--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started playing with my dad, and…" description: "\"I started playing with my dad, and football was my dream forever. Step by step, I learnt a lot. I worked really hard, and finally when I was eighteen, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/robert-pires-5304_dad_i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-footba_2806343.png" --- # I started playing with my dad, and football was my dream… ![“I started playing with my dad, and football was my dream forever. Step by step, I learnt a lot. I worked really hard, and finally when I was eighteen, I signed my first professional contract.” quote by Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/robert-pires-5304_dad_i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-footba_2806343.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/robert-pires-5304_dad_i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-footba_2806343.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/robert-pires-5304_dad_i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-footba_2806343.png) > “I started playing with my dad, and football was my dream forever. Step by step, I learnt a lot. I worked really hard, and finally when I was eighteen, I signed my first professional contract.” [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and gradual learning from childhood passion can lead to professional achievement. **In simple terms:** Consistent effort turns a childhood dream into a career. Key Takeaway Keep practicing and stay patient. Themes determination growth sports Mood proud inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - youth sports - career planning - goal setting - professional contracts Key Concepts skill development career progression mentorship Questions to Reflect On - What habits helped you improve daily? - How did mentorship influence your path? A Different Perspective Success also depends on opportunities and support beyond personal effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-football-252395/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-dream-1199252/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Professional Contract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-contract-1378765/) [Signed Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signed-professional-2264986/) [Started Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-playing-257076/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Step By Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-by-step/) ## Related quotes > [When I signed my first professional contract in 2009, it was a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendie-renard/when-i-signed-my-first-professional-contract-in-2009-it-was-a-dream/) [Wendie Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendie-renard/) > [Football was always my dream. I started playing at the age of five, and I'm still playing now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/football-was-always-my-dream-i-started-playing-at-the-age-of-five-and/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [At 15, I was playing with the C team at Reims and I wanted to leave. It's a difficult age for a kid -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/at-15-i-was-playing-with-the-c-team-at-reims-and-i-wanted-to-leave-it/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [As I look back on the day I signed my professional contract in 1973, I've never gone to sleep wondering if I could pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/as-i-look-back-on-the-day-i-signed-my-professional-contract-in-1973-i/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [I just enjoyed playing, but I don't think I ever really thought I was going to make it to the first team until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think-i-ever-really-thought-i-was/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [Dagenham offered me a two-year opportunity really. It wasn't a pro deal, just a chance to impress. I was sent out on loan straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-gayle/dagenham-offered-me-a-two-year-opportunity-really-it-wasn-t-a-pro/) [Dwight Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-gayle/) > [When I got my first professional contract from Ian St John - the Portsmouth manager at the time - my wages went up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kamara/when-i-got-my-first-professional-contract-from-ian-st-john-the/) [Chris Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kamara/) > [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/) > [Mum tries to keep our mind on other things as well as football. But my dad's always football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-maguire/mum-tries-to-keep-our-mind-on-other-things-as-well-as-football-but-my/) [Harry Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-maguire/) > [My dad is a football guy, not a music guy. He didn't totally understand when I decided to be a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/my-dad-is-a-football-guy-not-a-music-guy-he-didn-t-totally-understand/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I went to all of Dad's football games. As I got older, I got involved. He taught me everything I know about playing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montaigne/i-went-to-all-of-dad-s-football-games-as-i-got-older-i-got-involved/) [Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montaigne/) > [We definitely have a football mentality. My dad was a football player also, so just growing up, that's how it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gronkowski/we-definitely-have-a-football-mentality-my-dad-was-a-football-player/) [Dan Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gronkowski/) > [My dad's a football coach, that's what he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-jenas/my-dad-s-a-football-coach-that-s-what-he-does/) [Jermaine Jenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-jenas/) > [The greatest thing for me is that my dad is a football hooligan. He's an obsessive football fan. And I think he wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-goldstein/the-greatest-thing-for-me-is-that-my-dad-is-a-football-hooligan-he-s/) [Brett Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-goldstein/) > [My dad was a football player, and I've been the same size since eighth grade, so I get how it can be hard when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elana-meyers/my-dad-was-a-football-player-and-i-ve-been-the-same-size-since-eighth/) [Elana Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elana-meyers/) ## More by Robert Pires > [I've always loved playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-ve-always-loved-playing-football/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [I believe Isco is a maestro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-believe-isco-is-a-maestro/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [When you are young and you join Arsenal, the communication with the manager is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/when-you-are-young-and-you-join-arsenal-the-communication-with-the/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [When I joined Arsenal in 2000 I learned a lot from Dennis Bergkamp. He was the mind of the team and he made things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/when-i-joined-arsenal-in-2000-i-learned-a-lot-from-dennis-bergkamp-he/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [For me, I like to play several games a week because it will help maintain your physical levels throughout the season. Besides, that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/for-me-i-like-to-play-several-games-a-week-because-it-will-help/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [You can't know where you're going when you're a coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/you-can-t-know-where-you-re-going-when-you-re-a-coach/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [If you want to build a good team, you need to spend a lot of money, especially in the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/if-you-want-to-build-a-good-team-you-need-to-spend-a-lot-of-money/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [I believe one's relatives are the most important people of all, they form a protective circle around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-believe-one-s-relatives-are-the-most-important-people-of-all-they/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [I enjoyed playing against Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool but the north London derby was totally different. I have so many great memories from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-enjoyed-playing-against-chelsea-manchester-united-and-liverpool-but/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [Whether it's a coach or a player arriving during the season it's not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/whether-it-s-a-coach-or-a-player-arriving-during-the-season-it-s-not/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [If you play in France, Spain or Italy it is not the same football, especially when you play in England. Every game is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/if-you-play-in-france-spain-or-italy-it-is-not-the-same-football/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [For me, the best thing about being a footballer is that indescribable feeling when you are on a pitch doing your job. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/for-me-the-best-thing-about-being-a-footballer-is-that-indescribable/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [I believe in Giroud because he loves to fight, fight the good fight and not for himself, but for the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-believe-in-giroud-because-he-loves-to-fight-fight-the-good-fight/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [When you haven't played for more than six months, scoring is the ultimate pleasure. It's ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/when-you-haven-t-played-for-more-than-six-months-scoring-is-the/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [All the top clubs want to sign great players, but if you want a great player it costs a lot of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/all-the-top-clubs-want-to-sign-great-players-but-if-you-want-a-great/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) [Explore all 102 Robert Pires quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started playing with my dad, and football was my dream forever. Step by step, I learnt a lot. I worked really hard, and finally when I was eighteen, I signed my first professional contract.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Pires" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-football-was-my-dream-forever-step/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-football-was-my-dream-forever-step/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/robert-pires-5304_dad_i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-footba_2806343.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/robert-pires-5304_dad_i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-footba_2806343.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/robert-pires-5304_dad_i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-footba_2806343.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started playing with my dad, and football was my dream forever. Step by step, I learnt a lot. I worked…” — Robert Pires", "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": "Robert Pires", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started playing with my dad,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-football-was-my-dream-forever-step/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-football-was-my-dream-forever-step/#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 } } ] } ```