--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a player, it took me a long time to…" description: "\"As a player, it took me a long time to get over defeats, and as a manager I get moody and irritable. My wife and two daughters say that I am difficult...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/831/martin-o-neill-9898_defeats_as-a-player-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-ge_55806.jpg" --- # As a player, it took me a long time to get over defeats… ![“As a player, it took me a long time to get over defeats, and as a manager I get moody and irritable. My wife and two daughters say that I am difficult. I don't see that, but maybe I've never seen my faults.” quote by Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/831/martin-o-neill-9898_defeats_as-a-player-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-ge_55806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/831/martin-o-neill-9898_defeats_as-a-player-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-ge_55806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/831/martin-o-neill-9898_defeats_as-a-player-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-ge_55806.jpg) > “As a player, it took me a long time to get over defeats, and as a manager I get moody and irritable. My wife and two daughters say that I am difficult. I don't see that, but maybe I've never seen my faults.” [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-awareness is hindered by personal blind spots, especially when past failures shape current behavior, leading to strained relationships. **In simple terms:** Blind spots hinder growth. Key Takeaway Recognize personal faults. Themes self-awareness emotional intelligence leadership family dynamics personal growth Mood reflective concerned Type personal insight leadership reflection When to use this quote - managing a team after setbacks - dealing with family criticism - reflecting on personal behavior Key Concepts defeat moodiness irritability family perception Practical Applications - coaching for emotional intelligence - family counseling Questions to Reflect On - How can I better identify my blind spots? - What steps can I take to improve my emotional responses? A Different Perspective A counterpoint is that external stressors, not personal faults, may drive irritability, suggesting a need to address situational pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeats/) [Defeats Manager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeats-manager-775152/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Manager Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manager-moody-775154/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Moody Irritable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moody-irritable-775153/) [Say Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-difficult-775155/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Two daughters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-daughters/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [I have two daughters and one of them is now a bigger Celtic fan now than when I was manager, which is a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-have-two-daughters-and-one-of-them-is-now-a-bigger-celtic-fan-now/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I took my two daughters to the 2003 All-Ireland between Armagh and Tyrone and they were blown away by the whole pageantry and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-took-my-two-daughters-to-the-2003-all-ireland-between-armagh-and/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I would say that of many, many difficult aspects of my job as speaker, presiding over a debate on a bill that has an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/i-would-say-that-of-many-many-difficult-aspects-of-my-job-as-speaker/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [People might say I'm difficult, but did you ever hear anyone describe a label as 'difficult'? By nature, artists should challenge. When they call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-shocked/people-might-say-i-m-difficult-but-did-you-ever-hear-anyone-describe/) [Michelle Shocked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-shocked/) > [Sometimes one has to say difficult things, but one ought to say them as simply as one knows how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/sometimes-one-has-to-say-difficult-things-but-one-ought-to-say-them/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [Until you can say what is most difficult for you to say, you cannot speak from your heart, live unafraid, create health, or receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/until-you-can-say-what-is-most-difficult-for-you-to-say-you-cannot/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [To say I'm a difficult actor is just inaccurate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/to-say-i-m-a-difficult-actor-is-just-inaccurate/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [We must say what we see. But first, and more difficult, We must see what we see!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stamatis/we-must-say-what-we-see-but-first-and-more-difficult-we-must-see-what/) [George Stamatis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stamatis/) > [Of persons I will say this: it is difficult to tell when they are running aright but easy to see when something has gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/of-persons-i-will-say-this-it-is-difficult-to-tell-when-they-are/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [People say I'm difficult and sometimes that's a badge of honour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/people-say-i-m-difficult-and-sometimes-that-s-a-badge-of-honour/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [If I have something I want to say that is too difficult for adults to swallow, then I write it in a book for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-i-have-something-i-want-to-say-that-is-too-difficult-for-adults-to/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I would say the most difficult part of film-making is dealing with people you are working with and trying to forget the drama that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ileana-d-cruz/i-would-say-the-most-difficult-part-of-film-making-is-dealing-with/) [Ileana D'Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ileana-d-cruz/) > [Intellectuals say simple things in difficult ways. Artists say difficult things in simple ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/intellectuals-say-simple-things-in-difficult-ways-artists-say/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [There is really nothing more to say-except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-is-really-nothing-more-to-say-except-why-but-since-why-is/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [They say I'm difficult, so to put it simply…tell the world I never cared it was against me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/they-say-i-m-difficult-so-to-put-it-simply-tell-the-world-i-never/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) ## More by Martin O'Neill > [I've missed out on a European Cup final because I was injured three weeks beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-ve-missed-out-on-a-european-cup-final-because-i-was-injured-three/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [Roy Keane can talk eloquently about the game. I was