--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never felt I would get to the stage…" description: "\"I never felt I would get to the stage where I would to have to actively think about retiring from international football as I always thought it would p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/kenny-cunningham-34202_felt_i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-wh_1230822.jpg" --- # I never felt I would get to the stage where I would to… ![“I never felt I would get to the stage where I would to have to actively think about retiring from international football as I always thought it would pass me by.” quote by Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/kenny-cunningham-34202_felt_i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-wh_1230822.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/kenny-cunningham-34202_felt_i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-wh_1230822.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/kenny-cunningham-34202_felt_i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-wh_1230822.jpg) > “I never felt I would get to the stage where I would to have to actively think about retiring from international football as I always thought it would pass me by.” [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He never imagined retirement, thinking it would never happen. **In simple terms:** Retirement felt unexpected. Key Takeaway Plan for career transitions early. Themes career lifespan future planning identity Mood cautious hopeful Type career advice personal reflection When to use this quote - career counseling - financial planning - mental health support - public speaking Key Concepts athlete retirement life after sport Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes prepare for retirement? - What support helps post‑sport life? A Different Perspective Athletes may struggle with identity loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [Retiring from international football was a personal decision, and I was very sure about what I was doing. I played for my country for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/retiring-from-international-football-was-a-personal-decision-and-i/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [I feel the time is right, I want to spend more time with my young family and concentrate fully on my career \[on retiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/i-feel-the-time-is-right-i-want-to-spend-more-time-with-my-young/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [Why retire from something if you're loving it so much and enjoying it so much, and you're blessed with another group of people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/why-retire-from-something-if-you-re-loving-it-so-much-and-enjoying-it/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [When people don't know me any more or want my autograph, then I'll think about retiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weissmuller/when-people-don-t-know-me-any-more-or-want-my-autograph-then-i-ll/) [Johnny Weissmuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weissmuller/) > [When you think about retiring, you're done. You already checked out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/when-you-think-about-retiring-you-re-done-you-already-checked-out/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yourself-and-don-t-think-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Every time I try to retire, or even think of retiring from acting, my agent comes up with a script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/every-time-i-try-to-retire-or-even-think-of-retiring-from-acting-my/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [You need some insecurity if you're an actor. It keeps the pot boiling. I haven't yet started to think about retiring. I was shocked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/you-need-some-insecurity-if-you-re-an-actor-it-keeps-the-pot-boiling/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/don-t-think-of-retiring-from-the-world-until-the-world-will-be-sorry/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“I await the revises, and promise you not to 'make my quietus with a bare bodkin' till I have returned them. After that, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-await-the-revises-and-promise-you-not-to-make-my-quietus-with-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't really think about retiring. I will retire just before people start saying, 'I knew Leonard Slatkin when he conducted well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-don-t-really-think-about-retiring-i-will-retire-just-before-people/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [I'm upset. There was nothing like putting on the red shirt. (on retiring from international football)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/i-m-upset-there-was-nothing-like-putting-on-the-red-shirt-on-retiring/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [International football is one clog further up the football ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hoddle/international-football-is-one-clog-further-up-the-football-ladder/) [Glenn Hoddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hoddle/) > [I haven't retired from international football - I still believe I have a part to play in the future of England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-haven-t-retired-from-international-football-i-still-believe-i-have/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [I think it's important that I keep playing international football, whatever level it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/i-think-it-s-important-that-i-keep-playing-international-football/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) ## More by Kenny Cunningham > [I became more confident within myself and matured as a person and become a little bit more opinionated - maybe the lads might say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-became-more-confident-within-myself-and-matured-as-a-person-and/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [I wouldn't even mention myself in the same breath as someone like big Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-wouldn-t-even-mention-myself-in-the-same-breath-as-someone-like-big/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [It will be difficult to let go but it is going to happen sooner rather than later in my case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/it-will-be-difficult-to-let-go-but-it-is-going-to-happen-sooner/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [I enjoyed seven years at Wimbledon and there were high and low points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-enjoyed-seven-years-at-wimbledon-and-there-were-high-and-low-points/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [I am hugely proud to have played for Ireland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-am-hugely-proud-to-have-played-for-ireland/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [Looking back I find it hard to believe that I could forge a career in anything other than football but I didn't do too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/looking-back-i-find-it-hard-to-believe-that-i-could-forge-a-career-in/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [That kind of natural understanding doesn't develop naturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/that-kind-of-natural-understanding-doesn-t-develop-naturally/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [I definitely want to be involved but only while I think I can make a contribution and I make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-definitely-want-to-be-involved-but-only-while-i-think-i-can-make-a/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [A difficult decision for the referee's assistant. I wouldn't beat him up over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/a-difficult-decision-for-the-referee-s-assistant-i-wouldn-t-beat-him/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [Arsenal's defence will be a worry going forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/arsenal-s-defence-will-be-a-worry-going-forward/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [He was a fantastic player, but the thing that impressed me most about Paul was his manner off the pitch. He was always very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/he-was-a-fantastic-player-but-the-thing-that-impressed-me-most-about/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [I never felt I would be part of the international scene for 50 caps in my wildest dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-never-felt-i-would-be-part-of-the-international-scene-for-50-caps/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [I find the growing intervention by the football authorities in strictly footballing matters a rather worrying trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-find-the-growing-intervention-by-the-football-authorities-in/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) [Explore all 14 Kenny Cunningham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) ## More Felt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [I never felt like running away from my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paresh-rawal/i-never-felt-like-running-away-from-my-dreams/) [Paresh Rawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paresh-rawal/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) Browse all 9,592 Felt quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never felt I would get to the stage where I would to have to actively think about retiring from international football as I always thought it would pass me by.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenny Cunningham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-where-i-would-to-have-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Felt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-where-i-would-to-have-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/kenny-cunningham-34202_felt_i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-wh_1230822.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/kenny-cunningham-34202_felt_i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-wh_1230822.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/kenny-cunningham-34202_felt_i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-wh_1230822.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never felt I would get to the stage where I would to have to actively think about retiring from…” — Kenny Cunningham", "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": "Kenny Cunningham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never felt I would get...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-where-i-would-to-have-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-where-i-would-to-have-to/#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 } } ] } ```