Lest we forget: 2009 Part II by MARY HANNIGAN

A bit previous

"It serves unbelievable food. I love the steak if I'm having a big main. The vibe is nice, too, with a casual dress code, which I like. Plenty of footballers pop in for quality food after matches." - Rio Ferdinand in an interview with BMI's in-flight magazine, talking about his favourite restaurant in Manchester . . . one that, eh, hadn't opened yet and one that he part-owns.

"I'm loving being manager of Tranmere Rovers. How long have I got? Five, six, seven, 10 years. Who knows? I'm fully committed and the chairman is fully committed." - John Barnes . . . the day before he was sacked.

"I am a player for AEK for the next four years and not some tradeable product . . . All these years I have shown to everybody that I can honour my contracts." - AEK Athens' Sotiris Kyrgiakos, a fortnight before joining Liverpool.

Model Pro

"I felt so weak I couldn't move or eat, when I was told I had swine flu all sorts of things started going through my mind - you see on the news people dying of it.

- Manchester City's Micah Richards after being diagnosed with the virus when he was holidaying in Cyprus during the summer. He really should have left his comments there, but:

"At first I thought it was a really bad chest infection, or maybe alcohol poisoning."

Property deal of the year

With the bottom falling out of the property market this year the estate agent entrusted with the task of selling Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester home, after he departed for Real Madrid, most probably feared he'd struggle to get back the €4.5 million the player had paid for the seven-bed pad the year before.

But then? Manchester City went on a spending spree. And once Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez (who had to vacate the house provided for him by United), not to mention Antonio Valencia (who joined United from Wigan), were done, the bidding war for the house had raised the price to €6.25m.

Adebayor was the victor, the estate agent's commission ensuring he was a bit over the moon himself.

In my defence

"I didn't want her to be suspicious about ladies so I just told her it was a ghost. She failed to believe me." - Peruvian footballer Carlos "Kukin" Flores on the excuse he gave his wife after being arrested by police when he was spotted running naked down a street. He later confessed to his disbelieving beloved that he had been "engaging with dirty ladies".

"The judge was out of order for calling me a weirdo . . . I am not a racist. I am a Leeds United fan. My favourite player is as black as the ace of spades." - Robert Cockerline, who turned up in court in Hull for his monthly probation review, wearing a swastika badge on his woolly hat.

"I was merely pointing out a rare peregrine falcon to a friend." - A Rapid Vienna supporter's defence after being accused of making a Nazi salute during the Europa League game against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Amazingly, he wasn't believed - the club banned him for three year

In all honesty

Nottingham Forest website: "It's almost seven months since we were last beaten away from home. What do you put that down to?"

Luke Chambers: "The fact that we didn't play for three months during the summer was a massive help.

"To be fair, I don't get many bookings, I just get a load of red cards." - Richard Dunne, sort of defending his poor disciplinary record.

"He's stopped putting things in his throat, basically. It's quite simple." - Sunderland manager Steve Bruce on the secret behind Andy Reid's dieting success.

"Since I became a manager, my relationship with him is much better - it had to be because I never had one before." - Mark Hughes, when he was still Manchester City manager, on his new best friend, Alex Ferguson.

Under pressure

"I received a lovely letter which read: 'Dear Mick, thank you for taking the pressure off me. I've really had a tough time of late, all the best, Tiger.' I've heard he's driving around Florida in an open-top singing 'Super Mick McCarthy.' " - The Wolves manager got flak for playing his second team against Manchester United.

"We're on the right tracks, I really think so. The problem is, though, if you sit on the tracks long enough you get run over." - Coventry manager Chris Coleman.

Humility

"Ireland don't have the players they used to - the O'Learys, the Stapletons, the Bradys". - Not Stapleton or Brady.

"Anyone who likes football loves me." - Cristiano Ronaldo or Kevin Kilbane? Guess.

"Who will be the new Pato? There is only me - until three or four years from now when my wife will bring another into the world." - Eh, Pato.