Ruud Gullit

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Lore & Background

Gullit represented the Netherlands at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992, aside from the victorious Euro 1988 campaign. At club level, after moving from PSV to AC Milan in 1987 for a world record fee, he helped the club win the Scudetto for the first time in nine years under coach Arrigo Sacchi. The following season Milan added the European Cup, with Gullit scoring two crucial goals in the 4–0 victory over Steaua București in the 1989 final. Milan retained the trophy in 1990, defeating Benfica, though serious knee ligament injuries limited Gullit's playing time in the 1989–90 season. In 1995, Gullit signed for Chelsea and was appointed player-manager a year later, leading them to FA Cup success — the club's first major title for 26 years — and becoming the first overseas manager to win the FA Cup.

In Their Own Story

The 1989 European Cup final against Steaua București was a defining moment for Gullit. Despite a broken meniscus suffered in the semi-final against Real Madrid, he underwent a quick operation to play. He scored two crucial goals in Milan's 4–0 victory. As Gullit recalled: "The year that we won the Champions League, in the semi-final against Real Madrid I got injured. My meniscus was broken. I got a very quick operation so that I could play the final." The next season, when he started to train again, both his meniscus and cartilage were damaged, keeping him out almost the entire season. He later said: "It was hard because I was on the edge of maybe not playing football anymore."

Reader's Guide

Gullit's individual accolades include winning the Ballon d'Or in 1987, which he dedicated to Nelson Mandela. He was also named World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989. At club level, he won two Scudetti (1987–88, 1991–92) and two European Cups (1989, 1990) with AC Milan, though Rijkaard missed out on the 1987–88 Serie A title. At Feyenoord, Gullit completed the league and cup double in 1983–84 and was named Dutch Footballer of the Year. At PSV, he won the Eredivisie crown in 1986 and 1987, again being named Footballer of the Year in 1986. At Sampdoria, he led them to victory in the Coppa Italia in the 1993–94 season and scored the winner in a 3–2 victory over Milan.

Did You Know?

• Gullit was born as Rudi Dil in Amsterdam; he took his father's surname because he thought 'Gullit' sounded more like a footballer.
• He made his professional debut for HFC Haarlem at 16 years and 11 months old, becoming the youngest player in Eredivisie history at the time.
• While playing for Feyenoord at St Mirren in September 1983, Gullit was racially abused and spat on by supporters, calling it 'the saddest night of my life'.
• Gullit scored the goal he considered his finest while at Haarlem: 'Playing against Utrecht I went past four defenders and then the goalkeeper, and scored.'
• At Chelsea, Gullit became the first overseas manager to win the FA Cup, leading the club to its first major title in 26 years.