As 2025 draws to a close, we picked out some of our favourite quotes from a sporting year that delivered plenty of spills, thrills and controversies.
The 2025 sports quotes of the year
"Liam Cahill never played with a sweeper on his team in his life, ever." - Tipperary boss Liam Cahill swung back at his critics before the All-Ireland SHC final against Cork. The Premier prevailed on the big day. They played with a sweeper.
"(I speak) Spanish. English, very, very little..." - Alexander Oganda of the Dominican Republic gives RTÉ Sport's David Gillick some bad news at the start of their post-race interview at the World Athletics Championships.
"We've got McCabe, Katie McCabe, I just don't think you understand..." - After Arsenal took the Women's Champions League trophy back to north London to celebrate with thousands of their fans, Katie McCabe took to the mic to serenade... herself.
"Guys, shut the f*** up!" - Rory McIlroy had it up to here with American hecklers at the Ryder Cup.
"Financially this is a huge thing. I've honed a craft for my whole life and I want to take the opportunity." - Irish swimmer Shane Ryan explained his decision to join the controversial Enhanced Games.
"I think I got a Zinger Burger. Just chicken, mayonnaise, yeah. It was okay. It was fresh. Sometimes you get food from them places and it's been there all day, but they made it fresh." - Troy Parrott (above) went to KFC after his hat-trick in Budapest and told us exactly how it went down.
"I'm 35, he's 17. Every 17 years, a star gets born." - Michael Van Gerwen lost the World Darts Championship final to teenager Luke Littler, but was gracious enough to remind everyone how great he is.
"I won't sleep very well tonight, but it's OK." - Jannik Sinner was two sets up, with three match points, before losing the French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz. He was OK.
"I've never won a major regatta. This is huge and I'm in shock." - Fiona Murtagh struggled to comprehend her World Rowing Championships gold in the women's single sculls, a discipline she only took up a year ago.
"All the best TV series, season three is better than season two." - A bullish Ange Postecoglou promised more after guiding Tottenham to the Europa League.
"I should have thought about it a bit more because sometimes they kill off the main character." - Postecolglou later correctly predicted a plot twist.
"I'm sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye." - Gary Lineker signed off as host of Match of the Day with some trademark dry humour.
"In no other facet of my life does someone dictate that I have to wear something resembling a skirt because I am a girl. Why is it happening in my sport?" - Dublin camogie captain and co-chair of the GPA Aisling Maher's Intagram post after players from Dublin and Kilkenny were forced to change into skorts before their Leinster semi-final.
"Then we would be doing Mario Kart. Then we have to install bits on the car so we can throw bananas around." - Max Verstappen (above) channeled his inner Donkey Kong as he hit upon a plan to make the Monaco Grand Prix more interesting.
"There's no way you'll go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and say, 'I want you to drive it like a Ferrari'. It's not going to happen." - Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, a man not known for a lack of self confidence, was underwhelmed by the club's transfer business.
"What has failed recently was not due to our structure or model, but to one individual's desire for self-preservation at the expense of others." - Celtic's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond soon bid a not-so-fond farewell to the Antrim native.
"I feel the time is right. I'm sad but I'm also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years." - Jockey Rachael Blackmore announced her retirement after a superb career in the saddle.
"I'd like to start this press conference with a question myself. What are we all going to talk about next year?" - After ending his wait for the Masters to complete the career grand slam, Rory enjoys a joke with the media.
"He's not short of self-confidence. If he had a tenth of the ability that his confidence suggested he had, he’d be alongside Guardiola." - Martin O'Neill wished his old pal Keith Andrews luck after the Dubliner was named the new Brentford boss.
"Unfortunately a few pundits down our way let themselves down." - Kerry manager Jack O'Connor wasn't happy with some observations from Darragh O Sé, who suggested O'Connor had done a poor job in blooding new players.
"The best part is that my parents are here because I guess they have seen me so sad so many times. That was just so nice." - Sarah Healy savoured a special gold medal in the 3,000m at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in the Netherlands.
"Colin is one of the nicest men you'll come across. For us, to treat one of our best young coaches and manager how we treated him, shouldn’t be acceptable. It was disgraceful." - Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley didn't hold back when speaking about the FAI's decision not to keep on Colin Healy as the Ireland women's team assistant coach.
"It's a fairytale, beyond belief really." - Ben Healy (above) was almost lost for words after taking over the leader's yellow jersey at the Tour de France.
"It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame." - Benched at Liverpool for three games, Mo Salah was mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
"I'd say chaotic; I won’t repeat your word because I think you’re wrong." - In his post-match press conference, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell did not like the suggestion his team's first-half showing against South Africa was 'shambolic'.
"I prepared for the game today like I was a professional footballer. My wife probably cursed me at times. Three-hour siesta, ate really well, focused my mind. I would like to really, really know how many of my players prepared like me or as well as me, which is damning." - Damien Duff wasn't happy with his Shelbourne players after their loss to Derry City. Duff would resign a few days later.
