"You have to work more than your adversary"
About this Quote
The intent is motivational, but not sentimental. Klinsmann frames sport as an arms race of preparation: if the other side is training hard, you don’t match it, you exceed it. That comparative word - "more" - is the engine. It implies that effort is relative, not absolute. “Work hard” is self-help; “work more than your adversary” is strategy. It creates an external reference point that keeps complacency from masquerading as progress.
The subtext also carries a specific European football worldview: discipline, repetition, and professionalism as the real separators once everyone at the top level has elite skill. It’s meritocratic, but with a hard edge: if you lose, the first suspect is your labor. That can be empowering (control what you can control) and brutal (it quietly suggests fatigue, resources, and privilege are just excuses).
Context matters. Klinsmann’s career and later coaching persona were built around fitness culture, marginal gains, and intensity - especially in environments (like U.S. soccer) where he often argued the ceiling was cultural as much as technical. The quote isn’t poetry; it’s a directive. It works because it turns ambition into a measurable commitment, then makes you compete before the match even starts.
Quote Details
| Topic | Work Ethic |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Klinsmann, Jurgen. (2026, January 17). You have to work more than your adversary. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-have-to-work-more-than-your-adversary-70420/
Chicago Style
Klinsmann, Jurgen. "You have to work more than your adversary." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-have-to-work-more-than-your-adversary-70420/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"You have to work more than your adversary." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-have-to-work-more-than-your-adversary-70420/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.











