Official Dennis Bergkamp tribute..

Normally I don't like farewell games, or tributes for that matter, but Bergkamp is one of the most loved players of the past decade and deserves his own testimonial.

Dennis Bergkamp will lace up his kicks one more time in his farewell match this saterday, opening the Emirates Stadium. He'll play vs the team where it all begun; Ajax. Marco van Basten and Johan Cruijff are just two legends who will put on the Ajax jersey and try to be Bergkamp's opponent. The game will be shown live here in Holland and in England, including a huge pre-show.

The Arsenal website has a whole section devoted to the Gunner legend right here (http://www.arsenal.com/matchmenu.asp?thisNav=The+Match&fxid=295613)

I'd like to make a top 3 of favorite moments, but he scored so many beauties making it hard, even for me. If I had to pick one, and I'm sure every countrymen will agree with me on that, is his winning goal vs Argentina (http://************/results?search=Bergkamp+argentina&search_type=search_videos) during the QF's at the WC 98.

There's plenty right here (http://************/results?search=Bergkamp&search_type=search_videos) though.


Tid bits:

Nicknames

- Dennis The Menace
- The Iceman
- The GOD
- The Non-flying Dutchman (afraid of flying)..
- Bergie


Famous quotes

"Whenever someones scores a beautiful goal at practice, we call it a 'Bergie-goal'" - Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry

"He makes it so easy for all of us, especially me. He's the best player I've ever played with" - Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry

You can't. You just have to hope he has a bad day. - At the time back to back world defender of the year, Manchester United defender Jaap Stam on how to defend Bergkamp.

"I can't believe how Wenger never brought Bergkamp in [during the CL finals this year], it's not like he's a cripple amature player." - Johan Cruijff

"Whenever someone scores, you'll hear joy, cheers and chants, great noise. But whenever Bergkamp scored a goal, the whole place suddently went silent, as they couldn't believe he just did that." - BBC commentator

"No one has the touch of Dennis Bergkamp. He can't and won't ever be replaced." - Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger

"Find me 100 nicer goals than those of Bergkamp, and I'll show you a picture of the pope ******** in the woods" - BBC commentator

"Best Gunner ever!" - Arsenal fans during "Bergkamp-day".


Please share anything Bergkamp-related in here..

Har har har I got my hands on an Arsenal Home L/S PLAYER'S Version jersey on which I'm putting Bergkamp on it.

SUCKAS

Normally I don't like farewell games, or tributes for that matter, but Bergkamp is one of the most loved players of the past decade and deserves his own testimonial.

Dennis Bergkamp will lace up his kicks one more time in his farewell match this saterday, opening the Emirates Stadium. He'll play vs the team where it all begun; Ajax. Marco van Basten and Johan Cruijff are just two legends who will put on the Ajax jersey and try to be Bergkamp's opponent. The game will be shown live here in Holland and in England, including a huge pre-show.



Wait am I reading this right Van Basten and Cruijff are going to play for Ajax in this game? :confused: Arsenal players

Wait am I reading this right Van Basten and Cruijff are going to play for Ajax in this game? :confused: against Arsenal players

fixed

fixed

The first half it will be normal sides. So Ajax' current squad vs that of Arsenal. In the second half however, Cruijff will coach an Ajax squad assembled by Bergkamp himself. It will include insepperable friend and teammate Wim Jonk, Frank Rijkaard, Edwin van der Sar, Marco van Basten and many more. Mark Overmars, Patrick Viera (must be odd), Ian Wright are just a few confirmed to wear a Gunner shirt.

Here's a nice article about it: http://www.arsenal.com/matchreport.asp?thisNav=fixtures&fxid=295613

Reportedly, the new stadium (~53.000) could've been sold out 5 times.

Isn't the match going to be played at some new airport?

Normally I don't like farewell games, or tributes for that matter, but Bergkamp is one of the most loved players of the past decade and deserves his own testimonial.

Dennis Bergkamp will lace up his kicks one more time in his farewell match this saterday, opening the Emirates Stadium. He'll play vs the team where it all begun; Ajax. Marco van Basten and Johan Cruijff are just two legends who will put on the Ajax jersey and try to be Bergkamp's opponent. The game will be shown live here in Holland and in England, including a huge pre-show.

The Arsenal website has a whole section devoted to the Gunner legend right here (http://www.arsenal.com/matchmenu.asp?thisNav=The+Match&fxid=295613)

I'd like to make a top 3 of favorite moments, but he scored so many beauties making it hard, even for me. If I had to pick one, and I'm sure every countrymen will agree with me on that, is his winning goal vs Argentina (http://************/results?search=Bergkamp+argentina&search_type=search_videos) during the QF's at the WC 98.

