Dennis Bergkamp

At 54 years old, Dennis Bergkamp has this physical status:

Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp (born 10 May 1969) is a Dutch professional footballer who served as the assistant manager at Ajax from 21 December 2017.

Bergkamp, a wide midfielder, was first voted to main striker and then to second striker, where he stayed throughout his playing career.

Bergkamp is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation, nicknamed by Arsenal supporters as "Non-Flying Dutchman" due to his fear of flying. Bergkamp, the son of an electrician, was born in Amsterdam and played as an amateur in the lower leagues.

He was spotted by Ajax at the age of 11 and made his professional debut in 1986.

A year later, prolific form culminated in an international call-up with the Netherlands, attracting the attention of several European clubs.

Bergkamp joined Inter Milan in 1993, where he had two underwhelming seasons.

He revived his career after joining Arsenal in 1995, helping the club win three Premier League titles, four FA Cup trophies, and advance to the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, his last appearance as a player.

Bergkamp was selected for Euro 1992, where he excelled, scoring three goals in the tournament.

In the final minute of the quarterfinal against Argentina, he scored a spectacular winning goal, one of the best FIFA World Cup goals, beating Argentina in a thrilling match.

In 1998, Bergkamp surpassed Faas Wilkes to become the country's top goalscorer of all time, a record that was later surpassed by Patrick Kluivert, Robin van Persie, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Bergkamp has been described by Jan Mulder as having "the highest technique" of any Dutch international and a "dream for a striker" by teammate Thierry Henry.

Bergkamp was ranked third twice in the FIFA World Player of the Year award and named by Pelé as one of the top living players in the FIFA 100.

He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first and so far only Dutch player to be honoured.

Bergkamp's most memorable goal against Newcastle United in 2017 was named as the best Premier League goal of all time in the league's 25-year history.

Early life

Bergkamp was the last of Wim and Tonnie Bergkamp's four sons born in Amsterdam. In a family trying to reach middle-class status, he was born in a working-class suburb. In honor of Scottish striker Denis Law, his father, an electrician and amateur footballer in the lower leagues, was named in honor of Scottish striker Denis Law. After the initial "n" was not recognized by the registrar, an additional "n" was included in Bergkamp's first name by his father to comply with Dutch given name customs. Bergkamp was raised as a Roman Catholic by his family and attended massetonium in his youth. Although Bergkamp said that visits to church did not appeal to him in later years, the service hasn't deterred, he said. Glenn Hoddle, whom he adored for his soft touch, and Johan Cruyff, who once worked with him when he was twelve, are among his childhood football heroes, according to Bergkamp.

Personal life

Since 1996, Bergkamp has been married to Henrita Ruizendaal. Estelle Deborah, Mitchel Dennis, Yasmin Naomi, and Saffron Rita are among the couple's four children. Mitchel's son joined Watford U23 in February 2021. Estelle van de Beek, the couple's first daughter, was born on April 9, 2022.

Roland Bergkamp, his nephew, is also a former professional footballer.

He speaks fluent Dutch (his mother tongue), English, and Italian.

Due to his flight phobia, Bergkamp's nickname is the "Non-Flying Dutchman." According to modern accounts, this resulted from incidents with the Netherlands national team during a flight, where the plane's engine blew out during a flight, and when a flight was delayed due to a journalist joked about a bomb in his bag. Bergkamp's 2013 autobiography revealed that his phobia originated during his first season at Inter Milan, in which the team regularly traveled to away games in small aeroplanes. After the 1994 World Cup, Bergkamp decided he would not fly again, but he did consider seeking psychiatric assistance in 1996: he did not fly again.

The illness severely restricted his ability to participate in away matches in European competitions and also travel with the national team. In some cases, he would travel overland by car or train, but some matches were so arranged that he did not fly at all. Wenger, a coach in Arsenal's Champions League match against Lyon in February 2001, expressed anxiety about traveling by train and car because of the exertions involved.

