--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got my first football when I was two…" description: "\"I got my first football when I was two and played my first proper game before I was five. So nothing else was ever an option!\" — Manuel Neuer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/manuel-neuer-6924_football_i-got-my-first-football-when-i-was-two-a_1529417.jpg" --- # I got my first football when I was two and played my first… ![“I got my first football when I was two and played my first proper game before I was five. So nothing else was ever an option!” quote by Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/manuel-neuer-6924_football_i-got-my-first-football-when-i-was-two-a_1529417.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/manuel-neuer-6924_football_i-got-my-first-football-when-i-was-two-a_1529417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/manuel-neuer-6924_football_i-got-my-first-football-when-i-was-two-a_1529417.jpg) > “I got my first football when I was two and played my first proper game before I was five. So nothing else was ever an option!” [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to football shaped his identity, making alternative paths feel impossible. **In simple terms:** Childhood sport defined his life direction. Key Takeaway Embrace early passions while staying open to new options. Themes sports identity determination Mood determined proud Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - youth coaching - career counseling - goal setting Key Concepts developmental psychology career focus Questions to Reflect On - Did early focus help or hinder later growth? - Can one pivot after a singular childhood focus? A Different Perspective Over‑specialization can limit broader skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) ## Related quotes > [We've got our football where no one wears anything and the guys are in little shorts and they beat the crap out of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-griffiths/we-ve-got-our-football-where-no-one-wears-anything-and-the-guys-are/) [Rachel Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-griffiths/) > [It was my dad who got me into football. One day, he surprised me playing in the garage. He thought I was a thief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/it-was-my-dad-who-got-me-into-football-one-day-he-surprised-me/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [I've got no interest in football. My brother's a footballer, too, and I was dragged to the freezing pitch every week as a child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbey-clancy/i-ve-got-no-interest-in-football-my-brother-s-a-footballer-too-and-i/) [Abbey Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbey-clancy/) > [My philosophy was simple. I was trying to score when I got the football in my hand. There was no question about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/my-philosophy-was-simple-i-was-trying-to-score-when-i-got-the/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [I am going to graduate school, but that ain't got nothing to do with football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/i-am-going-to-graduate-school-but-that-ain-t-got-nothing-to-do-with/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [You've got one football and a lot of times, defenses dictate where the ball goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-pederson/you-ve-got-one-football-and-a-lot-of-times-defenses-dictate-where-the/) [Doug Pederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-pederson/) > [My four older brothers were my favorite players. That's why I got into football and sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dorsett/my-four-older-brothers-were-my-favorite-players-that-s-why-i-got-into/) [Tony Dorsett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dorsett/) > [Football is a very short-term proposition. Football really prepares you for nothing. The only thing I got out of football was the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-sayers/football-is-a-very-short-term-proposition-football-really-prepares/) [Gale Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-sayers/) > [Football is played out on the pitch for 90 minutes, it is not what happens before it starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-rudiger/football-is-played-out-on-the-pitch-for-90-minutes-it-is-not-what/) [Antonio Rudiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-rudiger/) > [Football is played best full of adrenaline and anger. Moderation seldom finds a place. Almost every act of baseball is a blending of effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boswell/football-is-played-best-full-of-adrenaline-and-anger-moderation/) [Thomas Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boswell/) > [When I was in high school, my mom hated football. But then, the more I played, the more it grew on her. This game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-ferguson/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-mom-hated-football-but-then-the-more-i/) [Nick Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-ferguson/) > [Football is played on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylian-mbappe/football-is-played-on-the-field/) [Kylian Mbappe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylian-mbappe/) > [I loved playing football with my brothers. I would go to school as well, but I loved football, so I played it a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelechi-iheanacho/i-loved-playing-football-with-my-brothers-i-would-go-to-school-as/) [Kelechi Iheanacho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelechi-iheanacho/) > [I think that's awesome to have a former player in the GM role, somebody that not only understands the game of football but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-reid/i-think-that-s-awesome-to-have-a-former-player-in-the-gm-role/) [Eric Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-reid/) > [When I first got to college, in my mind, I was going to end up playing professional football. When I tell people this story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-adepo/when-i-first-got-to-college-in-my-mind-i-was-going-to-end-up-playing/) [Jovan Adepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-adepo/) ## More by Manuel Neuer > [I generally don't think one's age is all that meaningful - there are 50-year-olds who still act and think like children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-generally-don-t-think-one-s-age-is-all-that-meaningful-there-are-50/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [I have always been interested in finding new ways to play and have looked at handball keepers and ice hockey goal-minders. It helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-have-always-been-interested-in-finding-new-ways-to-play-and-have/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [I'm not the sort of person who poses in their underwear. I hate the red carpet. I prefer the green grass. After the games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-m-not-the-sort-of-person-who-poses-in-their-underwear-i-hate-the/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [The coach put me in goal, and back then, we were playing on bone-hard ground: red ash; we even trained on black ash, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/the-coach-put-me-in-goal-and-back-then-we-were-playing-on-bone-hard/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [You can plan, but what happens on a football field cannot be predicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/you-can-plan-but-what-happens-on-a-football-field-cannot-be-predicted/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [I used to cry when I let in a goal. I always thought I was to blame because I was the last man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-used-to-cry-when-i-let-in-a-goal-i-always-thought-i-was-to-blame/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [As a goalkeeper, you like to be called upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/as-a-goalkeeper-you-like-to-be-called-upon/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [You cannot compare warm-ups with World Cup games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/you-cannot-compare-warm-ups-with-world-cup-games/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [In my opinion, it is important to have a stable defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/in-my-opinion-it-is-important-to-have-a-stable-defence/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [I took responsibility in Munich from the beginning. But I could not walk in with splayed elbows into the club and say, 'Here comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-took-responsibility-in-munich-from-the-beginning-but-i-could-not/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [Because life constantly poses challenges, living demands courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/because-life-constantly-poses-challenges-living-demands-courage/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [A fit player has good and bad times during a season, and you have that in rehab, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/a-fit-player-has-good-and-bad-times-during-a-season-and-you-have-that/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [It's obviously very tough for any team to lose on penalties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/it-s-obviously-very-tough-for-any-team-to-lose-on-penalties/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [I love to tackle, especially when the grass is wet, but my main aim is to be a complete goalkeeper who can do everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-love-to-tackle-especially-when-the-grass-is-wet-but-my-main-aim-is/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [To be a modern goalkeeper, I have to think offensively, to initiate our attacking moves safely and securely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/to-be-a-modern-goalkeeper-i-have-to-think-offensively-to-initiate-our/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) [Explore all 96 Manuel Neuer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got my first football when I was two and played my first proper game before I was five. 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