--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I left home at 21 to go and play for…" description: "\"I left home at 21 to go and play for Munich and was immediately able to perform at a high standard. It was totally surreal, and I had no idea where it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/mario-gotze-12955_football_i-left-home-at-21-to-go-and-play-for-mun_34335.jpg" --- # I left home at 21 to go and play for Munich and was… ![“I left home at 21 to go and play for Munich and was immediately able to perform at a high standard. It was totally surreal, and I had no idea where it might lead.” quote by Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/mario-gotze-12955_football_i-left-home-at-21-to-go-and-play-for-mun_34335.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/mario-gotze-12955_football_i-left-home-at-21-to-go-and-play-for-mun_34335.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/mario-gotze-12955_football_i-left-home-at-21-to-go-and-play-for-mun_34335.jpg) > “I left home at 21 to go and play for Munich and was immediately able to perform at a high standard. It was totally surreal, and I had no idea where it might lead.” [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young athlete reflects on the shock of joining a top club early, highlighting the rapid adaptation and unexpected opportunities that followed. **In simple terms:** Early career breakthrough at a major club. Key Takeaway Talent can thrive when given a chance. Themes career transition adaptation confidence opportunity sports psychology Mood excitement wonder Type personal anecdote inspirational When to use this quote - signing with a new team - first professional match - relocating for sport Key Concepts professional growth performance pressure Practical Applications - motivational speaking for athletes - career counseling for young talent Questions to Reflect On - What factors helped you adjust quickly? - How do you handle sudden success? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Munich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/munich/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Surreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surreal/) ## Related quotes > [Low' was probably the album that influenced me more than any other, because of how it combined humor and impressive, glamorous, driving energy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/low-was-probably-the-album-that-influenced-me-more-than-any-other/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [It was a big step for me to go to Bayern Munich. Of course, the expectations were different than at Dortmund, but that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/it-was-a-big-step-for-me-to-go-to-bayern-munich-of-course-the/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [My first year in Munich was definitely not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/my-first-year-in-munich-was-definitely-not-easy/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [I learned a lot in Munich. I played with world-class players, matured, and learned from any setbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/i-learned-a-lot-in-munich-i-played-with-world-class-players-matured/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [I do not agree with Thomas Wolfe... about anything. You can go home again as long as you don't expect home to be what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-burr/i-do-not-agree-with-thomas-wolfe-about-anything-you-can-go-home-again/) [Raymond Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-burr/) > [So much of my sense of who I am is tied to mothering. When they left home, I fell into a huge, empty, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/so-much-of-my-sense-of-who-i-am-is-tied-to-mothering-when-they-left/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I had not set out to achieve something. I had left my home to act and am still acting in films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-kulkarni/i-had-not-set-out-to-achieve-something-i-had-left-my-home-to-act-and/) [Atul Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-kulkarni/) > [I left home to go to college, and then I moved back home. I moved back for three years from 21 to 24.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-left-home-to-go-to-college-and-then-i-moved-back-home-i-moved-back/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [Do I have the mental strength? I left home when I was 13 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/do-i-have-the-mental-strength-i-left-home-when-i-was-13-years-old/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) > [I left home when I was 17 with Joe Williams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edwards/i-left-home-when-i-was-17-with-joe-williams/) [David Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edwards/) > [I left home because I was hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-left-home-because-i-was-hungry/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I left home at 18, but I still voted in Kentucky. Every holiday, I came home to Kentucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/i-left-home-at-18-but-i-still-voted-in-kentucky-every-holiday-i-came/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [I left my home when I was 13 years old, I was a professional at 17, and I've been playing basketball since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-calderon/i-left-my-home-when-i-was-13-years-old-i-was-a-professional-at-17-and/) [Jose Calderon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-calderon/) > [I genuinely haven't really had a rebellious phase. I think it's just because of the way I was brought up. I think it's because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-genuinely-haven-t-really-had-a-rebellious-phase-i-think-it-s-just/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [“May I ask what you have in your black leather bag with gold buckles?" "Everything." They were climbing a narrow staircase. Rhoda stopped to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/may-i-ask-what-you-have-in-your-black-leather-bag-with-gold-buckles/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) ## More by Mario Gotze > [Fitness is the most important aspect in this sport. You've got to feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/fitness-is-the-most-important-aspect-in-this-sport-you-ve-got-to-feel/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [Once you have won a title, you want more and more of these experiences, of those emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/once-you-have-won-a-title-you-want-more-and-more-of-these-experiences/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [In England, there are five, six, seven big clubs, and you can never be sure who will win the title in the end. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/in-england-there-are-five-six-seven-big-clubs-and-you-can-never-be/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [Positions do not really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/positions-do-not-really-matter/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [The dream of everyone is playing in Spain, Madrid, or Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/the-dream-of-everyone-is-playing-in-spain-madrid-or-barcelona/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [The No. 8 position is my favourite position. That's no secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/the-no-8-position-is-my-favourite-position-that-s-no-secret/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [If you play well, you are praised; if you play badly, you are criticised. Everyone should try to manage it the way they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/if-you-play-well-you-are-praised-if-you-play-badly-you-are-criticised/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [Of course I can imagine extending my contact at Dortmund. I have always said how at home I feel here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/of-course-i-can-imagine-extending-my-contact-at-dortmund-i-have/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [Every player wants to be part of the World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/every-player-wants-to-be-part-of-the-world-cup/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [For me, playing through all the youth teams at Borussia Dortmund was a really good experience because I was able to play against talented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/for-me-playing-through-all-the-youth-teams-at-borussia-dortmund-was-a/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [I would love to be the face of Bayern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/i-would-love-to-be-the-face-of-bayern/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [Klopp and Guardiola are two sensational managers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/klopp-and-guardiola-are-two-sensational-managers/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [Should I get back to playing like the 18-year-old Mario Gotze again? I will never be the old Mario Gotze again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/should-i-get-back-to-playing-like-the-18-year-old-mario-gotze-again-i/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [It's pretty hard to predict anything when talking about the Premier League because of the liabilities the teams and the players have when playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/it-s-pretty-hard-to-predict-anything-when-talking-about-the-premier/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [I look primarily at my own expectations. These include improving steadily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/i-look-primarily-at-my-own-expectations-these-include-improving/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) [Explore all 52 Mario Gotze quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) ## 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 left home at 21 to go and play for Munich and was immediately able to perform at a high standard. 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