--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was younger, I played as a…" description: "\"When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also played as a central defender, but I realised that I could dominate the ball quite calmly, so I sta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/roberto-firmino-8978_back_when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-b_1842726.jpg" --- # When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also… ![“When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also played as a central defender, but I realised that I could dominate the ball quite calmly, so I started playing further forward in front of the back four.” quote by Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/roberto-firmino-8978_back_when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-b_1842726.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/roberto-firmino-8978_back_when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-b_1842726.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/roberto-firmino-8978_back_when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-b_1842726.jpg) > “When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also played as a central defender, but I realised that I could dominate the ball quite calmly, so I started playing further forward in front of the back four.” [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shifted from defensive roles to a more attacking position after realizing his calm ball control could dominate games. **In simple terms:** He moved forward to use his calm ball control. Key Takeaway Leverage strengths to find optimal role. Themes adaptation strategy self‑awareness football Mood analytical motivational Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - team selection - coaching decisions - personal development Key Concepts tactics skill development role optimization Questions to Reflect On - What strengths can you apply in new contexts? - How to balance personal growth with team needs? A Different Perspective Changing roles can risk team dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [I played central defender for the most part when I started playing football, either central defence or right-back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-played-central-defender-for-the-most-part-when-i-started-playing/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [For you to even enquire about one player, he is expensive. You go to buy a right-back, a left-back, or a central defender, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/for-you-to-even-enquire-about-one-player-he-is-expensive-you-go-to/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [I played a lot of times at the beginning at Ajax as a left full back with a fantastic combination with Mark Overmars but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-de-boer/i-played-a-lot-of-times-at-the-beginning-at-ajax-as-a-left-full-back/) [Frank de Boer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-de-boer/) > [What's for sure is that the profile of the central defender is evolving. At one time it was all about the stopper and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-varane/what-s-for-sure-is-that-the-profile-of-the-central-defender-is/) [Raphael Varane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-varane/) > [I think as a central defender you grow as a player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-van-dijk/i-think-as-a-central-defender-you-grow-as-a-player/) [Virgil van Dijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-van-dijk/) > [Julie Johnston is what I would call a loud central defender, as far as how she tackles and how she plays - you notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/julie-johnston-is-what-i-would-call-a-loud-central-defender-as-far-as/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [I like playing as a central defender, but I also feel good as a holding midfielder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/i-like-playing-as-a-central-defender-but-i-also-feel-good-as-a/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [I like to play against strikers and think that, from my size alone, I'm more of a central defender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/i-like-to-play-against-strikers-and-think-that-from-my-size-alone-i-m/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [My position is a centre back, but I've played right back before and I started my footballing career as a midfielder. I see myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lindelof/my-position-is-a-centre-back-but-i-ve-played-right-back-before-and-i/) [Victor Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lindelof/) > [Before the match starts I visualise that I will try to rotate the strike and take singles. But if I see that the players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreyas-iyer/before-the-match-starts-i-visualise-that-i-will-try-to-rotate-the/) [Shreyas Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreyas-iyer/) > [I like teams to control and dominate the ball so the players are hungry for the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/i-like-teams-to-control-and-dominate-the-ball-so-the-players-are/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [I really enjoy helping younger guys out, because this league is about playing it forward a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fitzpatrick/i-really-enjoy-helping-younger-guys-out-because-this-league-is-about/) [Ryan Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fitzpatrick/) > [During my time with Maccabi Tel Aviv, I learned how to play better by using my head. I was given the chance of playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eran-zahavi/during-my-time-with-maccabi-tel-aviv-i-learned-how-to-play-better-by/) [Eran Zahavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eran-zahavi/) > [It's kind of funny the way it happened - the way I became a goalie. I was playing forward on this one team when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-brodeur/it-s-kind-of-funny-the-way-it-happened-the-way-i-became-a-goalie-i/) [Martin Brodeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-brodeur/) > [To be honest, from England Under-16s, through the 17s and 18s, really all the way through my youth career, I played at centre-half. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-rodwell/to-be-honest-from-england-under-16s-through-the-17s-and-18s-really/) [Jack Rodwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-rodwell/) ## More by Roberto Firmino > [I'm not used to doing press conferences, and I don't like giving interviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/i-m-not-used-to-doing-press-conferences-and-i-don-t-like-giving/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [A lot of Brazilians are very superstitious, especially footballers. I'm the same. I always step on to the pitch with my right foot first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/a-lot-of-brazilians-are-very-superstitious-especially-footballers-i-m/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [Professor Tite has played a big role in the Selecao's ascent. He's a brilliant coach, with a unique way of working, but he's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/professor-tite-has-played-a-big-role-in-the-selecao-s-ascent-he-s-a/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [Being shy has never held me back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/being-shy-has-never-held-me-back/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [I have always worked very hard in my career. Always working towards a good moment. And when you plan, the rewards appear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/i-have-always-worked-very-hard-in-my-career-always-working-towards-a/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [I like to relax; of course I do! But when I am inside the pitch, that is it. You have to go on full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/i-like-to-relax-of-course-i-do-but-when-i-am-inside-the-pitch-that-is/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [I think the Brazil system is similar to the one we use at Liverpool, with lots of movement, players open out wide, and quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/i-think-the-brazil-system-is-similar-to-the-one-we-use-at-liverpool/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [I don't think it's a problem if you play well and don't score, when you are creating chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/i-don-t-think-it-s-a-problem-if-you-play-well-and-don-t-score-when/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [My parents gave up things for me when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/my-parents-gave-up-things-for-me-when-i-was-growing-up/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [If you are in the draw, then you cannot be afraid of anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/if-you-are-in-the-draw-then-you-cannot-be-afraid-of-anyone/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [Certainly my dream is to lift the Premier League trophy with Liverpool, and that's what we are trying to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/certainly-my-dream-is-to-lift-the-premier-league-trophy-with/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [Everybody knows that Coutinho is a great footballer - here in England, they call him 'The Magician.' He made his decision to join Barcelona,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/everybody-knows-that-coutinho-is-a-great-footballer-here-in-england/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [I was only 19 when I came to Hoffenheim. Everything was new to me - a strange country, a foreign language. That was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/i-was-only-19-when-i-came-to-hoffenheim-everything-was-new-to-me-a/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [Everyone hears stories about what it means to be a Liverpool player, but, until you live it personally, you cannot really understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/everyone-hears-stories-about-what-it-means-to-be-a-liverpool-player/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [I consider myself to be half-Brazilian and half-German on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/i-consider-myself-to-be-half-brazilian-and-half-german-on-the-pitch/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) [Explore all 76 Roberto Firmino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) ## More Back quotes > [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/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) Browse all 9,709 Back quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also played as a central defender, but I realised that I could dominate the ball quite calmly, so I started playing further forward in front of the back four.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roberto Firmino" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-back-i-also-played-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Back" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-back-i-also-played-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/roberto-firmino-8978_back_when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-b_1842726.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/roberto-firmino-8978_back_when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-b_1842726.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/roberto-firmino-8978_back_when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-b_1842726.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also played as a central defender, but I realised that I…” — Roberto Firmino", "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": "Roberto Firmino", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was younger, I played...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-back-i-also-played-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-back-i-also-played-as-a/#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 } } ] } ```