When I was younger, I always knew I was a pretty good player, but it was impossible to foresee how far I'd go. I had a left foot and vision like no one else, but I wasn't the quickest and my right foot wasn't so great, so there were things I needed to work on.

Rafael van der Vaart

When I lose the fun in football, it's better to quit.

Rafael van der Vaart

I like to relax and watch TV and play with my little boy. I like to play some tennis as well.

Rafael van der Vaart

When you put something on Instagram, the English people are always so positive. As a player, you need that.

Rafael van der Vaart

At home, I make the decisions.

Rafael van der Vaart

I like to play football, and of course I like to play for Tottenham, but I try to enjoy every game because that's the most important thing, to have fun on the pitch, and then you can play good.

Rafael van der Vaart

Leaving Tottenham was not by best choice but, apart from that, there haven't been too many regrets in my career.

Rafael van der Vaart

I think it's a good match, Dutch players playing in England.

Rafael van der Vaart

The way I played, Tottenham was the best phase of my career. It's always a warm feeling when I think back.

Rafael van der Vaart

It's really important that when you come to a club, you know the history. My dream was always Real Madrid or Barcelona, but for the fans of Tottenham, the club is the biggest in the world. So that's how I treated it.

Rafael van der Vaart

Every time I walked into White Hart Lane, I got goosebumps. I felt so privileged to play there, to make the people happy.

Rafael van der Vaart

I'm not a player any more, I'm a fan, and I want to see somebody who wants to win and wants to fight.

Rafael van der Vaart

Twenty-seven is a great age to play. There is so much ahead of you.

Rafael van der Vaart

But Tottenham is pure football and pure people... nice, warm people. That's why I like Tottenham. And everybody who comes to the stadium can smell the history.

Rafael van der Vaart

When your relationship is good, you can tell somebody the truth.

Rafael van der Vaart

Football is important but it's not the most important thing.

Rafael van der Vaart

I love to play big games, it makes you a bigger player.

Rafael van der Vaart

Andre Villas-Boas wasn't the ideal coach for me. He bought Gylfi Sigurdsson and then told me he would be his new No.10.

Rafael van der Vaart

I didn't want to be the next version of any player - I wanted to establish my own name.

Rafael van der Vaart

When I was younger, I always knew I was a pretty good player, but it was impossible to foresee how far I'd go. I had a left foot and vision like no one else, but I wasn't the quickest and my right foot wasn't so great, so there were things I needed to work on.

Rafael van der Vaart

I've always said the one change that would've been nice is if I'd been a bit faster - like fast enough to be able to run past people instead of just being overtaken all the time!

Rafael van der Vaart