2015: Ten sports quotes that made headlines this year

Published December 19, 2015
Hafeez's refusal to play alongside Amir in the BPL was one of the famous quotes of the year. — AFP/File
Hafeez's refusal to play alongside Amir in the BPL was one of the famous quotes of the year. — AFP/File

CRICKET

“I have no personal issues with Amir, it's my personal opinion that I can't share the dressing room with someone who hurt my country's integrity.”- Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez refusing to play in same Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) team with Mohammad Amir.

“He's still living off the fact that he coached a team that anyone, even my dog Jerry, could have coached to world domination.”- Ex-Australian Test captain Michael Clarke slams former coach John Buchanan, following the latter's criticism of his captaincy.

TENNIS

“I don't want to talk about how disappointing it is for me. If you have any other questions, I'm open for that.”- Serena Williams after her shock US Open semi-final loss to Roberta Vinci which ended her bid for a calendar Grand Slam.

“Have you ever played tennis? You did? You probably weren't very good.”- Victoria Azarenka to a chair umpire in her first-round victory at the US Open.

GOLF

“It would be having a more open, honest relationship with my ex-wife.”- What Tiger Woods replied after being asked what he would change most in his life and career as he approaches 40 on December 30.

FOOTBALL

“I'm a totally normal guy. I'm the Normal One.”- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as he faced the media for the first time when asked how he would describe himself, after Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho famously said he was “a special one” in his first press conference in English football in 2004.

“I am a mountain goat that keeps going and going and going, I cannot be stopped, I just keep going.”- Sepp Blatter before his reelection for a fifth term as FIFA president.

“I have pictured it a few times, but I have to say I never thought it would work out so well.”- Carli Lloyd after scoring the fastest hat-trick in a World Cup final match in the first 15 minutes as the United States beat holders Japan 5-2 in the women's tournament.

“I feel like my work was betrayed.” - Jose Mourinho accuses his players of betraying him in a 2-1 defeat at Premier League leaders Leicester City, his final match before his sacking.

BOXING

“You're boring and I want to get you out of the heavy-weight division. You have about as much charisma as my underpants. Zero.”- Tyson Fury before ending Wladimir Klitschko's four-year reign as undisputed world heavyweight champion.

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