It is a shocker when you hear that. I played non-league football with people who were good at it, but not bothered by football; it was just like a part-time job or a second income for them. It shocked me too, because I loved playing football and would have given anything to get another chance of playing it pro when I was non-league. Even now, at 44 and with two knackered knees, I miss knocking about on a Monday night with my mates at the local school. We shouldn't be that surprised really. I've worked in the same industry for over 20 years and I am not in love with it. I can obviously work well in this industry, but I don't love it.
The ones I've met have imparted a view to me that is different to the rose-tinted specs view that is the "norm".
Players are all different...just like the rest of us. I would hazard a guess that most love playing football, though it's possible a few may just see it as a job. Most want to make a lot of money (unlike the rest of us who work for fun)...again I would suggest that some are solely interested in money, but suspect most want achievement within their profession. Most people want to be happy so the company you work for and the area that you live in become another factor. Some people will be happy to move all the time and others want to be settled in an area. Most players will try and get a balance between all these factors, though money must be very important in a short lived career. Players are people and people vary.
Excellent response there CBK. Really contributing to the discussion. My sincerest apologies if it made your point obsolete by using fact and reason.
Come on guys you have got to love the game of football to take part in it, day in day out. I will agree certainly that most wouldn't do it for love as such. However surely they have to have a passion for the game itself? If you look at the amateurs in the game isn't that exactly what they do week in week out for love of the game? Lets face it there is lot more of them than the professionals.
Of course there's more to it, and of course at Premiership level it's not just purely about money. I think everyone bar CBK realises that in all honesty. Unfortunately something has obviously happened to CBK that's meant he's ended up with a very twisted perspective on life. I feel sorry for whatever that is, but also eternally grateful that I don't wear those same dark tinted specs myself.
Players were often quoted saying years ago that they ...would play for nothing if they could... afford it. I think that is just as true of some other players these days. However, if you are placed in the position of doing it for nothing or doing it for money, then you will undoubtedly choose the latter. Provided you then have sufficient money, to live the lifestyle of choice, you can either play for the love of the game, to better yourself as an athlete, or for trophies, or celebrity, or see the world and cultures, or for various reasons, including perhaps even more money [let's not exclude those mercenaries now], but you play it, and not all players are the same, so there's no automatic reason to suggest that they are all motivated the same either.
For anyone interested - this is Cortese's PR team: http://square1consulting.co.uk/team Shock horror! Strong links to Sky Sports News and The Daily Mail.
Without doubt there are mercenary elements within football (Kenwyne Jones anyone?), and motivations vary - Jelavic basically admitted that the only reason he moved to Hull was because (and take note CBK etc) it was World Cup year and he needed to be playing to get into the national team (ie, nothing to do with money). However to group all footballers together by stating that the only motivation is financial is lunacy and just basically untrue. It's really getting into the bitterness realms of someone shaking their fist at passing buses, and though I respect the opinion as one that's different to mine, it really makes no sense at all to me.
Funnily enough, CBK may be an obnoxious, cynical and damning individual, but he talks with humour, wit and distinction about several subjects. Not a WUM, but a character. And I'm going to stop there before it takes that all the wrong way.
Agreed. I think I disagree with him about nearly everything, but opinions make the world go round and I actually quite enjoy debating with him.
CBK isn't always cynical....I distinctly remember him being happy once. Not sure when...I think it was a Monday.
