Alan Smith

“I might be too emotional to be a manager. You love your players, don't you? And I'm not sure I could leave them out. I know how it feels.”

“The decisions I've made have not always been the most popular, but when I look back, I want to know I've played for good football teams.”

“You can take a sidewards step in the Premier League, go to a team in the Championship or come to a team in League One.”

“In hindsight, that time out of football gives you the hunger to want to get back to basics and play football.”

“When you're a kid that's all you want to do, go out and play football.”

“I know, if I am playing well, I can be as good as anyone, and I want to show people who write you off and forget about you.”

“You've got to make sure every decision you make is right for you as a person. If you think you can go to a better club than the one you're at, then, regardless of what anyone says, you should go.”

“Regardless of whether it is playing for your school team or playing for Manchester United, winning is great.”

“It is always nice to get to finals, but never nice to lose in them.”

“I understand football. I have always been a good footballer, and that gets overlooked by most people.”

“Don't forget this club nearly went out of extinction last year.”