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Club career

Bergkamp was brought up through Ajax's youth system, joining the club at the age of 11. Johan Cruyff won his first managerial match against Roda JC on December 14, 1986; Ajax gained a 2–0 win. In a match that Ajax lost 6–0, Bergkamp scored his first senior goal for the club against HFC Haarlem on February 22, 1987. He went on to make 23 appearances in the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup, including a European debut against Malmö FF in the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup, earning him recognition. Ajax won the tournament, defeating Lokomotive Leipzig 1–0 as Bergkamp made an appearance as a replacement.

Bergkamp developed himself as a first-team player for Ajax in later seasons. For the first time in five years, the club has enjoyed a period of triumph. Bergkamp scored 29 goals in 36 games in the following season and became the league's joint top scorer, sharing the award with PSV striker Romário.

Ajax won the 1992 UEFA Cup Final, defeating Torino thanks to an away goals decision. They then beat Heerenveen 6–2 in the final of the KNVB Cup on May 20, 1993. Bergkamp was the best scorer in the Economy from 1991 to 1993, and was named Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1992 and 1993. He scored 122 goals in 239 games for his hometown team in total.

As a result of Bergkamp's appearances for Ajax, he attracted the attention of several European clubs. Johan Cruyff's advice to him not to join Real Madrid, one of the teams that was involved in him. But Bergkamp was adamant in his refusal to play in Italy. He regarded Serie A as "the best league at the time" and wanted to move to either Juventus or Inter Milan and preferred either Juventus or Inter Milan. Bergkamp made a £7.1 million transfer to the latter club on February 16, 1993, a contract that included his Ajax teammate Wim Jonk. Inter "satisfied all my demands," Bergkamp said upon signing. For me, the stadium, the staff, and their style of play were the most significant factors."

Bergkamp won by 2–1 at the San Siro on August 29, 1993, his first appearance against Reggiana. He scored his first goal for the club against Cremonese in September 1993, but he had a difficult time against the highly organized and resolute Italian defenses, who scored a further seven goals in the league. This was partially due to boss Osvaldo Bagnoli's inability to find a long-term relationship, preferring Bergkamp in a three with Rubén Sosa and Salvatore Schillaci. Inter's poor league form culminated in Bagnoli's dismissal in February 1994 and his replacement by Gianpiero Marini, a former member of Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup-winning squad. In Serie A, the club finished 13th, just one point shy of relegation, but the team had a blast in the UEFA Cup, defeating Austria Salzburg in the final over two legs. Bergkamp was the competition's joint top scorer with eight goals and scored a hat-trick against Rapid București in the first round.

The club sacked Ottavio Bianchi in Bergkamp's second season with Internal, naming him as the club's second season. Bergkamp had a rough run in 1994, struggling with stress injuries and exhaustion from the 1994 World Cup. In 26 appearances, he scored 5 goals in 26 appearances. Bergkamp's relationship with the Italian press and followers became tense off the track. His stymie and his propensity to go home after matches were mistook for apathy. One Italian publication renamed their award given to Bergkamp della settimana after his poor showing on the pitch. Inter ended the league season in sixth place and failed to secure the UEFA Cup, with the club losing in the second round. Massimo Moratti, an Italian businessman and fan, bought the club in February 1995 and promised to invest heavily in the squad. Following the signing of Maurizio Ganz a month before the takeover, Bergkamp's future in the first team was uncertain.

Bergkamp left Inter and signed with Arsenal in June 1995 for a transfer fee estimated at £7.5 million, and Moratti was set to make wholesale changes at the club. He was the manager of Arsenal's first signing, and the club's transfer fee record was set at £2.5 million. Bergkamp's joining the club was significant not only because he was an established international footballer with a long history, but also because he was a key contributor to Arsenal's revival from disgrace in the mid-1990s. Bergkamp made his full debut against Middlesbrough on the first day of the 1995–96 league season. He struggled to adapt to the English game and failed to score in the club's next six league games, sparking national coverage mockery. Bergkamp scored his first and second goals for Arsenal against Southampton at Highbury on September 23, 1995. Bergkamp finished his first season with 33 appearances and 11 goals, helping Arsenal finish fifth and qualify for a spot in the UEFA Cup by defeating Bolton Wanderers on the final day of the season.

