BIOGRAPHY OF DENNIS BERGKAMP

1969-86 Early Years

Dennis Bergkamp was born on 10 May 1969 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He was named after the famous manchester United's player Denis Law. "It's true that I was named after Denis Law, the Manchester United player, because my parents both loved football. When I was born in 1969, Manchester United were a huge team, and my parents decided to name me Dennis because he was such a great player." But how come Bergkamp is called "Dennis", not "Denis" now? Cos the civil servant at the registry office felt that Denis was too close to Denise and so insisted on the extra "n".

Dennis drilled the ball hour after hour against the garden wall at his family home at a young age, or dribbled around his three elder brothers who were also all football fanatics.

Dennis was a big fan of Glenn Hoddle, but it did mean that he supported Spurs! He has clarified it at his official site already, Bergkamp said: "I've often been asked if I'm a Spurs fan but it's not true. People have asked me who my favourite player was and when I say Glenn Hoddle, they put one and one together and say I'm a Spurs fan. I was a fan of Glenn Hoddle, not of Spurs. The fact he played for Spurs was nothing to do with it. So I hope that clears it up."

1986-92 Ajax, First Club

Dennis joined the Ajax Youth System when he was 12, it was so competitive there, out of around 200 boys, only a few can make it, no doubt, bergkamp is one of the boys who come through the system. Besides football, the club has also made it clear players should continue their studyies at the same time, so Bergkamp had a very tight schedule. "The normal things for professional players now, I already did when I was 12 years old. I didn't have time to go out. If we had a game on Saturday, I would stay in on Friday night. I didn't smoke, I didn't drink. I stayed in on Saturday nights and Sunday to do my homework so I could train two or three times a week" He said. His superb skill attracted Johan Cruijff ,the Dutch Legend, very much, . Cruijff took Dennis away from the junior-team and asked him to play with the first team. Dennis made his Dutch league debut for Ajax against Roda J.C on the 14th of December 1986 and his first European appearence in the Cup Winner's Cup against Malm FF in 1987. During his days in Ajax, Dennis really helped Ajax quite a lot in winning the Cup Winner's Cup (1987), Dutch Championship (1990), UEFA Cup (1992), and Dutch Cup (1993). Besides, he was three times in a row the Dutch Topscorer and even set a record in the Dutch league by scoring in ten consecutive matches. "In 1990, we won the title. I'd been with the club since I was 12 and had come through the youth system and reserves, and it's drummed into you that it's normal to win things at Ajax. Looking back, I'm very proud of that title win, but at the time it just seemed normal" He said.

By the way, his international career started around this time too. Bergkamp made his debut on 26 September 1990 in a friendly match against Italy, Dennis impressed everybody, and then scored his first international goal against Greece in his second match. His first great international performance appeared in the 92's European Championship, where Dennis played along with Dutch superstar, Gullit, Van Basten, Rijkaard, and Koeman. Finally Holland reached the semi-finals and Bergkamp became the Dutch topscorer with 3 goals.

1992 - 95 Inter Milan, Frustration...

After some successful years playing for Ajax, Dennis surprised pundits by rejecting offers from AC Milan and Barcelona. He, together with Wim Jonk went to FC Internazionale, better known as Inter Milan. He said, "A lot of big clubs in Spain were interested in me, but I'd always wanted to move to Italy so Spain was out of the question. AC Milan also wasn't an option because the likes of Rijkaard and Gullit had already made such an impact there and I wanted to go someplace where I could really contribute to a club - where I could really make an impact and make some history, rather than trying to live up to the reputations of others. That's why I chose to go to Inter Milan." Though he picked up a UEFA Cup winner's medal, his two years ended in frustration. I think, it's because his position did not suit him. (Dennis played as the central striker in Inter Milan, but his best position was right behind the strikers) Besides, Dennis didn't have a good relationship with his teammates, for an example, one of his teammates in Inter Milan, the Uruguayan striker Ruben Sosa treated him more as a rival than a colleague.

Dennis also could not go down well with with the quite-hungry Italian press, "In Italy, you are made to feel like you are public property, everyday they want to talk to you." The press not only wanted to know his football life, but also his private life! When he wouldn't talk to them, they talked to his gardener who told them that one of Italy's most highly paid footballers liked to stay at home with his wife. Although, Dennis really had a difficult time in Inter Milan, he refused to look back on that time as a failure. " I don't think so. Of course I couldn't bring the football I am bringing now or I brought at Ajax, but as a player I think I learnt a lot. I think I wouldn't have been the footballer I am now if I didn't go there" He admitted.

For International Footall, in World Cup 94, Holland reached the quarter finals where she lost to Brazil after what had been a very even game. Bergy admitted probably of all the international tournaments he's taken part in, he had the best memories of World Cup 94. "We stayed in a beautiful, brilliant hotel which was very quiet and relaxing. I have such great memories of that summer."

