--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I will never again stand on the pitch as…" description: "\"I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional player. But I won't stop playing the game.\" — Hidetoshi Nakata" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/hidetoshi-nakata-45927_gamer_i-will-never-again-stand-on-the-pitch-as_2640103.png" --- # I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional… ![“I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional player. But I won't stop playing the game.” quote by Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/hidetoshi-nakata-45927_gamer_i-will-never-again-stand-on-the-pitch-as_2640103.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/hidetoshi-nakata-45927_gamer_i-will-never-again-stand-on-the-pitch-as_2640103.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/hidetoshi-nakata-45927_gamer_i-will-never-again-stand-on-the-pitch-as_2640103.png) > “I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional player. But I won't stop playing the game.” [Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Retirement from professional play doesn't end love for the game; one can stay engaged in other ways. **In simple terms:** Love persists after career ends. Key Takeaway Stay involved beyond professional limits. Themes sports lifelong passion transition identity Mood reflective optimistic Type personal motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - coaching youth - sports commentary - personal training Key Concepts career change mentorship coaching Questions to Reflect On - How will you stay connected to football? - What new contributions can you make? A Different Perspective Finding new roles may be emotionally challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gamer/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Pitch Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitch-professional-2261615/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Playing Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-game/) [Playing The Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-the-game/) [Professional Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-player-469130/) [Stop Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-playing/) ## Related quotes > [It's a piece of cake until you get to the top. You find you can't stop playing the game the way you've always played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/it-s-a-piece-of-cake-until-you-get-to-the-top-you-find-you-can-t-stop/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Never give up and never stop playing until the game is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-acuna-jr/never-give-up-and-never-stop-playing-until-the-game-is-over/) [Ronald Acuna Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-acuna-jr/) > [“When we were kids and believed that the game was not fair, we stopped playing. Well, the game of governance is not fair, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/when-we-were-kids-and-believed-that-the-game-was-not-fair-we-stopped/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) > [The key to acting with integrity is to simply stop playing the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-key-to-acting-with-integrity-is-to-simply-stop-playing-the-game/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [There are moutains that we want to move there are thunderstorms that we just want to stop there are road bumps that just never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/there-are-moutains-that-we-want-to-move-there-are-thunderstorms-that/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“Most people have stop playing the game (living their dreams) and instead cheering with the crowd (following the masses). Just because they missed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/most-people-have-stop-playing-the-game-living-their-dreams-and/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [If Jesus were playing the game, I don't know what he'd do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-whelchel/if-jesus-were-playing-the-game-i-don-t-know-what-he-d-do/) [Lisa Whelchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-whelchel/) > [You can't worry about intimidating me and playing the game at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-naroditsky/you-can-t-worry-about-intimidating-me-and-playing-the-game-at-the/) [Daniel Naroditsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-naroditsky/) > [Playing the game is far more satisfying than reading the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-haisch/playing-the-game-is-far-more-satisfying-than-reading-the-rules/) [Bernard Haisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-haisch/) > [Don't let the fear of striking out keep you away from playing the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-the-fear-of-striking-out-keep-you-away-from-playing-the-game/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Playing point guard was/is where I am comfortable. It is where I grew up playing the game since age 5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-reaves/playing-point-guard-was-is-where-i-am-comfortable-it-is-where-i-grew/) [Austin Reaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-reaves/) > [I just have a lot of fun playing the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caris-levert/i-just-have-a-lot-of-fun-playing-the-game/) [Caris LeVert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caris-levert/) > [Dont let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game<3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-cinderella-story/dont-let-the-fear-of-striking-out-keep-you-from-playing-the-game-3/) [A Cinderella Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-cinderella-story/) > [I don't see any point in playing the game if you don't win, do you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/i-don-t-see-any-point-in-playing-the-game-if-you-don-t-win-do-you/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [I like baseball. I think that's the main thing. I enjoy playing the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-posey/i-like-baseball-i-think-that-s-the-main-thing-i-enjoy-playing-the-game/) [Buster Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-posey/) ## More by Hidetoshi Nakata > [I notice that teams are now more interested in Japanese players than when I first went to Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetoshi-nakata/i-notice-that-teams-are-now-more-interested-in-japanese-players-than/) [Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) > [Living in Europe, I was surprised to find out just how little everyone knows about Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetoshi-nakata/living-in-europe-i-was-surprised-to-find-out-just-how-little-everyone/) [Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) > [As a professional athlete, I believe that I need to explore my opportunities to the maximum, in order to excel and continue to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetoshi-nakata/as-a-professional-athlete-i-believe-that-i-need-to-explore-my/) [Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) > [I think that the World Cup is a big factor for this increased interest. I don't believe all of this is a result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetoshi-nakata/i-think-that-the-world-cup-is-a-big-factor-for-this-increased/) [Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) > [The biggest lesson I've learned by living abroad for the last four years is the importance of communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetoshi-nakata/the-biggest-lesson-i-ve-learned-by-living-abroad-for-the-last-four/) [Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) > [We had only snacks last time, I think it was OK for a day time menu. But this time it will be late night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetoshi-nakata/we-had-only-snacks-last-time-i-think-it-was-ok-for-a-day-time-menu/) [Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) > [I believe that I need to explore my opportunities to the maximum, in order to excel and continue to play the best football I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetoshi-nakata/i-believe-that-i-need-to-explore-my-opportunities-to-the-maximum-in/) [Hidetoshi Nakata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) [Explore all 8 Hidetoshi Nakata quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetoshi-nakata/) ## More Gamer quotes > [Playing video games is something I enjoy in my spare time. I'm a gamer, always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-garnett/playing-video-games-is-something-i-enjoy-in-my-spare-time-i-m-a-gamer/) [Kevin Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-garnett/) > [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [As our culture redefines being a gamer, brand partners explore and wait eagerly on a new set of tools to better engage their potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-pierce/as-our-culture-redefines-being-a-gamer-brand-partners-explore-and/) [Brock Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-pierce/) > [When I got on the set of 'Saving Private Ryan,' I discovered, to my amazement, that Steven Spielberg is a gamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/when-i-got-on-the-set-of-saving-private-ryan-i-discovered-to-my/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [In order to expand the gaming population, it is taken for granted that we need to offer games to satisfy veteran gamers. At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/in-order-to-expand-the-gaming-population-it-is-taken-for-granted-that/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [My brother was a huge gamer back when he was in high school, and I started off with 'Call of Duty' pretty early and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-aaron-fox/my-brother-was-a-huge-gamer-back-when-he-was-in-high-school-and-i/) [De'Aaron Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-aaron-fox/) > [I'm a big gamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/i-m-a-big-gamer/) [Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/) > [I think I can make an entirely new game experience, and if I can't do it, some other game designer will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeru-miyamoto/i-think-i-can-make-an-entirely-new-game-experience-and-if-i-can-t-do/) [Shigeru Miyamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeru-miyamoto/) > [You probably know me best as a 4 year player, national champion, and graduate of Duke University, but I'm also a gamer, student, Christian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-allen/you-probably-know-me-best-as-a-4-year-player-national-champion-and/) [Grayson Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-allen/) > [As I said, when we needed to move over to rock'n'roll, Sam and Vernon couldn't quite make the shift. So that's when Larry took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/as-i-said-when-we-needed-to-move-over-to-rock-n-roll-sam-and-vernon/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [The thing about being a lifelong gamer is that my eye-to-hand reaction time is faster than average. I actually went on a website that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-chu/the-thing-about-being-a-lifelong-gamer-is-that-my-eye-to-hand/) [Arthur Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-chu/) > [I'm a huge gamer. I play a lot of games, and I play one game until I'm really, really good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osric-chau/i-m-a-huge-gamer-i-play-a-lot-of-games-and-i-play-one-game-until-i-m/) [Osric Chau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osric-chau/) > [When it came to football there was a certain age where I realized that my future in football was being a grease spot on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-steinberg/when-it-came-to-football-there-was-a-certain-age-where-i-realized/) [Leigh Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-steinberg/) > [I don't know that I'd agree I was our best player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-yzerman/i-don-t-know-that-i-d-agree-i-was-our-best-player/) [Steve Yzerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-yzerman/) > [I'm not a good guitar player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-jones/i-m-not-a-good-guitar-player/) [Adam Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-jones/) [Browse all 196 Gamer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gamer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional player. 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