--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing I believe is this: A…" description: "\"The only thing I believe is this: A player does not have to like a manager and he does not have to respect a manager. All he has to do is obey the rule..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/sparky-anderson-12204_football_the-only-thing-i-believe-is-this-a-playe_603708.jpg" --- # The only thing I believe is this: A player does not have… ![“The only thing I believe is this: A player does not have to like a manager and he does not have to respect a manager. All he has to do is obey the rules.” quote by Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/sparky-anderson-12204_football_the-only-thing-i-believe-is-this-a-playe_603708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/sparky-anderson-12204_football_the-only-thing-i-believe-is-this-a-playe_603708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/sparky-anderson-12204_football_the-only-thing-i-believe-is-this-a-playe_603708.jpg) > “The only thing I believe is this: A player does not have to like a manager and he does not have to respect a manager. All he has to do is obey the rules.” [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A player must follow the rules regardless of personal feelings toward the manager. **In simple terms:** Obey the rules, not the manager. Key Takeaway Follow rules, set personal feelings aside. Themes teamwork authority professionalism Mood neutral determined Type advice sports When to use this quote - team meetings - game day decisions - contract negotiations - performance reviews Key Concepts sports ethics hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate personal dislike from professional duty? - When should you challenge a rule? A Different Perspective If a manager is abusive, obedience may be harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) ## Related quotes > [A player does not have to like a manager and he does not have to respect a manager. All he has to do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/a-player-does-not-have-to-like-a-manager-and-he-does-not-have-to/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Baseball is a simple game. 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When a manager does well, they're applauded, when they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/you-re-a-hero-one-day-you-re-a-villain-another-day-they-say-that-s/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [It's unrealistic to expect the person you go to for sage advice also to be the person you go out and have a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/it-s-unrealistic-to-expect-the-person-you-go-to-for-sage-advice-also/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I think what I've actually achieved as a manager does sometimes get a bit overlooked, because all people think about is the media side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-strachan/i-think-what-i-ve-actually-achieved-as-a-manager-does-sometimes-get-a/) [Gordon Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-strachan/) > [I've started doing my coaching badges, I'd like to be a manager one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-ve-started-doing-my-coaching-badges-i-d-like-to-be-a-manager-one-day/) [Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/) > [The truth is, Chelsea would like a manager who is more of a club man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluca-vialli/the-truth-is-chelsea-would-like-a-manager-who-is-more-of-a-club-man/) [Gianluca Vialli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluca-vialli/) > [One day I'll know what it's like to be a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franck-ribery/one-day-i-ll-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-a-manager/) [Franck Ribery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franck-ribery/) > [Being president of the University of California is like being manager of a cemetery: there are many people under you, but no one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yudof/being-president-of-the-university-of-california-is-like-being-manager/) Mark Yudof > [At certain times, you start to - maybe not lose the faith - but just wonder how long it will take until someone picks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/at-certain-times-you-start-to-maybe-not-lose-the-faith-but-just/) [Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/) > [Sometimes if the manager does not see if a player is down, Fernandinho will go and see if they're OK. He's the perfect captain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foden/sometimes-if-the-manager-does-not-see-if-a-player-is-down-fernandinho/) [Phil Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foden/) > [I've had my down times, as every manager does, but I bounce back pretty quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-moyes/i-ve-had-my-down-times-as-every-manager-does-but-i-bounce-back-pretty/) [David Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-moyes/) > [The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-manager-does-things-right-the-leader-does-the-right-thing/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More by Sparky Anderson > [He's (Willie Stargell) such a big strong guy he should love that porch. He's got power enough to hit home runs in any park,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/he-s-willie-stargell-such-a-big-strong-guy-he-should-love-that-porch/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [The day I got a hit off (Sandy) Koufax was when he knew it was all over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/the-day-i-got-a-hit-off-sandy-koufax-was-when-he-knew-it-was-all-over/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [They say the first World Series is the one you remember most. No, no no. I guarantee you don't remember that one because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/they-say-the-first-world-series-is-the-one-you-remember-most-no-no-no/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Managing is not running, hitting, or stealing. Managing is getting your players to put out one hundred percent year after year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/managing-is-not-running-hitting-or-stealing-managing-is-getting-your/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [I don't believe a manager ever won a pennant. Casey Stengel won all those pennants with the Yankees. How many did he win with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/i-don-t-believe-a-manager-ever-won-a-pennant-casey-stengel-won-all/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [You're gonna lose some ball games and you're gonna win some ball games and that's about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/you-re-gonna-lose-some-ball-games-and-you-re-gonna-win-some-ball/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [This game has taken a lot of guys over the years who would have had to work in factories and gas stations and made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/this-game-has-taken-a-lot-of-guys-over-the-years-who-would-have-had/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I'll win a pennant every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/just-give-me-25-guys-on-the-last-year-of-their-contracts-i-ll-win-a/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [My idea of managing is giving the ball to Tom Seaver and sitting down and watching him work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/my-idea-of-managing-is-giving-the-ball-to-tom-seaver-and-sitting-down/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Me carrying a briefcase is like a hotdog wearing earrings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/me-carrying-a-briefcase-is-like-a-hotdog-wearing-earrings/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Problem with (John) Wockenfuss getting on base is that it takes three doubles to score him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/problem-with-john-wockenfuss-getting-on-base-is-that-it-takes-three/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Good seasons start with good beginnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/good-seasons-start-with-good-beginnings/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [The only reason I'm coming out here tomorrow is the schedule says I have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/the-only-reason-i-m-coming-out-here-tomorrow-is-the-schedule-says-i/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [A player does not have to like a manager and he does not have to respect a manager. All he has to do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/a-player-does-not-have-to-like-a-manager-and-he-does-not-have-to/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [A baseball manager is a necessary evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/a-baseball-manager-is-a-necessary-evil/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) [Explore all 56 Sparky Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) ## 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. 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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": "The only thing I believe is this: A player does not have to like a manager and he does not have to respect a manager. 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