--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 32 when I signed for Everton, and…" description: "\"I was 32 when I signed for Everton, and Roberto Martinez said, 'With your style of game, you can play until you're 40.' I'm sitting there laughing at h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/gareth-barry-7299_football_i-was-32-when-i-signed-for-everton-and-r_1246145.jpg" --- # I was 32 when I signed for Everton, and Roberto Martinez… ![“I was 32 when I signed for Everton, and Roberto Martinez said, 'With your style of game, you can play until you're 40.' I'm sitting there laughing at him, but he was deadly serious. I still laughed.” quote by Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/gareth-barry-7299_football_i-was-32-when-i-signed-for-everton-and-r_1246145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/gareth-barry-7299_football_i-was-32-when-i-signed-for-everton-and-r_1246145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/gareth-barry-7299_football_i-was-32-when-i-signed-for-everton-and-r_1246145.jpg) > “I was 32 when I signed for Everton, and Roberto Martinez said, 'With your style of game, you can play until you're 40.' I'm sitting there laughing at him, but he was deadly serious. I still laughed.” [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A coach predicted a long career based on playing style, showing confidence can influence player longevity. **In simple terms:** Coach’s confidence can extend a player’s career. Key Takeaway Believe in your style to sustain performance. Themes sports confidence career longevity mentorship Mood motivational realistic reflective Type sports career inspirational When to use this quote - football - career planning - training - age management - mental resilience Key Concepts player development age and coach-player dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your style can you adapt as you age? - How does external belief affect your self-confidence? A Different Perspective Physical decline may still limit career length. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [32 Signed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/32-signed-3909106/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Laughed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughed/) [Martinez Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martinez-said-3909105/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play 40](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-40-372646/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Signed Everton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signed-everton-1545435/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [Don't worry, Alan. At least you'll be able to play close to a great team. (to Alan Ball, who'd just signed for Everton)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shankly/don-t-worry-alan-at-least-you-ll-be-able-to-play-close-to-a-great/) [Bill Shankly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shankly/) > [Hopefully I can play until I'm 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/hopefully-i-can-play-until-i-m-40/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [Sure, I'd like to play until I'm 40 and even maybe a bit older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/sure-i-d-like-to-play-until-i-m-40-and-even-maybe-a-bit-older/) [Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/) > [You know, it's hard to say what's going to happen in the future. But, if I stay healthy, I think I'll probably play until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrie-webb/you-know-it-s-hard-to-say-what-s-going-to-happen-in-the-future-but-if/) [Karrie Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrie-webb/) > [Some guys want to play until they're 40, but that's not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordy-nelson/some-guys-want-to-play-until-they-re-40-but-that-s-not-me/) [Jordy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordy-nelson/) > [When you play 40 minutes a game, you're going to average a lot of rebounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/when-you-play-40-minutes-a-game-you-re-going-to-average-a-lot-of/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [It would be great to play until I'm 40 like Ryan Giggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-mata/it-would-be-great-to-play-until-i-m-40-like-ryan-giggs/) [Juan Mata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-mata/) > [I can play until I'm 40. But I won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/i-can-play-until-i-m-40-but-i-won-t/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [I was an usher at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith. You had to watch whatever play they had on 40 times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/i-was-an-usher-at-the-lyric-theatre-hammersmith-you-had-to-watch/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [I doubt she likes the idea of seeing him put back in a cage.” “Maybe not,” he said. “But she knows that the Authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/i-doubt-she-likes-the-idea-of-seeing-him-put-back-in-a-cage-maybe-not/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) > [The Pink Panther wasn't shown to the press for reasons that soon became apparent when I saw it at a public performance. Two people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-french/the-pink-panther-wasn-t-shown-to-the-press-for-reasons-that-soon/) [Philip French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-french/) > [Once you realize that documentation should be laughed at, peed upon, put on fire, and just ridiculed in general, then, and only then, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-realize-that-documentation-should-be-laughed-at-peed-upon/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [We laughed the rest of the way, because the point of this story is, it is not the cookies. It is the love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/we-laughed-the-rest-of-the-way-because-the-point-of-this-story-is-it/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“They laughed, but I was melancholy. The remnants of Rome always make me sad, simply because they are proof that we slide inexorably towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/they-laughed-but-i-was-melancholy-the-remnants-of-rome-always-make-me/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More by Gareth Barry > [Anything you're not in control of you can't be that comfortable with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/anything-you-re-not-in-control-of-you-can-t-be-that-comfortable-with/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [For me, Goodison is the toughest away ground to come to. I have experienced it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/for-me-goodison-is-the-toughest-away-ground-to-come-to-i-have/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [I used to say I preferred midfield because I enjoy trying to make goals, and scoring is a buzz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/i-used-to-say-i-preferred-midfield-because-i-enjoy-trying-to-make/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [My upbringing wasn't overly comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/my-upbringing-wasn-t-overly-comfortable/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [Confidence and momentum are huge in sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/confidence-and-momentum-are-huge-in-sport/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [I had my time in the England shirt and won a lot of caps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/i-had-my-time-in-the-england-shirt-and-won-a-lot-of-caps/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/i-have-a-massive-fear-of-going-stale-and-falling-into-a-comfort-zone/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [I treat the young boys as I wanted to be treated when I came through at Aston Villa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/i-treat-the-young-boys-as-i-wanted-to-be-treated-when-i-came-through/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [That's one thing that's been aimed at me since I was 17: a lack of pace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/that-s-one-thing-that-s-been-aimed-at-me-since-i-was-17-a-lack-of-pace/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [Any great club needs the mentality to go on and achieve things - it is what clubs like United have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/any-great-club-needs-the-mentality-to-go-on-and-achieve-things-it-is/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [The easy part, for me, is always playing my football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/the-easy-part-for-me-is-always-playing-my-football/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [As a younger player, I never really thought about where I should be on the field. It was just about doing a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/as-a-younger-player-i-never-really-thought-about-where-i-should-be-on/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [It was Martin O'Neill who said, 'You're a central midfielder.' He put faith into players. He was very clever at getting into players' heads,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/it-was-martin-o-neill-who-said-you-re-a-central-midfielder-he-put/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [British managers tend to be a bit more hands off, let you express yourself in training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/british-managers-tend-to-be-a-bit-more-hands-off-let-you-express/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [The England manager didn't think I was good enough, and as a professional, you have to take it. Sure, it was disappointing, but all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/the-england-manager-didn-t-think-i-was-good-enough-and-as-a/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) [Explore all 92 Gareth Barry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) ## 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 was 32 when I signed for Everton, and Roberto Martinez said, 'With your style of game, you can play until you're 40.' 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