13 of the greatest Scottish football quotes

Footballers and managers often go out of their way to say nothing of interest at all when speaking to the media. Thankfully, every now and then they come out with some tremendous quotes, which can often live on with their legacies. Here is just a small collection of the best ones from throughout the years.

1. Veteran coach John Lambie when he was told striker Colin McGlashan was concussed and didn’t know who he was...

“Great. Tell him he’s Pelé and get him back on.”

2. Aberdeen's Danish manager Ebbe Skovdahl on the use of stats in football...

"Statistics are just like mini-skirts, they give you good ideas but hide the most important thing."

3. Former Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo on the versatility of Eggert Jonsson...

“We have almost made violence against Eggert because we have put him in every position. You could go to jail if you did this outside football. But his performances, for me, have been fantastic.”

4. A statement released by ex-Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov directed towards the Scottish media, who he referred to as "monkeys"...

"Your leader Mowgli is not taking bananas any more, now he is taking money for lies and untruthful interpretation. However he is greedy and makes you collect rotten information from cesspits and poisons readers with it."

5. Bobby Williamson when someone questioned his defensive tactics at Hibs...

"If it's entertainment you want, go to the cinema.”

6. Ivan Golac on preparing Dundee United for the 1994 Scottish Cup final...

"When the players were expecting the first training session of Cup week I told them to stop and smell the flowers before we went for a coffee."

7. The phrase coined by Alex Ferguson which has turned into a common description for time added on at the end of a game...

"I call it squeaky bum time."

8. Celtic legend Jock Stein on the relationship between the game and its supporters...

"Football is nothing without fans."

9. Legendary Liverpool boss Bill Shankly on the importance of football...

"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."

10. Celtic captain Scott Brown on team-mate and midfielder partner Stuart Armstrong...

“We’re slightly different characters – he reads and I cannae."

11. Scotland boss Gordon Strachan when a reporter asked him for "a quick word"...

"Velocity"

12. Ex-Scotland boss Berti Vogts during his underwhelming reign as manager of the national team...

"If I walked on water, my accusers would say it is because I can't swim."

13. Mark McGhee while he was feeling the pressure as boss of Aberdeen...

"Go look me up on Wikipedia. I've got a track record.''