There's plenty right here (http://************/results?search=Bergkamp&search_type=search_videos) though.


Tid bits:

Nicknames

- Dennis The Menace
- The Iceman
- The GOD
- The Non-flying Dutchman (afraid of flying)..
- Bergie


Famous quotes

"Whenever someones scores a beautiful goal at practice, we call it a 'Bergie-goal'" - Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry

"He makes it so easy for all of us, especially me. He's the best player I've ever played with" - Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry

You can't. You just have to hope he has a bad day. - At the time back to back world defender of the year, Manchester United defender Jaap Stam on how to defend Bergkamp.

"I can't believe how Wenger never brought Bergkamp in [during the CL finals this year], it's not like he's a cripple amature player." - Johan Cruijff

"Whenever someone scores, you'll hear joy, cheers and chants, great noise. But whenever Bergkamp scored a goal, the whole place suddently went silent, as they couldn't believe he just did that." - BBC commentator

"No one has the touch of Dennis Bergkamp. He can't and won't ever be replaced." - Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger

"Find me 100 nicer goals than those of Bergkamp, and I'll show you a picture of the pope ******** in the woods" - BBC commentator

"Best Gunner ever!" - Arsenal fans during "Bergkamp-day".


Please share anything Bergkamp-related in here..

I'll never forget seeing that goal against Argentina. I was at work, and we had some TV's set up on Display connected to a Satellite dish. I worked that area, and during that 90 minutes or so...well let's just say I didn't help too many customers!:D

I saw that goal, and just started screaming, and had more than my share of strange looks.

Still I would say it was the best goal I ever saw during a live game (considering the situation...WC quarters, scored with about 5 minutes left). Amazing player, and would have still been a very useful part of the Dutch team at this years World Cup. He will be missed (especially since I'm a Netherlands, Ajax, and Arsenal fan!!)

The first half it will be normal sides. So Ajax' current squad vs that of Arsenal. In the second half however, Cruijff will coach an Ajax squad assembled by Bergkamp himself. It will include insepperable friend and teammate Wim Jonk, Frank Rijkaard, Edwin van der Sar, Marco van Basten and many more. Mark Overmars, Patrick Viera (must be odd), Ian Wright are just a few confirmed to wear a Gunner shirt.

Here's a nice article about it: http://www.arsenal.com/matchreport.asp?thisNav=fixtures&fxid=295613

Reportedly, the new stadium (~53.000) could've been sold out 5 times.

Oh ic, sounds interesting. Maybe Van Basten still has one good game left in him ;)

Here's another nice article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/5199850.stm

I think he was signed by Bruce Rioch, and it was the only decent thing that guy did as the manager of Arsenal.
When he first started playing games he was just so far above anyone else, and they had a former Arsenal Manager ( I think) on TV saying it won't last etc and he started well for Inter and started missing the target and so forth, and I got in to quite an argument with my Dad that the former manager was wrong and he was going to be quality for years, I think I won that argument!
I am going to miss him, as you always got the feeling he was going to do something special whenever he got the ball. Games will be certainly duller without him about.
(And all this is without even talking about his Dutch Career, for both Ajax and the National Side, I could wax lyrical about that goal against Argentina for hours)

I think he was signed by Bruce Rioch

Correct.

What do you want to bet he plays a year or two in the States?

What do you want to bet he plays a year or two in the States?

Hmmm. Haven't heard anything about that. I don't think he will but it wouldn't shock me if he did.

I wonder where Bergkamp ranks on the All-time list. He was no doubt one of the greatest players of my lifetime but he can't touch the Dutch top trio (Cruijff, Lenstra, van Basten) and I'm not sure where he ranks between Neeskens, van Hanagem, Rep, Koeman, Rijkaard and Gullit. All I know is that Bergkamp was a special player. You won't ever find another one like him, that's for sure.

It's a shame he missed out on most hardware. He was the Dutch all-time leading goalscorer in 1998, a year the Dutch probably should have won the WC based on form and talent. Missed out on the Golden Ball twice, definitely should have won it in 1997/1998 and afer turning Arsenal into an elite side, he couldn't win the CL.

Multiple Eredivisie MVP, Premiership MVP and European player of the year in 1993 but I don't think it's enough for a player of Bergkamp's calibre.

