--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You always need the hunger to play in the…" description: "\"You always need the hunger to play in the first team.\" — Louis van Gaal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-th_1474844.png" --- # You always need the hunger to play in the first team. ![“You always need the hunger to play in the first team.” quote by Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-th_1474844.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-th_1474844.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-th_1474844.png) > “You always need the hunger to play in the first team.” [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A strong desire and drive are essential to secure a top position in a team. **In simple terms:** Hunger fuels top‑team placement. Key Takeaway Cultivate relentless ambition. Themes sports motivation competition Mood determined intense Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - team selection - career advancement - training regimes Key Concepts drive team dynamics performance pressure Questions to Reflect On - How does hunger translate to performance? - When does ambition become detrimental? A Different Perspective Excessive hunger can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [I’ve always wanted to be liked. It grieved me that I was treated with indifference. Left an orphan by Fortune, I wanted—like all orphans—to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-liked-it-grieved-me-that-i-was-treated-with/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [That's my hunger. If I start to relax, and I lose that, then I had better stop my football. I need that hunger. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/that-s-my-hunger-if-i-start-to-relax-and-i-lose-that-then-i-had/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [ \[B\]ut he had lived in a world in which, as he said, no one who loved ideas need hunger mentally. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/b-ut-he-had-lived-in-a-world-in-which-as-he-said-no-one-who-loved/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [You need that hunger no matter what, because eventually the honeymoon period wears off. Somewhere between printing your business cards that say 'founder' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-houston/you-need-that-hunger-no-matter-what-because-eventually-the-honeymoon/) [Drew Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-houston/) > [I am grateful for each and every food bank that helps families in need. Now, more than ever, hunger is a crisis in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-am-grateful-for-each-and-every-food-bank-that-helps-families-in/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [Not everything, always, is about your performance. It's about the team performance. When the team is not playing well, then normally, you will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-pique/not-everything-always-is-about-your-performance-it-s-about-the-team/) [Gerard Pique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-pique/) > [Of course you have Messi and Ronaldo. And then you've got a lot of players who are very close to each other and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/of-course-you-have-messi-and-ronaldo-and-then-you-ve-got-a-lot-of/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [I feel like I can play with any team. Whatever team that is, I feel like I can make an instant impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-beverley/i-feel-like-i-can-play-with-any-team-whatever-team-that-is-i-feel/) [Patrick Beverley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-beverley/) > [Players count for nothing. The team is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/players-count-for-nothing-the-team-is-everything/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [We just have to play together as a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/we-just-have-to-play-together-as-a-team/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [My thing is, I want to play for the team that wants me to be a part of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/my-thing-is-i-want-to-play-for-the-team-that-wants-me-to-be-a-part-of/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [I developed my game a lot and learned how to score off the dribble. I learned how to play team defense and one-on-one defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khris-middleton/i-developed-my-game-a-lot-and-learned-how-to-score-off-the-dribble-i/) [Khris Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khris-middleton/) > [I love the U.S.A. women's soccer team. I'm really a fan of them, how they play as a team, the spirit they have. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-nunes/i-love-the-u-s-a-women-s-soccer-team-i-m-really-a-fan-of-them-how/) [Amanda Nunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-nunes/) > [I learnt a lot of things in Holland, as people have great vision there. It improved me as a player and a person. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusan-tadic/i-learnt-a-lot-of-things-in-holland-as-people-have-great-vision-there/) [Dusan Tadic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusan-tadic/) > [Teamwork is neither "good" nor "desirable." It is a fact. Wherever people work together or play together they do so as a team. Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/teamwork-is-neither-good-nor-desirable-it-is-a-fact-wherever-people/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ## More by Louis van Gaal > [I watch the Premier League, the Spanish and Dutch leagues, and a little bit of the German league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-watch-the-premier-league-the-spanish-and-dutch-leagues-and-a-little/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [I have no ambition to be a technical director or TV pundit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-have-no-ambition-to-be-a-technical-director-or-tv-pundit/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [Players count for nothing. The team is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/players-count-for-nothing-the-team-is-everything/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [I am amazed when people say I am single-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-am-amazed-when-people-say-i-am-single-minded/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [Success at United doesn't depend on money but about which players we bring in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/success-at-united-doesn-t-depend-on-money-but-about-which-players-we/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [When I buy, I buy players for the long term, not the short term because I do respect the club a lot and also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/when-i-buy-i-buy-players-for-the-long-term-not-the-short-term-because/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [In the football world, you have to deliver. However, as an ex-player, you always have more credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/in-the-football-world-you-have-to-deliver-however-as-an-ex-player-you/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [I criticize the media for inventing stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-criticize-the-media-for-inventing-stories/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [I am more open than other coaches with all of my players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-am-more-open-than-other-coaches-with-all-of-my-players/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [You need always guts to put youngsters in the squad and also in the line-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/you-need-always-guts-to-put-youngsters-in-the-squad-and-also-in-the/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [We need to learn that in the Champions League, the referees are vigilant and quick to whistle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/we-need-to-learn-that-in-the-champions-league-the-referees-are/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [Sometimes players are very fed up with my communication, but that's what I do, and they know how I think. But they know I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/sometimes-players-are-very-fed-up-with-my-communication-but-that-s/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [I had to follow Bobby Robson at Barcelona. He had won three titles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-had-to-follow-bobby-robson-at-barcelona-he-had-won-three-titles/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [Having coached Ajax, Barcelona, the Netherlands, FC Bayern, and Manchester United like I did, it is difficult for any offer to be interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/having-coached-ajax-barcelona-the-netherlands-fc-bayern-and/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [It's not always the fault of the manager when a player is not performing well, I can tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/it-s-not-always-the-fault-of-the-manager-when-a-player-is-not/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) [Explore all 113 Louis van Gaal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You always need the hunger to play in the first team.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis van Gaal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-the-first-team/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-the-first-team/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-th_1474844.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-th_1474844.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-th_1474844.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You always need the hunger to play in the first team.” — Louis van Gaal", "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": "Louis van Gaal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You always need the hunger to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-the-first-team/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/you-always-need-the-hunger-to-play-in-the-first-team/#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 } } ] } ```