John Barnes

“Mass migration and the refugee crisis is one of the biggest problems facing the world. In this country we assume that everyone just wants to come to the U.K. - but it's an issue in Germany, Greece, Sweden, all across the E.U. Why should we be the first to turn our backs on the problem?”

“I give balanced, constructive views and what happens is that bits and pieces of what I say are used against me.”

“I'm desperate to work in football. I could make a lot more money doing other things but this is what I want to do.”

“New managers have to come from somewhere, everyone has to be a learner at some point.”

“Very much like a disease, we have to tackle the cause of racism, not the symptoms.”

“African society and culture varies much more than European society but it's just considered 'Africa' as if they are all the same.”

“The fight against racial bias in society will not be won by hounding Liam Neeson or boycotting his films. It will be won by allowing honest discussions about why people hold biased views and exposing the flawed logic behind them.”

“We have to look at it holistically and as a whole and say let us tackle racism or discrimination in life. Then you can look to get rid of it in football.”

“Yes, my clothes don't reflect my personality at all. Because I'm a very straightforward and serious person. My clothes are much flasher than I am. Yeh. Yeh, yeh. It's a good contrast. I don't think your clothes should reflect your personality... keep people on their toes.”

“The teams which embrace the socialist ideology rather than having superstars, are the teams that are successful. Or if there are superstars they don't perceive themselves to be that. That's why I use Messi as an example. As much as he's a superstar he respects his team-mates and their collective efforts.”

“I'm quite unfit. It's the motivation that's the problem, I need a goal. When I was a professional footballer I trained every day because I had to.”

“My dad came from Trinidad to Jamaica when he was 19. He had to go to Jamaica to join the British regiment, where it was based. After Sandhurst, he returned to the Caribbean as a junior lieutenant, based in Jamaica. He met my mum and became a Jamaican citizen.”

“When you score a goal by dribbling you don't remember it because it is instinctive.”

“Generally speaking, ego isn't a good thing. Humility is the most important quality in a human being.”

“The racism I am really interested in stamping out is in everyday life. Joe Bloggs, who nobody knows, walks down the street and gets racially abused. He goes into a shop and people think he is going to steal something. He cannot get a job.”

“Normally when you look at the Ballon d'Or winners, they're either attacking midfield players or centre-forwards. They are goalscorers and eye-catching players.”

“I think Hazard influences the team so much that anywhere he goes you have to give him the ball.”

“Britain has always told the world that being British is about the humanity, compassion and moral fortitude that we have. All great things that we are supposed to have spread across the world. A leave vote now says that we don't really care about anyone else, we don't care what happens to the European Union.”

“I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of all children.”

“Racism is never personal - it's about someone saying the group I am part of is superior to the group you are part of.”