LONDON, July 7: Bill Shankly felt soccer was more important than life and death, and fans around the world agreed with the former Liverpool manager on Friday.

Scotsman Shankly, who died of a heart attack in 1981, beat former Manchester United and France forward Eric Cantona in a poll organised by the Plain English Campaign to pick soccer's most memorable quote.

Shankly struck a chord when he said: “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

Campaign spokesman Dave Smith said: “We surveyed 10,000 supporters in 80 countries. They really liked the power of the Shankly quote.

“Votes for him peaked after England went out to Portugal in the quarter-finals (of the World Cup). It described their passion for football. We got votes from all over, from Australia, America, all English-speaking countries.”

Shankly's passionate commitment to the game gave him top spot above Cantona, who once bewildered fans by saying: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea”.

Third place went to former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne for saying: “I never predict anything and I never will”.

BBC commentator John Motson took two of the top-10 spots.

“I think this could be our best victory over Germany since the War” said Motson, who also once declared “the World Cup is a truly international event”.

Former Manchester United great George Best, famous for his passion for the good life, was at number eight in the poll for saying: “I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars. The rest I just squandered”.

Smith said: “We have been conducting the poll throughout the World Cup and thought the final was the perfect time to publish it.”

Italy play France in the final in Berlin on Sunday.—Reuters