Arsène Wenger's appointment as Arsenal's manager in September 1996 marked a turning point in Bergkamp's career. Wenger, a French and Japanese manager, appreciated Bergkamp's talent and wanted to use him as a fulcrum of the team's forward play. Both were proponents of a continental approach to football, and Wenger's decision to enforce a strict fitness and health regimen satisfied Bergkamp. Bergkamp was more effective in the first team in 1996–97, with 13 assists. He made a 88th-minute winner for captain Tony Adams against Tottenham Hotspur in November 1996, utilizing his left foot. He scored in injury time, controlling a high ball with his left foot, and avoiding his marker Stephen Carr in a tight area to set up his shot. In the 26th minute, Bergkamp earned his first red card against Sunderland in January 1997 for a high tackle on midfielder Paul Bracewell. Arsenal lost the match 1–0, but the club earned a third-place finish in their final 16 matches, but they were left out of a spot in the UEFA Champions League due to goal difference.

Bergkamp was instrumental in helping Arsenal win the domestic league and cup double this season. He was the club's top scorer with 22 goals and a strike rate of 0.57 percent. Arsenal's triumph was all the more impressive considering that the team, who had been written off by many in December 1997, had lost ground on reigning Premier League champions Manchester United. Bergkamp scored his first hat-trick for the club early in the season at Filbert Street on August 23, 1997. Arsenal's third goal, which he regarded as his favorite for Arsenal, needed just one touch to move the ball in the penalty box, and then to flick it past his marker Matt Elliott before juggling it with his feet and shooting past goalkeeper Kasey Keller. Leicester manager Martin O'Neill was kind enough to admit Bergkamp's was "the best hat-trick I've ever seen." Bergkamp was suspended for elbowing midfielder Steve Lomas in an FA Cup quarter-final replay against West Ham United on March 17, 1998, and he missed three games due to suspension. After overstretching his hamstring against Derby County on April 29, 1998, he did not participate in Arsenal's season until losing the 1998 FA Cup Final. Bergkamp was honoured with the PFA Player of the Year award, becoming the third non-British player to be lauded by his peers as the outstanding performer in English football.

Bergkamp's second good season in 1998-99 after an efficient 1998 World Cup campaign with the national team. Even though Arsenal failed to reclaim the Premier League after losing the league on the final day of the season to Manchester United, Bergkamp was the club's second-best assist provider in the Premier League, with 16 goals and 13 assists, alongside Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Arsenal was also defeated in a FA Cup semi-final replay against Manchester United in April 1999. Arsenal was awarded a penalty after midfielder Ray Parlour was knocked down by Phil Neville inside the 18-yard box, bringing the score 1–1. Bergkamp took the penalty shot, but goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel saved it. Ryan Giggs scored the winner in the second half of extra time, a goal that has been regarded by some as the highest in the competition's history. Bergkamp did not take another penalty for the remainder of his career after this miss.

Both Arsenal and Bergkamp's 1999–2000 seasons were difficult to remember. In the 2000 UEFA Cup Final to Turkish opponents Galatasaray on penalties, the club came in second in the league, 18 points behind Manchester United. Compatriot Marc Overmars and French midfielder Emmanuel Petit's departure in the close of the season sparked rumors about Bergkamp's future. In December 2000, he finally reached an agreement on a contract extension. Arsenal finished runners-up in the league for the third year in a row, despite a slew of new signings made in the 2000–01 season. Bergkamp's first-team opportunities were limited as a result of Thierry Henry's and Sylvain Wiltord's emergence as the main strikers. In Liverpool's victory over Arsenal in the 2001 FA Cup Final, he was used as a late replacement.

