“Being a dad is more important than football.”

I don’t think I have reached a plateau. I have just reached the level where I am today. But I need to go above it.

Is the Pope Catholic. No I’m serious. I really need to know.

I love scoring goals for England and playing for England. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t retire – I love playing for my country.

I’ve always been proud to represent my country, whether it be World Cups, European Championships or just friendly games, I’ve always been a proud person, I’m very patriotic.

Maths is totally done differently to what I was teached when I was at school.

I always used to go for blondes and quiet girls, but Victoria is the total opposite – dark and loud.

I have come to accept that if I have a new haircut it is front page news. But having a picture of my foot on the front page of a national newspaper is a bit exceptional.

Joining Real Madrid is a dream come true.

I still look at myself and want to improve.

To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country.

I haven’t retired from international football – I still believe I have a part to play in the future of England.

I have got this obsessive compulsive disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line, or everything has to be in pairs.

I just want people to see me as a hard-working footballer and someone who is passionate about the game.

One thing will not change – we will be going out to win.

Wayne’s like my son, Brooklyn, who goes out in the garden to play and have fun.

My priority is always the family and Victoria [Beckham] and I always ensure we are there for our children. We work hard but family comes first.

Children raised by mothers who do not keep their children sheltered from the wrath of their fathers, end up mistrusting women.

I come from a coal-mining, working-class background. My father was a coal miner.

I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.

Alexander the Great found the philosopher looking attentively at a pile of human bones. Diogenes explained,I am searching for the bones of your father but cannot distinguish them from those of a slave.

No one can have God as his father who does not have the Church as his mother.

The most important thing my father taught me is that every man has to stand up for his rights.

My father’s songs don’t intimidate me; my father’s songs are my songs. My songs are his songs. There’s no intimidation.

I was built up from my dad more than anyone else.