Fella’s a genius. Best ever by a distance in my life time. Never really saw Pele… Souness, Gullit, Venables and now Rooney agree Messi is the best they have seen. He plays a game with which we are not familiar.

I know I am extraordinarily lucky to be doing what I am doing. I have worked hard along the way and I have been blessed too. I have had a great life.

The World Cup is every four years, so it's going to be a perennial problem.

My eldest son George had acute myeloid leukaemia when he was a tiny baby, he is now 20 and doing very well. He is a mini-miracle in many ways.

We have got too many kids around the house to have a romantic meal at home. But Danielle is a ­fantastic cook. She does a brilliant ­lasagne, great roasts and a great chilli dish. She knows the way to my heart.

Ageing footballers never lose their commitment; they just lose their pace

I'm disappearing from twitter for a while. Need a break from the bile. Local prejudice just seems to bring out the worst in some people.