In the 2001–02 season, there was finally success. Arsenal regained control of the sport by defeating Manchester United at Old Trafford in the club's second double under Wenger; Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2–0 to win the FA Cup four days before. Bergkamp scored in 33 league matches, scoring 15, one of which was against Juventus in the second group stage of the Champions League. He twisted and turned before handing the ball to Freddie Ljungberg in the penalty box to score, holding off two markers. Bergkamp was in the champion against Liverpool in a FA Cup fourth-round tie on Sunday, but he was refused a red card for a two-footed lunge on defender Jamie Carragher, who was suspended for tossing a coin into the crowd. He was then suspended for three games (two leagues, one FA Cup round). Bergkamp's appeal was denied, but the appeal was unsuccessful. On March 3, 2002, he made his return to Newcastle United. Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires made a low pass from the left flank to Bergkamp in the edge of the opponent zone with his back to goal early in the game. Bergkamp mastered the ball with a flick and then circled the other side before returning the ball precisely into the bottom right-hand corner to score, under pressure from his marker Nikos Dabizas. "It wasn't just a spectacular target but also a very important one – I loved it a lot," Wenger said. Bergkamp appeared in nine out of the last ten league games, establishing a fruitful partnership with Ljungberg.

Bergkamp scored his 100th goal for Arsenal against Oxford United in a FA Cup third-round tie on January 4, 2003, marking his personal record during the 2002–03 season. Arsenal lost the league despite leading by eight points in March 2003. However, the club did win the FA Cup for the second year in a row, defeating Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final. Bergkamp signed a one-year deal at the club on July 20, 2003. Arsenal reclaimed the league championship in 2003, becoming the first English team to win the entire domestic league season. Bergkamp's 2003-04 season was also a high point for the team. Bergkamp scored the winner with a pass to captain Patrick Vieira against Leicester City in the last league match of the season, with the score tied at 1-1. Vieira rounded the goalkeeper and scored. The team, nicknamed "The Invincibles," did not have the same success in Europe; Arsenal was defeated by Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals over two legs. Bergkamp resigned as a player at Arsenal at the end of the season, after a new contract extension was agreed.

Bergkamp appeared in 29 league matches between 2004 and 2005, but Arsenal's title defense suffered unsuccessfully. The team came in second, 12 points behind Chelsea in second place. Bergkamp served as captain for the ill Vieira in a match in which Arsenal came back from 1–3 down to win 5–3 and equal Nottingham Forest's record of 42 league matches undefeated. Bergkamp was given a straight red card against Sheffield United in the FA Cup on February 19, 2005, for shoving defender Danny Cullip. The Football Association's (FA) dismissed his appeal, essentially missing the club's next three domestic games. Arsenal had a man of the match match against Everton, scoring once and aiding three of the goals in a 7-0 victory. Supporters from Arsenal chanting "one more year" has boosted Bergkamp's visit, describing it as "quite unique." "They obviously believe there's another year in me," he said, "because it shows they're actually behind me." Arsenal has signed a one-year deal extension following Arsenal's penalty shootout win over Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup Final.

In Bergkamp's last season at Arsenal, the team came in fourth place in the league. On Matchday 1 of the Champions League, Bergkamp scored an injury-time winner over Thun, who had been on as a substitute in the 72nd minute. Arsenal supporters' campaign prompted the club to choose one of its Highbury matchday themes, which was arranged to celebrate the stadium's last season as home of Arsenal. Dennis Bergkamp Arsenal defeated West Bromwich Albion in "Bergkamp Day" on April 15, 2006. Fans were given commemorative orange "DB10" T-shirts, the colour of his national team's, initials, and squad number; it commemorated the player's contribution to Arsenal. Bergkamp himself came on as a second-half substitute and set up the winning Robert Pires goal just moments after Nigel Quashie had levelled the score. Bergkamp's 89th-minute goal was his last for Arsenal in competitive football, fittingly. In his last match for Arsenal against Barcelona in the Champions League final, Bergkamp was an unemployed replacement; Barcelona won by two points in the last 13 minutes to overturn Arsenal's lead and win the tournament.