1995-98 Arsenal, "Double" Season

Having opted to leave, Bergkamp's decision to join Arsenal was made quickly. "I wanted to go to England and as soon as I heard the name Arsenal. I thought of London. I thought of the club, a very successful club." On the 20th of June 1995, Bergkamp moved from Inter to Arsenal FC at 7.5 million pounds. Dennis really had made a good move, although he struggled a little bit just after joining the Gunners until he scored his first premiership goal against Southampton. He started to resume his form and became the sharpest in 97/98 season. "During the first half of the 97-98 season, I played what must be the best fotball of my career. Everything I was trying seemed to work, my body felt fine and everything went for me. I was on form and it was a great feeling" He mainly helped Arsenal to be the double winner.

Besides, he also won a lot of personal honours for himself. Dennis walked away with the Player of the Month awards for August and September, and became the first to register a one-two-three finish in Match of the Day's Goal of the Month. (All these 3 goals came from his famous hat-trick against Leicester). His excellent performance not only brought him numerous monthly awards, but some important awards too. Such as the PFA Footballer of the Year, Football Writer's Association Player of theYear award and Goal of the Season 97/98 Award. Dennis was even named "GOD" by the London people. What a great name! However, his success has been shadowed a little bit by series of suspensions, but Bergkamp insisted that he was being provoked. "I lost my temper during the FA Cup tie with West Ham at Upton Park. Under great provocation, I elbowed Steve Lomas and was sent off. I regret that now but at the time I think it was an understandable reaction"

1998-2001 World Cup 98, the Magic Goal

After getting the Double, the next challenge ahead was World Cup 98 in France. At the beginning of the tournament he had a knee injury, but he got over it and was on fire gradually. In the dramatic game against Argentina, he scored a fabulous goal that all football fans would never forget, and Bergy ranks it as his favourite goal at the official site. "We went out to Brazil again, this time in the semi finals, and that was a little bitter. But I feel it was a wonderful experience for me and of course I scored that goal against Argentina. It had everything you want from a great goal: a big occasion, it was the last minute of the match and a great strike." Since Bergkamp did not have enough rest before the start of 98/99 season, he was not as sharp as he used to be. At the beginning of the season he was on the injury list for most of the time. Arsenal still could keep up with Manchester United, but unfortunately end up with nothing...... Dennis talked about his penatly miss in the FA Cup semi-final replay. "If I had scored that, Manchester United would not have gone to Wembley for the FA Cup Final and so could not have won the treble. Maybe they would have won nothing - who knows?" I think the miss affect Dennis a lot, Wembley has been a place that he dreamed to play since his childhood. Because of injury, he can't play in the final last year, and this year, he couldn't go through to the final stage because of his penatly miss. Since then, Bergkamp seemed to be no longer the penalty taker.......

The 1999-2000 season was just very frustration. Dennis summed up the season, "We went out of the Champions' League at the first stage after losing to Fiorentina. We missed a penalty in a crucial match in that competition and then ended up going out of the FA Cup, Worthington Cup and losing the UEFA Cup final through penalty shoot-outs"

2000-2001 EURO 2000 and on...

Before Euro 2000, Dennis announced that he would hang up his national boots after this home tournament. So, this was his last chance to win something with his country. Oranje went through the group stage first, and then met Yugoslavia in the quarter final, no problem for the Oranje as she stuffed the opponent by 6:1. Unfortunately, Dennis' team has been knocked out by Italy after a penalty shootout although Holland looked like outplaying Italy for the whole match. Bergkamp commented the tournament at his official site, "After last night's bitter disappointment, I've decided to hang up my internatonal boots. I'm pretty tired of the relentless flow of games to be honest. With all the domestic competions we play and the challenge of the Champions' League football I have enough games to play, enough travelling to do. I want to spend more time with my family, but you never know what the future might hold. If I get the itch to come back at any time in the next few months, I 'll let the new coach know. So how do I sum up Euro 2000? I really am lost for words. It's been a pretty rough ending to the tournament for us and I'm not able to give any properassessment of it at all. "

No more international games, Dennis could spend more time on club affairs. But, the situation was not that good, because of injury and lack of form, he was always on the bench, he only had 3 goals that season. But, fans might be grateful Bergy tried to play at new position, right midfield, and he did well. Some rumours have suggested that Bergy would go back to Holland and finish his carreer there after his contract running out at the end of the season. At last, gooners received a good news that Bergy agreed to further extend his contract at Highbury for 2 years. The Gunners reached the quarter-final in the CL, finished 2 nd in the league, and lost to Liverpool bitterly in the FA Cup final, so ended up with nothing again. Dennis commented, "I think despite the low points, we've progressed so much this term and I'm encouraged for our chances nect time around. Reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League was a major improvement on recent European campaigns and we were about eight minutes away from winning the FA Cup. Although finished a way off Manchester United in the Premiership, to finish second in the Premiership, while disappointing, is not a disaster"

Then, during the summer holiday, Wenger has brought in a lot of quality new comers, such as Campbell, Jeffers, etc. Since there are five strikers at Highbury, Wenger has hinted that he will offload one striker. Arsenal has agreed to sell Dennis to Fulham for 2 Million pounds, but the Dutch ace rejected the move at the last minute, insisting he wanted to stay at Highbury and fight for his first team place. He has made a right decision! Coz the brand-new Bergakmp is right here, he is energetic, creative, and enthusiastic!!! He has already scored 2 goals in the openning game against Boro, and also has some nice touches in the games later on. Let's hope Bergkamp can keep up his form for the whole season!