hoping he would take the Sunderland job when he was last in the frame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/roy-keane-can-talk-eloquently-about-the-game-i-was-hoping-he-would/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is one of the major rivalries in world football let alone European football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/the-rivalry-between-celtic-and-rangers-is-one-of-the-major-rivalries/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I have to tell you I can count on the fingers of one hand when I got verbally abused on the streets of Glasgow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-have-to-tell-you-i-can-count-on-the-fingers-of-one-hand-when-i-got/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I don't think I have ever in my managerial time really given my valuation its proper consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-don-t-think-i-have-ever-in-my-managerial-time-really-given-my/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [If Brian Clough, who had the ego the size of 15 houses, had the humility to go for an interview for the England job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/if-brian-clough-who-had-the-ego-the-size-of-15-houses-had-the/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [A manager's tenure at club level is very short and gets shorter as the time goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/a-manager-s-tenure-at-club-level-is-very-short-and-gets-shorter-as/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My mother was an O'Kane from Swatragh in County Derry. My father had a Donegal background. I came into the world when they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-mother-was-an-o-kane-from-swatragh-in-county-derry-my-father-had-a/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [It would make me laugh, make me smile, if some manager came in and said he had a five-year plan for a football club.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/it-would-make-me-laugh-make-me-smile-if-some-manager-came-in-and-said/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I felt that we couldn't win the game. It was absolutely shocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it-was-absolutely-shocking/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My youth coach told me he'd got these two great 15-year-olds. I told him I don't want to know, because by the time they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-youth-coach-told-me-he-d-got-these-two-great-15-year-olds-i-told/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I would love to tell you I had the worst childhood you could ever imagine but believe it or not it was idyllic. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-would-love-to-tell-you-i-had-the-worst-childhood-you-could-ever/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I think Ashley Young is world class, Id put him in a bracket with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-think-ashley-young-is-world-class-id-put-him-in-a-bracket-with/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My wife, who hated every place she'd been to in her life, absolutely loved it in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-wife-who-hated-every-place-she-d-been-to-in-her-life-absolutely/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [You need to stay disciplined as much as you possibly can. You can't let emotions run too high, but obviously that is easier said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/you-need-to-stay-disciplined-as-much-as-you-possibly-can-you-can-t/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) [Explore all 69 Martin O'Neill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) ## More Defeats quotes > [“There’s a victory that looks like defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/there-s-a-victory-that-looks-like-defeat/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [History repeats the old conceits, the glib replies, the same defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/history-repeats-the-old-conceits-the-glib-replies-the-same-defeats/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Censorship defeats the right to self determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/censorship-defeats-the-right-to-self-determination/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-some-defeats-more-triumphant-than-victories/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [At Rangers you are never more than 2 defeats away from a crisis!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-smith/at-rangers-you-are-never-more-than-2-defeats-away-from-a-crisis/) [Walter Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-smith/) > [I can remember certain Manchester United defeats the way most people remember family bereavements or great political events. The four-nil drubbing by Barcelona, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-dunne/i-can-remember-certain-manchester-united-defeats-the-way-most-people/) [Tom Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-dunne/) > [I am a series of small victories and large defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-a-series-of-small-victories-and-large-defeats/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Defeats are always pitiful. Victories are always last resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/defeats-are-always-pitiful-victories-are-always-last-resources/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [He sees with amazement that our defeats are but the stepping stones to victory and that all his victories are stepping stones to ruin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/he-sees-with-amazement-that-our-defeats-are-but-the-stepping-stones/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Hard work pays but sometimes work defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sultan/hard-work-pays-but-sometimes-work-defeats/) [Sultan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sultan/) > [But there are victories far worse than defeats; and to overcome an angel too gentle to put out all his strength, and ride away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/but-there-are-victories-far-worse-than-defeats-and-to-overcome-an/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I believe that it isn't victories but defeats that promote nationalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-that-it-isn-t-victories-but-defeats-that-promote-nationalism/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/fear-defeats-more-people-than-any-other-one-thing-in-the-world/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It is in general more profitable to reckon up our defeats than to boast of our attainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/it-is-in-general-more-profitable-to-reckon-up-our-defeats-than-to/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I have not lost an awful lot in my life, but the defeats have taught me more than the victories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-have-not-lost-an-awful-lot-in-my-life-but-the-defeats-have-taught/) [Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/) [Browse all 128 Defeats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeats/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a player, it took me a long time to get over defeats, and as a manager I get moody and irritable. 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