Top 23 Quotes & Sayings by Jock Stein

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a Scottish celebrity Jock Stein.

Last updated on April 15, 2025.

John "Jock" Stein was a Scottish football player and manager. He was the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967. Stein also guided Celtic to nine successive Scottish League championships between 1966 and 1974.

Scottish - Celebrity | October 5, 1922 - September 10, 1985

Source: Wikipedia

There is always a time to move on.

Jock Stein

I'd far rather talk about players. They are the people who make things happen.

Jock Stein

It is up to us, to everyone at Celtic Park, to build up our own legends. We don't want to live with history, to be compared with legends from the past. We must make new legends.

Jock Stein

There is no substitute for experience

Jock Stein

I lost some friends when I made the move, but if that's what matters to them, then they're not really friends at all.

Jock Stein

No Scot ever made a bigger impact on a club than Bill Shankly. Others may claim an equal share of trophies and Matt Busby comes to mind with his wonderful record crowned by the European Cup, but not even Matt would claim the kinship with the fans that Bill enjoyed. He was what football was all about. I can't praise him higher than that.

Jock Stein

The most pleasure any manager can get is seeing everyday boys joining the Club as youngsters and growing into men and giving themselves a better social standing than they could ever have dreamed of previously.

Jock Stein

It's not religion that's the problem - it's the lack of religion!

Jock Stein

Ach, Rangers are alright, but they still haven’t invented blue grass.

Jock Stein

Without fans who pay at the turnstile, football is nothing. Sometimes we are inclined to forget that. The only chance of bringing them into stadiums is if they are entertained by what happens on the football field.

Jock Stein

We must play as if there are no more games, no more tomorrows.

Jock Stein

Football is for the fans. It can be the greatest game in the world but if there are no people to watch it, it becomes nothing. The fans are the lifeblood of the game.

Jock Stein

There is no excuse for a professional footballer not to be 100% fit.

Jock Stein

The best place to defend is in the opposition penalty box.

Jock Stein

Surely there are enough Celtic songs without introducing religion or politics or anything else.

Jock Stein

Unlike many other Celts, I cannot claim that Celtic was my first love but I can say that it will be my last love.

Jock Stein

Celtic jerseys are not for second best, they don't shrink to fit inferior players

Jock Stein

If I can achieve for Celtic what I have achieved for Hibs, then I feel I will have done well for them.