be a good manager. Key Takeaway Develop broader leadership abilities. Themes leadership strategy teamwork career transition Mood reflective determined optimistic Type advice motivational insightful When to use this quote - Coaching youth teams - leading corporate projects - handling crisis situations - mentoring new hires Key Concepts Management theory emotional intelligence long‑term planning Questions to Reflect On - How will you expand your influence beyond direct actions? - What skills must you develop to lead a team off the field? A Different Perspective Field performance alone doesn’t guarantee managerial effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Began Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/began-coaching-1836761/) [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Coaching 90](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching-90-4317953/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Realise Retired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realise-retired-4317954/) [Retired Began](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retired-began-4317952/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) ## Related quotes > [In 1948, I began coaching basketball at UCLA. Each hour of practice we worked very hard. Each day we worked very hard. Each week…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/in-1948-i-began-coaching-basketball-at-ucla-each-hour-of-practice-we/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I could not be more proud of the countless lives that I have changed since I began my coaching and mentoring career!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pena/i-could-not-be-more-proud-of-the-countless-lives-that-i-have-changed/) [Dan Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pena/) > [Every manager is different in one way or another, but what stays the same is coaching Barcelona players - players who want the ball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/every-manager-is-different-in-one-way-or-another-but-what-stays-the/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [The reason I'm in good form is not just down to myself: it's down to the manager and coaching staff improving my game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-maddison/the-reason-i-m-in-good-form-is-not-just-down-to-myself-it-s-down-to/) [James Maddison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-maddison/) > [I need to go and define what I would be as a manager, finish my coaching badges, try and take in as much experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/i-need-to-go-and-define-what-i-would-be-as-a-manager-finish-my/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [In the last few days when I was not even the manager of England my freedom was taken away from me and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luiz-felipe-scolari/in-the-last-few-days-when-i-was-not-even-the-manager-of-england-my/) [Luiz Felipe Scolari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luiz-felipe-scolari/) > [“Experienced managers interview to "Qualify"... inexperienced managers interview to "Disqualify.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-w-boyer/experienced-managers-interview-to-qualify-inexperienced-managers/) [Mark W Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-boyer/) > [Since the season ended, I've let things settle down, and I have to talk to the coaching staff and management. I really don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-yzerman/since-the-season-ended-i-ve-let-things-settle-down-and-i-have-to-talk/) [Steve Yzerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-yzerman/) > [It's not that easy for some of these players in China to get the coaching they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chang/it-s-not-that-easy-for-some-of-these-players-in-china-to-get-the/) [Michael Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chang/) > [There's not one year to the next that you don't go through a number of changes, whether it's personnel, whether it's coaching, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/there-s-not-one-year-to-the-next-that-you-don-t-go-through-a-number/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Coaching Netherlands remains one of my ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/coaching-netherlands-remains-one-of-my-ambitions/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) ## More by Fabio Cannavaro > [I've always been strong physically and I think for a player what happens off the field is even more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-ve-always-been-strong-physically-and-i-think-for-a-player-what/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [A coach needs time to get to know the players, the environment, the fans and the culture of the club. You can't solve everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/a-coach-needs-time-to-get-to-know-the-players-the-environment-the/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [My dream was to become the flagship player for Napoli. Even though I played for other teams, I would have liked to have returned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/my-dream-was-to-become-the-flagship-player-for-napoli-even-though-i/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [A compact defense has always been the basis of Italy's team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/a-compact-defense-has-always-been-the-basis-of-italy-s-team/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [When I first arrived at Napoli, I was the ball boy, which meant that I got to watch as the legends trained. Then, once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/when-i-first-arrived-at-napoli-i-was-the-ball-boy-which-meant-that-i/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Real are the type of club where you are expected to win every game. For a player who wants to be the best it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/real-are-the-type-of-club-where-you-are-expected-to-win-every-game/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [As a defender, you can be many shapes and sizes. You can be short and fast. Or you can be tall and jump high.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/as-a-defender-you-can-be-many-shapes-and-sizes-you-can-be-short-and/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [It can be lonely as a manager out there. You are on the field, yes, but you are not really on the field with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/it-can-be-lonely-as-a-manager-out-there-you-are-on-the-field-yes-but/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I watch every game in the Premier League and I like the ambience and culture of football in England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-watch-every-game-in-the-premier-league-and-i-like-the-ambience-and/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I know that people in Guangzhou have been very kind to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-know-that-people-in-guangzhou-have-been-very-kind-to-me/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I am Neapolitan and Naples are the team from where I grew up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-am-neapolitan-and-naples-are-the-team-from-where-i-grew-up/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [If you work in a certain manner, you don't make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-you-work-in-a-certain-manner-you-don-t-make-mistakes/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Prandelli is a coach with great experience and he knows how to work with young people also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/prandelli-is-a-coach-with-great-experience-and-he-knows-how-to-work/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Of course when you are starting to be a coach you want to do your best and my national team is my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/of-course-when-you-are-starting-to-be-a-coach-you-want-to-do-your/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [If the opportunity came to manage Al Ahli then why not? I would also like to one day coach one of the globe's great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-the-opportunity-came-to-manage-al-ahli-then-why-not-i-would-also/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) [Explore all 100 Fabio Cannavaro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) ## More Coaching quotes > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Coaching Netherlands remains one of my ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/coaching-netherlands-remains-one-of-my-ambitions/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [There's not one year to the next that you don't go through a number of changes, whether it's personnel, whether it's coaching, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/there-s-not-one-year-to-the-next-that-you-don-t-go-through-a-number/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [It's not that easy for some of these players in China to get the coaching they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chang/it-s-not-that-easy-for-some-of-these-players-in-china-to-get-the/) [Michael Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chang/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [You never want to go through a coaching change mid-cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/you-never-want-to-go-through-a-coaching-change-mid-cycle/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have my very own school - no way. And I had no idea I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liang-chow/i-never-thought-in-my-wildest-dreams-that-i-would-have-my-very-own/) [Liang Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liang-chow/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/set-goals-high-goals-for-you-and-your-organization-when-your/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [From a player's standpoint, it's on you to make sure that you're watching the film, you're doing everything during the week necessary to improve,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/from-a-player-s-standpoint-it-s-on-you-to-make-sure-that-you-re/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [For most of the projects I've worked on, I've been entrusted with some degree of musical responsibility, even if it's just like coaching for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robbins/for-most-of-the-projects-i-ve-worked-on-i-ve-been-entrusted-with-some/) [J. Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robbins/) > [Coaching is very complex: it's like a puzzle, and many things need to come together to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/coaching-is-very-complex-it-s-like-a-puzzle-and-many-things-need-to/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) [Browse all 1,416 Coaching quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have played plenty of matches where I thought I had left everything on the field and given a game my all, but what I have come to realise since I retired and began coaching - 90 minutes on the field do not compare to life as a manager.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fabio Cannavaro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i-thought-i-had-left-everything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coaching" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i-thought-i-had-left-everything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/fabio-cannavaro-5879_coaching_i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i_508873.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/fabio-cannavaro-5879_coaching_i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i_508873.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/fabio-cannavaro-5879_coaching_i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i_508873.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have played plenty of matches where I thought I had left everything on the field and given a game my all…” — Fabio Cannavaro", "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": "Fabio Cannavaro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have played plenty of matches...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i-thought-i-had-left-everything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-have-played-plenty-of-matches-where-i-thought-i-had-left-everything/#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 } } ] } ```