Top 10: Zdenek Zeman quotes
Since becoming a coach, the Czech-Italian is known for providing great entertainment to anybody who watches his side play as he encourages a high-tempo, high-pressing and high-risk game with an ‘attack, attack, attack’ mentality.
If the opposition score four, Zeman won’t be worried, he’ll firmly believe his side will score five (or many, many more, as you’ll see in one of his quotes.)
The former Roma coach is somewhat of a modern football philosopher, and is no stranger to provocatively publicising a controversial thought of his.
An example of one of his more provocative quotes is when in response to how many Scudetti Juventus really have, he said, “How many titles do Juventus have? I would say of their Scudetti I would count 22, maybe 23.”
As well as sticking the boot in to the Old Lady, Zeman likes to attempt to knock some of his fellow coaches off their perches.
“Guys like Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho are hailed as geniuses because they win. Well, they win because they have the best players, not because of what they do. I could put my dead grandfather in charge of their teams and they would still win.”
Forza Italian Football have put together of the best Zdenek Zeman quotes, some are reflective and philosophical, while some are just beautiful.
10. I’m sorry to have to start the list in such a downbeat way. It will get better and happier, I promise.
“Italian football is no longer where it was before, we thought we would always be the best.”
9. Continuing the reflective tone set by the first, Zeman looks at the state of modern football as a whole with these two quotes.
“Football is more and more and industry nowadays, and less and less a game. In football there are no more flags, the control is now in the politics and the economy.”
8. I promised it would get better, the quotes get more upbeat from here on in, don’t be feeling too down.
“There is nothing dishonourable in coming last if you do so with dignity.”
7. Zeman showed just how highly he rates the Roma captain when he was asked who his top italian players were.
“Who are the best five Italian players? Totti, Totti, Totti, Totti, Totti. Francesco is electric and can play wherever. He carried Roma on his back for 15 years. He is the only champion of Italian football.”
6. You can just imagine it now, can’t you.. The whole, I’m not mad, I’m disappointed speech.
“I expect every player to give the best he can. If we don’t win, no drama, it is enough for me that the kids have given their best.”
5. Some people say football is a drug, well, Zdenek agrees, and he believe it is a drug with healing powers.
“Football should be given out by the pharmacies.”
4. How could you not want this man in charge of your club when he says things like this?
“People say that I have changed tactically, but I don’t really agree. I want my team to entertain the fans and bring them closer to the team, giving them strong emotional responses. I hope to convince the sceptics that we can work well.”
3. I think we can all agree that he absolutely has given something ‘different’ to football.
“Sometimes the losers have taught more than the winners. I like to think I’ve given something more and something different to football.”
2. You score 4? We’ll score 5… Or 90.
“If you score 90 goals then it shouldn’t really worry you how many are conceded.”
1. Football is the most universally loved sport in the world, and this is why.
“This sport is hugely popular not because of big businesses or pharmacies but because in every corner of the world there is a child having fun with a football.”
If you have a particular favourite Zeman quote let us know in the comments or by tweeting us.
Follow Conor Clancy on Twitter: @concalcio