Ah, and no he won't play in the States. He's 37 and on his last breath. He used to say that he wanted to finish his career with Ajax, but even that is out of the question right now.

Great testimonial. Bergkamp was really the center of the universe in this game. The enterings of both Cruijff and van Basten nearly brought tears to his eyes as they came totally unexpected for him. Van Basten is still a freaking genius with the ball btw. He had some nice moves..

Anyway, so ends the career of one of the All-time greats, a player, who purely based on technique, might even be the best there ever was.

Thanks for the memories..

Van Basten is still a freaking genius with the ball btw. He had some nice moves..

Anyway, so ends the career of one of the All-time greats, a player, who purely based on technique, might even be the best there ever was.


I only caught a glimpse of the second half but saw Van Basten take Arsenal's number 5 "for a ride". Too bad he had to shoot with his left foot.

Let's not get carried away, he's not the best ever technically.

What do you want to bet he plays a year or two in the States?

Probably none, considering the flights and distances involved.

Bergkamp is the man, one of the best. :clap:

I wonder where Bergkamp ranks on the All-time list. He was no doubt one of the greatest players of my lifetime but he can't touch the Dutch top trio (Cruijff, Lenstra, van Basten) and I'm not sure where he ranks between Neeskens, van Hanagem, Rep, Koeman, Rijkaard and Gullit. All I know is that Bergkamp was a special player. You won't ever find another one like him, that's for sure.

I cannot speak for all of the players you mentioned, but he was defintiely better than Rijkaard, and Koeman. I prefer him to Gullit personally... he is the best dutch player I have seen outside of Cruiijff and Van Basten.

He changed arsenal for ever, we would never be an elite team today if it weren't for the signing of Dennis Bergkamp. Probably top 3 in premiership history (Shearer, Cantona, Bergkamp).

I agree that the dutch should have won in 98. So much in-fighting though.

Favourite goal is when he was facing away from goal, spun the ball with the outside of his foot, turned the other way past the defender to meet the ball... maybe the best goal ever in the premiership.

Probably none, considering the flights and distances involved.

That is the only thing that ever upset me as a fan about Bergkamp, we definitely suffered without him away in Europe. Ensured he wouldn't win another European footballer of the year.

Koeman was pretty amazing, and stands out as a major missing piece from this year's Netherlands team: solid, comfortable defenders. (aside from Gio)

Plus, Ronald could really blast away in those set-piece situations.

It's hard to compare Koeman and Bergkamp because their postitions were so different. Both are definitely better than Rijkaard.

I don't think there's such a big gap between Rijkaard and Koeman. Koeman still is the highest scoring defenseman to have ever played the game, but Rijkaard was one of those special glue-players. He was a real engine, being able to play plenty positions, not to mention his leadership. Besides, his spitting incident made him an instant legend here in Holland.. ;)

Koeman still is the highest scoring defenseman to have ever played the game

In what sense?
Ronald Koeman scored 14 goals with his NT.
Laurent Blanc scored 16 with his NT.

And Blanc has seasons of 18, 15, 14, 13, 12 and 11 goals (counting only league games, without european goals). He had more than 150 goals in his career in official competitions.

It's hard to compare Koeman and Bergkamp because their postitions were so different. Both are definitely better than Rijkaard.Go check what Rijkaard won as a player...No way Koeman was better than him, and you can't compare Frankie and Dennis because they played in complete different positions.

Besides, his spitting incident made him an instant legend here in Holland.. ;)I was at the stadium...and considering I'm a Milan fan, I found it pretty funny...;)

Go check what Rijkaard won as a player...No way Koeman was better than him

This coming from an Italian supporter, not to mention an AC Milan fan.

Not exactly surprising. There were a few other star players on those teams as well.

In what sense?
Ronald Koeman scored 14 goals with his NT.
Laurent Blanc scored 16 with his NT.

And Blanc has seasons of 18, 15, 14, 13, 12 and 11 goals (counting only league games, without european goals). He had more than 150 goals in his career in official competitions.


Ronald Koeman scored 193 goals in official competitions. So there you have it, I'm not making this up. He scored in double digits 10 times, including an 21 goal season in '88. Still stands as the highest scoring defenseman ever, and I doubt it will change anytime soon.

Interesting fact:

He scored more goals for Ajax in less than half the games he played for Arsenal. (although he was used diffrently there I iirc)


:bow: Great great great player. Heh.. i remember him stomping on some guys too. In a slightly Zidane way (no, no headbutts ;) ). Can't remember the circumstances though.:dunno: