---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether you play or whether you're on the…"
description: "\"Whether you play or whether you're on the bench, or however it may be, at some point in your career you will be one of those three roles. You will eith..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/jack-butland-9242_career_whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-th_1160284.jpg"
---

#  Whether you play or whether you're on the bench, or…

![“Whether you play or whether you're on the bench, or however it may be, at some point in your career you will be one of those three roles. You will either be a young, up-and-coming goalkeeper watching the experienced one, you'll either be on the bench or you'll be in goal yourself.” quote by Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/jack-butland-9242_career_whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-th_1160284.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/jack-butland-9242_career_whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-th_1160284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/jack-butland-9242_career_whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-th_1160284.jpg)

> “Whether you play or whether you're on the bench, or however it may be, at some point in your career you will be one of those three roles. You will either be a young, up-and-coming goalkeeper watching the experienced one, you'll either be on the bench or you'll be in goal yourself.”

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

## About This Quote

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

Career progression involves rotating through roles: learning, waiting, then leading.

**In simple terms:** You’ll move from learner to leader.

Key Takeaway

Embrace each role as growth.

Themes

career development sports mentorship

Mood

motivational realistic

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- training sessions
- team meetings
- match day decisions

Key Concepts

goalkeeping role transition experience accumulation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you stay patient on the bench?
- What lessons can you learn while observing?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone reaches the leading role.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-roles-3318089/) [Coming Goalkeeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-goalkeeper-3318087/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Goalkeeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goalkeeper/) [Goalkeeper Watching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goalkeeper-watching-3318088/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Roles Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-young-2145962/) [Watching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/)

## Related quotes

> [The transitional period is tough. You can find yourself too old to play high school roles but too young to play the leading man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/the-transitional-period-is-tough-you-can-find-yourself-too-old-to/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [There's such an array of brilliant roles for young women. You read all these amazing young women going through different stages in their life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juno-temple/there-s-such-an-array-of-brilliant-roles-for-young-women-you-read-all/)

[Juno Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juno-temple/)

> [My dream roles since I was very young were Tony in West Side Story and Pippin. But, now I leave that for the youngsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-panaro/my-dream-roles-since-i-was-very-young-were-tony-in-west-side-story/)

[Hugh Panaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-panaro/)

> [Playing Ophelia was a launch-pad to the rest of my career - it is one of the great roles for a young actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-fitzgerald/playing-ophelia-was-a-launch-pad-to-the-rest-of-my-career-it-is-one/)

[Tara Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-fitzgerald/)

> [I was approached for acting roles when I was young. I had said that I look into the mirror every day and don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/i-was-approached-for-acting-roles-when-i-was-young-i-had-said-that-i/)

[Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/)

> [It's true in the beginning I started playing villains, and I think that's pretty clear, because if you don't conventionally look a certain way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/it-s-true-in-the-beginning-i-started-playing-villains-and-i-think/)

[Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/)

> [I don't think of it at the moment, but the roles that interest me are those of young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-adjani/i-don-t-think-of-it-at-the-moment-but-the-roles-that-interest-me-are/)

[Isabelle Adjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-adjani/)

> [As a goalkeeper experience is a massive thing, and there is nothing better than playing games, which thankfully I managed to do at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/as-a-goalkeeper-experience-is-a-massive-thing-and-there-is-nothing/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [I'm always confident in my ability; you have to be as a goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-m-always-confident-in-my-ability-you-have-to-be-as-a-goalkeeper/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [I want to become the best goalkeeper in the country and the best goalkeeper around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-want-to-become-the-best-goalkeeper-in-the-country-and-the-best/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [As a goalkeeper it's so important to be in the right position to come and clear those through balls, to make those right decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/as-a-goalkeeper-it-s-so-important-to-be-in-the-right-position-to-come/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [I wasn't a goalkeeper until I was 13 or 14 so before that, my heroes were the likes of Paul Scholes and David Beckham,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-wasn-t-a-goalkeeper-until-i-was-13-or-14-so-before-that-my-heroes/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [If a defender has the ball and turns, we start pressing the goalkeeper before he passes back because if they make a mistake, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/if-a-defender-has-the-ball-and-turns-we-start-pressing-the-goalkeeper/)

[Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/)

> [Top of my wishlist is to play for a club that wants me to be their goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hart/top-of-my-wishlist-is-to-play-for-a-club-that-wants-me-to-be-their/)

[Joe Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hart/)

> [I can play in any position except goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/i-can-play-in-any-position-except-goalkeeper/)

[Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/)

## More by Jack Butland

> [I want to become the best goalkeeper in the country and the best goalkeeper around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-want-to-become-the-best-goalkeeper-in-the-country-and-the-best/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [If you get a career-threatening injury your career is done and you need something to fall back on. But if it wasn't for football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/if-you-get-a-career-threatening-injury-your-career-is-done-and-you/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [I get on with Joe Hart really well. He joined Birmingham on loan when I was there and to see him working day-in, day-out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-get-on-with-joe-hart-really-well-he-joined-birmingham-on-loan-when/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [We have to be aware of our profile all the time now, there are cameras everywhere. It can be difficult at times, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/we-have-to-be-aware-of-our-profile-all-the-time-now-there-are-cameras/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [I am very proud to represent my country and the honour of being captain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-am-very-proud-to-represent-my-country-and-the-honour-of-being/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [It can be a lonely place when you are injured. You miss being out there with your team-mates and just experiencing the highs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/it-can-be-a-lonely-place-when-you-are-injured-you-miss-being-out/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [I'm always confident in my ability; you have to be as a goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-m-always-confident-in-my-ability-you-have-to-be-as-a-goalkeeper/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [You want to make an impact and show what you're about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/you-want-to-make-an-impact-and-show-what-you-re-about/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [Regardless of what happens, I want to be part of a successful England team and if I have to swallow my pride and disappointment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/regardless-of-what-happens-i-want-to-be-part-of-a-successful-england/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [I don't prepare to sit on the bench, I prepare to play because you never know what is going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-don-t-prepare-to-sit-on-the-bench-i-prepare-to-play-because-you/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [It's a good thing isn't it, having competition? I enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/it-s-a-good-thing-isn-t-it-having-competition-i-enjoy-it/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [You never know what may happen with injuries and suspensions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/you-never-know-what-may-happen-with-injuries-and-suspensions/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [As a goalkeeper experience is a massive thing, and there is nothing better than playing games, which thankfully I managed to do at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/as-a-goalkeeper-experience-is-a-massive-thing-and-there-is-nothing/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [We all know the power of social media, things can get out there so quickly. We are high-profile footballers, we know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/we-all-know-the-power-of-social-media-things-can-get-out-there-so/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

> [I've always said and I've never hidden the fact that I want to play at the top, be England's No 1 and win trophies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-ve-always-said-and-i-ve-never-hidden-the-fact-that-i-want-to-play/)

[Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

[Explore all 74 Jack Butland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/)

## More Career quotes

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

[Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/)

> [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/)

[Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/)

> [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/)

[Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/)

> [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/)

[Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/)

> [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/)

[Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/)

[John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/)

[Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/)

[Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/)

[Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Whether you play or whether you're on the bench, or however it may be, at some point in your career you will be one of those three roles. You will either be a young, up-and-coming goalkeeper watching the experienced one, you'll either be on the bench or you'll be in goal yourself.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jack Butland"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-the-bench-or-however-it-may-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Career"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-the-bench-or-however-it-may-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/jack-butland-9242_career_whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-th_1160284.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/jack-butland-9242_career_whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-th_1160284.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/jack-butland-9242_career_whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-th_1160284.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whether you play or whether you're on the bench, or however it may be, at some point in your career you will…” — Jack Butland",
                "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": "Jack Butland",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Whether you play or whether you're...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-the-bench-or-however-it-may-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/whether-you-play-or-whether-you-re-on-the-bench-or-however-it-may-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
