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ON SETTLING IN ON MERSEYSIDE

“I’d never been to the city and hadn’t been to Everton before. But it wasn’t long, maybe a couple of weeks, before I was thinking ‘You know what? I don’t want to be going back up the road – I’m happy where I’m at’. It didn’t take me long at all to get that feeling.”

ON EVERTON FANS

“The fans here have always been great towards me. They are unbelievable. They took me in and they are the best fans in the country, if not the world.”

ON HIS EVERTON CAREER

“It was the best 10 years of my career, in fact they are the only team I ever actually played for. That’s what happens when you play for Everton, you forget the rest, the rest means nothing.”

ON RETIRING

"There is only one way after leaving this club, and that is down."

ON GETTING INTO SCRAPES

"Hand on heart, I never started anything, never once. That’s the truth. I finished a few .”

ON BECOMING EVERTON MANAGER

"I think everyone dreams of being Everton manager, don’t they. Don’t you?"

ON SUPPORT FROM EVERTONIANS WHILST IN PRISON

"The support I got from Evertonians was unbelievable. It’s a shock to the system when someone says you’re going to nick, but when you go into one of these places and you’re getting letters from kids who support you it doesn’t half lift you.”

ON SCOUSERS

“Scousers are a different class. Salt of the earth, good working class football people. It’s a great community and a great city. There’s a neighbourly feel and close families.”

ON SCORING HIS FIRST EVERTON GOAL...IN A MERSEYSIDE DERBY

"That was the turning point. It was when I knew I was at a massive club. It made me even more part of the club."

ON HIS LOVE FOR DERBY MATCHES

“They were great games to be in but the Merseyside one was something else. I felt I competed well. I always tried to put myself around and felt I gave everything I had. It’s about giving that extra bit."

ON HIS STYLE

“When I put my shirt on I gave everything," he says. "I’ve got the scars to prove it – too many really."

ON HIS FAVOURITE EVERTON GOAL

“The first one against Liverpool obviously stands out. But I liked when I turned in the box once at Goodison against Liverpool and the ball hit the net before the fans realised it was past David James. I knew right away it was in."

ON HIS FAMOUSLY FROSTY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESS

"It wasn’t because I was bitter or I didn’t want to speak to people, it just wasn’t me. I’m sure there has been a lot written about me but luckily enough I never read it!”

ON THE 'DOGS OF WAR' MIDFIELD

"That midfield would have tackled a crisp packet if it had floated across the pitch!"

ON RETURNING TO GOODISON FROM NEWCASTLE IN 2000

"I never had any misgivings about coming back. I should never have left in the first place."