Bergkamp was the subject of Arsenal's first match at the Emirates Stadium, which was on Arsenal's new ground. A testimonial was held at the new stadium on July 22, 2006, as Arsenal defeated his old club Ajax. Bergkamp and his father, Wim, and his son, Mitchel, started the game off with his father, Mitchel. Both four children acted as the match's mascots. Members of Arsenal and Ajax's new squads were involved in the first half, while for Ajax, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Danny Blind, Frank, and Ronald de Boer were all involved; the second half was contested by well-known ex-players from both teams, including Ian Wright, Patrick Vieira, Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, and David Seaman; and David Seaman were among the two teams's; and James de Boer Arsenal defeated Nwankwo Kanu 2–1 in the match 2–1. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had started the scoring for Ajax earlier this season, making him the first goalscorer at the Emirates Stadium.

International career

Bergkamp made his international debut for the Netherlands national team against Italy on September 26, 1990, as a replacement for Frank de Boer. On November 21, 1990, he scored his first goal for the team against Greece. Bergkamp was selected for Euro 1992, when his national team defeated the defending champions. Despite playing three goals in the tournament, the team lost on penalties to eventual champions Denmark in the semi-finals.

Bergkamp scored five goals in the qualifying for the 1994 FIFA World Cup and was chosen for the finals, which were staged in the United States. He appeared in every game for the national team, scoring against Morocco in the group stages and the Republic of Ireland in the round of 16. Bergkamp scored his second goal against Brazil, but the Netherlands lost 3–2, falling in the quarter-finals. Bergkamp scored against Switzerland and set up striker Patrick Kluivert's consolation goal against England, who advanced to the quarter-finals as first in their group, but the Dutch finished second and faced France after a penalty shootout.

He scored his first hat-trick for the national team against Wales in 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The Netherlands finished first in their group and qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, which was held in France. Bergkamp scored three times in the tournament, including a spectacular winning goal against Argentina in the last minute. Frank de Boer's legs dropped the ball down, left the ball down, and then finished by firing a volley with the outside of his right leg past keeper Carlos Roa at a tight angle from the right. The goal, which Bergkamp cited as his favorite in his career, was his 36th for the national team, defeating Faas Wilkes as the highest scorer. After drawing 1–1 in normal time, the Netherlands lost on penalties to Brazil in the semi-finals. Bergkamp was voted to the All-Star team of the tournament along with Frank de Boer and Edgar Davids.

Bergkamp scored his final goal for the Netherlands against Brazil on October 9, 1999. The Netherlands were already qualified for the tournament as co-hosts for Euro 2000, and were considered favourites. The Netherlands lost 3–1 on penalties to Italy in the semi-finals. Following the loss, Bergkamp announced his retirement from international football and focused on his club work. Patrick Kluivert's final goal of 37 goals in 79 appearances was overtaken in June 2003.

Coaching career

Bergkamp insisted that he would not go back to teaching after resigning. He turned down an invitation to Arsenal but instead concentrated on travelling and spending time with his family. However, he began a fast-track coaching degree for former Dutch international footballers in April 2008 and took over a traineeship at Ajax. Bergkamp was appointed assistant to Johan Neeskens for the newly formed Netherlands B team on October 26, 2008, after completing the Coach Betaald Voetbal course by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). Bergkamp returned to Ajax in a formal coaching role with responsibilities for the D2 (U12) youth team in 2008. Bergkamp was appointed assistant boss to Fred Grim, who was working with Ajax's flagship A1 (U19) youth team following Frank de Boer's promotion of him as boss of Ajax in December 2010.

Bergkamp was appointed De Boer's assistant at Ajax in August 2011. However, Bergkamp's position at Ajax was slightly modified following Peter Bosz's arrival as the new head coach at Ajax. He no longer sat on the bench during first-team games but instead concentrated more on field preparation and assisting youth players in qualifying for the first team. In December 2017, Hennie Spijkerman and his fellow assistant were dismissed from their positions.

Career statistics

Cup competitions are excluded: the KNVB Cup, Coppa Italia, Football League Cup, and FA Cup are among the cup competitions. The FA Community Shield is not included in supercups.

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