Ruud Gullit

Ruud Gullit – Dutch Soccer Legend, Former Chelsea and Newcastle Manager and LA Galaxy Head Coach.

In 1978 Ruud Gullit signed professional forms for HFC Haarlem where he made 91 league appearances, scoring 32 goals.

In 1981 Gullit made his international debut for the Netherlands against Switzerland on his 19th birthday. In 1982 he moved to Feyenoord where he made 85 league appearances, scoring 30 goals. In 1985 he moved to PSV Eindhoven for which he scored 46 goals in 68 league appearances.

He was transferred to the Serie A soccer league in Italy by Silvio Berlusconi in 1987, who paid the then record fee of ƒ17 million (£6million) for him. In the late 80’s he helped A.C. Milan capture three Serie A titles and two European Cups during the club’s five year reign from 1988-1992.

He was awarded European Footballer of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987

In 1993 Ruud Gullit moved to Sampdoria, and then AC Milan re-signed him. However, before the World Cup in the USA, Gullit walked out of the training camp and retired from international football. He then rejoined Sampdoria and led them to victory in the Italian Cup final.

In July 1995, he signed for Chelsea F.C. on a free transfer. Initially played as sweeper by manager Glenn Hoddle, Gullit was later moved to his more familiar role in midfield, where he scored six goals. In the summer of 1996, Hoddle left to become manager of the England national team and Gullit was appointed player-manager

During his first season as player-manager he guided Chelsea to an FA Cup trophy in 1997, the club’s first major trophy in 26 years. In doing so, Gullit became the first non-British manager to win that trophy. He also guided the team to a credible sixth place finish in the Premiership in the same year. The following season appeared to be going well, with Chelsea being second in the Premiership and in the quarterfinals of two cup competitions, when he was sacked, allegedly for a disagreement with the club’s board.

In 1998, he was appointed manager of Newcastle United F.C. and in his first season took the team to an FA Cup Final. Gullit resigned as manager in the 1999-2000 season.

In 2004 Gullit spent a season as manager of Feyenoord Rotterdam.

Between November 2007 and August 2008, Ruud Gullit was head coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2011 Ruud Gullit signed as manager for Russian team FC Terek Gronzy

Ruud Gullit is in popular demand as soccer pundit and can regularly be seen on ITV and Sky Sports