--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've played for 15 years and played in…" description: "\"I've played for 15 years and played in five major tournaments. I know what it gives me in terms of the joy, in terms of the love for the game. But I'm ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/per-mertesacker-6549_done_i-ve-played-for-15-years-and-played-in-f_2452715.jpg" --- # I've played for 15 years and played in five major… ![“I've played for 15 years and played in five major tournaments. I know what it gives me in terms of the joy, in terms of the love for the game. But I'm done with it.” quote by Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/per-mertesacker-6549_done_i-ve-played-for-15-years-and-played-in-f_2452715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/per-mertesacker-6549_done_i-ve-played-for-15-years-and-played-in-f_2452715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/per-mertesacker-6549_done_i-ve-played-for-15-years-and-played-in-f_2452715.jpg) > “I've played for 15 years and played in five major tournaments. I know what it gives me in terms of the joy, in terms of the love for the game. But I'm done with it.” [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on a long career, valuing joy and love for the sport, yet decides to retire. **In simple terms:** Long career, love for game, now retiring. Key Takeaway Recognize when to move on. Themes career sports retirement fulfillment identity Mood reflective bittersweet Type personal career When to use this quote - coaching - sports commentary - personal transition - public speaking Key Concepts self‑reflection legacy passion Questions to Reflect On - What will you pursue after a long passion? - How do you honor past achievements while moving forward? A Different Perspective Retirement may bring loss of identity and purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love For The Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-for-the-game/) ## Related quotes > [I am fortunate to have played 15 years for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/i-am-fortunate-to-have-played-15-years-for-my-country/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [I have played for 15 years and it has been a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/i-have-played-for-15-years-and-it-has-been-a-dream/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [My drummer was my best friend. It weighs on me that we put all that time in - I played with him for 15…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ostrander/my-drummer-was-my-best-friend-it-weighs-on-me-that-we-put-all-that/) [Joshua Ostrander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ostrander/) > [After being at the top, I don't think I could play senior tournaments, because you know how good you were. I don't know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/after-being-at-the-top-i-don-t-think-i-could-play-senior-tournaments/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [My kids have grown up knowing nothing other than me being gone all the time and playing in golf tournaments. That's what they know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-cink/my-kids-have-grown-up-knowing-nothing-other-than-me-being-gone-all/) [Stewart Cink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-cink/) > [I've taken two weeks off before I've played a major, and I've played two straight weeks before a major as well. I definitely feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-finau/i-ve-taken-two-weeks-off-before-i-ve-played-a-major-and-i-ve-played/) [Tony Finau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-finau/) > [I don't feel I could've played major league baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/i-don-t-feel-i-could-ve-played-major-league-baseball/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [The fans have always played a major role for me and have helped me do what I need to do in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-steamboat/the-fans-have-always-played-a-major-role-for-me-and-have-helped-me-do/) [Ricky Steamboat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-steamboat/) > [As players we just want to be successful and play in major tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-dallas/as-players-we-just-want-to-be-successful-and-play-in-major-tournaments/) [Stuart Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-dallas/) > [Of course, I want to play for England as often as I can and at major tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/of-course-i-want-to-play-for-england-as-often-as-i-can-and-at-major/) [Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/) > [I think to progress in major tournaments and to be at your best, you need a big squad, and you need to rotate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kane/i-think-to-progress-in-major-tournaments-and-to-be-at-your-best-you/) [Harry Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kane/) > [That has alway been the goal. To be the best in the world, to win major tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-mount/that-has-alway-been-the-goal-to-be-the-best-in-the-world-to-win-major/) [Mason Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-mount/) > [Germany are always among the favourites at major tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-schurrle/germany-are-always-among-the-favourites-at-major-tournaments/) [Andre Schurrle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-schurrle/) > [There's a lot of reasons I had to move on. Family's definitely a big part of it. And the longevity of my career -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/there-s-a-lot-of-reasons-i-had-to-move-on-family-s-definitely-a-big/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I played 15 years of hockey, and I got more injured doing two weeks of cheer camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-christian-olsen/i-played-15-years-of-hockey-and-i-got-more-injured-doing-two-weeks-of/) [Eric Christian Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-christian-olsen/) ## More by Per Mertesacker > [When you step up as a young talent, you need to challenge the old lads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/when-you-step-up-as-a-young-talent-you-need-to-challenge-the-old-lads/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [Sometimes you need a humbling experience to think about a few things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/sometimes-you-need-a-humbling-experience-to-think-about-a-few-things/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [We cannot take responsibility for every goal we concede, we all need to do our part across the field to ensure we win as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/we-cannot-take-responsibility-for-every-goal-we-concede-we-all-need/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [There are not a lot of German players out there who are successful in a foreign country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/there-are-not-a-lot-of-german-players-out-there-who-are-successful-in/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I've never had that dream in my head: 'I want to play Bundesliga or Premier League.' I was a fan, but it was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-ve-never-had-that-dream-in-my-head-i-want-to-play-bundesliga-or/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I invested a lot in my fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-invested-a-lot-in-my-fitness/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a lot of pressure from me. I took football like a hobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/my-father-said-you-re-not-going-to-make-it-that-took-a-lot-of/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I had a totally different upbringing, totally different background, raised in Germany, small town, now I am in London taking care of 180 kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-had-a-totally-different-upbringing-totally-different-background/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [As long as you are winning it is a good day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/as-long-as-you-are-winning-it-is-a-good-day/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [You spend some time with kids, you always take something with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/you-spend-some-time-with-kids-you-always-take-something-with-you/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [Obviously, everyone looks at whether we bring young footballers into the first team, that's one of the goals. But I wouldn't discard someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/obviously-everyone-looks-at-whether-we-bring-young-footballers-into/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I never heard anything about 'potatoes' or 'kanaken' during my time in the national team. However I have been called 'potato,' too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-never-heard-anything-about-potatoes-or-kanaken-during-my-time-in/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [Wenger has won three Premier League titles, which is proof enough of his standing as a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/wenger-has-won-three-premier-league-titles-which-is-proof-enough-of/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I think it is so beneficial to English and British football when youngsters see different cultures and environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-think-it-is-so-beneficial-to-english-and-british-football-when/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I was lucky to get a professional contract. I wasn't that sort of talent that is considered to be a professional player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-was-lucky-to-get-a-professional-contract-i-wasn-t-that-sort-of/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) [Explore all 98 Per Mertesacker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [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/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [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/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've played for 15 years and played in five major tournaments. 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