--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At seven, I played centre-back. When…" description: "\"At seven, I played centre-back. When you're so young, though, it's more to enjoy the training and to get a feel for the game. It's not heavy on tactics..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/georginio-wijnaldum-6503_enjoy_at-seven-i-played-centre-back-when-you-r_639438.jpg" --- # At seven, I played centre-back. When you're so young… ![“At seven, I played centre-back. When you're so young, though, it's more to enjoy the training and to get a feel for the game. It's not heavy on tactics of a position. We were playing on a half pitch, seven against seven or eight against eight, so they say you're a centre-back, but it's not like…” quote by Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/georginio-wijnaldum-6503_enjoy_at-seven-i-played-centre-back-when-you-r_639438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/georginio-wijnaldum-6503_enjoy_at-seven-i-played-centre-back-when-you-r_639438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/georginio-wijnaldum-6503_enjoy_at-seven-i-played-centre-back-when-you-r_639438.jpg) > “At seven, I played centre-back. When you're so young, though, it's more to enjoy the training and to get a feel for the game. It's not heavy on tactics of a position. We were playing on a half pitch, seven against seven or eight against eight, so they say you're a centre-back, but it's not like the real definition.” [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young player describes early football experiences as fun and exploratory rather than tactical, emphasizing learning through play on small-sided games. **In simple terms:** Kids learn football by playing, not over‑thinking tactics. Key Takeaway Enjoy the game and focus on feeling it. Themes learning play development teamwork Mood enthusiastic reflective Type developmental inspirational When to use this quote - youth training - small‑sided games - coach feedback - skill drills Key Concepts tactical awareness skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can coaches balance fun and tactical growth? - What simple drills build positional sense? A Different Perspective Limited tactical depth may hinder early strategic understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) ## Related quotes > [Playing half court or even organising a practise game against another team is a great way to train. 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For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-rodwell/to-be-honest-from-england-under-16s-through-the-17s-and-18s-really/) [Jack Rodwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-rodwell/) > [I never liked going to school and would sham and play football. I played in the centre forward position. If ever given a choice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-shroff/i-never-liked-going-to-school-and-would-sham-and-play-football-i/) [Tiger Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-shroff/) > [It's true that Coutinho played on the centre because sometimes Messi likes playing on the right side. If that happens, we have to readjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-valverde/it-s-true-that-coutinho-played-on-the-centre-because-sometimes-messi/) [Ernesto Valverde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-valverde/) > [England Under 16, Under 17, Under 18, I played centre-half. 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I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [At Newcastle, I was playing in the No 10 position but also in midfield as a left winger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/at-newcastle-i-was-playing-in-the-no-10-position-but-also-in-midfield/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [I can play in different positions, and if I can do what I'm good at, score goals, show how good I can play football,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/i-can-play-in-different-positions-and-if-i-can-do-what-i-m-good-at/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [With my quality, I feel I can bring a lot to a team that I will join. 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It is always possible that you will not win, but it is the way you play the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/you-can-t-afford-to-lose-games-it-is-always-possible-that-you-will/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) [Explore all 99 Georginio Wijnaldum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) ## More Enjoy quotes > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [The Fringe is by far my favorite time of year; I like everything about it. 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The Romans will enjoy a fine September.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-badoglio/the-germans-will-make-a-few-scattered-attacks-then-go-away-the-romans/) Pietro Badoglio > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [I enjoy upsetting the right people. I love poking fun at earnest censors. I want to push the bounds of what can be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/i-enjoy-upsetting-the-right-people-i-love-poking-fun-at-earnest/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. 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