Dennis Bergkamp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dennis Bergkamp

Bergkamp at the unveiling of his statue at the Emirates Stadium in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth	(1969-05-10) 10 May 1969 (age 56)
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.83 m
Playing position	Forward, attacking midfielder
Youth career
1981–1986	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1986–1993	Ajax	185	(103)
1993–1995	Inter Milan	52	(11)
1995–2006	Arsenal	315	(87)
Total		552	(201)
National team
1989	Netherlands U21	2	(0)
1990–2000	Netherlands	79	(37)
Teams managed
2011–2017	Ajax (assistant)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp (born 10 May 1969) is a Dutch professional football coach and former player. He is known as one of the best players of his time. Many people also think he is one of the greatest forwards in Premier League history. He is also considered one of the best players ever for Ajax and Arsenal.

Bergkamp started playing football in Amsterdam. He joined the famous Ajax club when he was 11 years old. He played his first professional game in 1986. His amazing skills quickly got him called up to the Netherlands national team in 1990. This made many big European clubs notice him.

In 1993, Bergkamp moved to the Italian club Inter Milan. After two difficult seasons there, he joined Arsenal in 1995. This move helped him become a top player again. At Arsenal, he helped the team win three Premier League titles. One of these was a special season where they didn't lose any games! He also won three FA Cup trophies.

For the Netherlands national team, Bergkamp played in Euro 1992. He scored three goals and helped his country reach the semi-finals. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he scored an amazing winning goal against Argentina. This goal is still remembered as one of the best in World Cup history.

Football experts like Pelé have called Bergkamp one of the greatest living players. He was also chosen for the English Football Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2021, he joined the Premier League Hall of Fame. One of his most famous goals was against Newcastle United in 2002. He flicked the ball around a defender and then calmly scored. This goal was voted the best Premier League goal in the league's first 25 years.

Early Life and Football Start

Dennis Bergkamp was born in Amsterdam. He was the youngest of four sons. His father, an electrician, loved football. He named Dennis after a Scottish football star, Denis Law. To follow Dutch naming rules, an extra "n" was added to his name.

Dennis grew up in a working-class area. His family wanted to achieve a middle-class life. He was raised as a Roman Catholic and went to church often. Later, he said church visits were not for him, but he still believes in his faith. As a child, his football heroes were Glenn Hoddle and Johan Cruyff. He admired Hoddle's gentle touch with the ball. Cruyff even coached him when he was 12 years old.

Club Career Highlights

Ajax: Learning and Growing

Bergkamp playing for Ajax in 1989

Bergkamp joined Ajax's youth team when he was 11. This club is famous for training young players. His manager, Johan Cruyff, gave him his first professional game on 14 December 1986. Ajax won that game 2–0. Bergkamp scored his first goal for the club in February 1987. Ajax won that match 6–0. He played 23 games in his first season. He even played in a European match, which earned him praise. Ajax won the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup that year.

In the following seasons, Bergkamp became a key player for Ajax. The club had a very successful period. They won the Eredivisie league title in the 1989–90 season. This was their first league title in five years. The next season, Bergkamp scored 29 goals in 36 matches. He was the top scorer in the league.

Ajax also won the 1992 UEFA Cup Final in 1992. They beat Torino because of the away goals rule. In 1993, they won the KNVB Cup. Bergkamp was the top scorer in the Eredivisie from 1991 to 1993. He was also named Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1992 and 1993. Overall, he scored 122 goals in 239 games for Ajax.

Inter Milan: A Difficult Time

Bergkamp holding the UEFA Europa League Trophy after Inter Milan's win in the 1994 UEFA Cup final

Bergkamp's great performances at Ajax caught the eye of many European clubs. He was interested in moving to Italy. He thought Serie A was "the biggest league at the time." On 16 February 1993, Bergkamp agreed to join Inter Milan. The transfer fee was about £7.1 million. His Ajax teammate Wim Jonk also joined Inter.

Bergkamp played his first game for Inter on 29 August 1993. He scored his first goal for the club in September 1993. However, he found it hard to score against the strong Italian defences. He only scored seven more goals in the league that season. Inter had a tough league season, finishing 13th. But they did well in the UEFA Cup. They won the competition, beating Austria Salzburg in the final. Bergkamp was the top scorer in this competition with eight goals.

In his second season at Inter, Bergkamp had a disappointing time. He struggled with injuries and tiredness. He scored only 5 goals in 26 games. Off the field, he found it difficult with the Italian media and fans. His quiet personality was seen as not caring. Because he wasn't playing well, one Italian newspaper even renamed an award for the worst player of the week after him. Inter finished sixth in the league. In February 1995, a new owner, Massimo Moratti, bought the club. Bergkamp's future at Inter became unclear.

Arsenal: Becoming a Legend

Bergkamp left Inter and joined Arsenal in June 1995. The transfer fee was around £7.5 million. He was the first player signed by Arsenal's new manager, Bruce Rioch. His arrival was a big deal for Arsenal. He was a famous international player who was expected to bring a new style of attacking football to the club.

Bergkamp played his first game for Arsenal in August 1995. At first, he found it hard to get used to English football. He didn't score in his first six league games. This made the newspapers make fun of him. But on 23 September 1995, he scored his first two goals for Arsenal. He finished his first season with 11 goals in 33 games. Arsenal finished fifth in the league.

The arrival of Arsène Wenger as Arsenal manager in September 1996 changed everything for Bergkamp. Wenger saw Bergkamp's amazing talent. He wanted Bergkamp to be the main player in Arsenal's attack. Both Wenger and Bergkamp liked an attacking style of football. Wenger also made the team focus more on fitness and health, which Bergkamp liked. Even though he played fewer games in the 1996–97 season, Bergkamp was very important to the team. He made 13 assists (passes that lead to goals).

Bergkamp was key in the next season when Arsenal won both the league and the FA Cup. He was the club's top scorer with 22 goals. Many people thought Arsenal couldn't win the league, but they caught up to Manchester United. In August 1997, Bergkamp scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal. His third goal was amazing. He controlled the ball with one touch, flicked it past a defender, and then scored. After the game, the opposing manager said it was "the best hat-trick I've ever seen." Bergkamp won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award that season. This award is given by other professional players.

In the 1998–99 season, Bergkamp had another great year. Arsenal didn't win the league, losing out to Manchester United on the last day. But Bergkamp was the club's second-highest scorer with 16 goals. He also made the most assists in the Premier League. In an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United, Bergkamp missed a penalty kick. After that, he never took another penalty in his career.

Bergkamp playing for Arsenal in 2001

The 1999–2000 season was tough for Arsenal and Bergkamp. They finished second in the league. They also lost the 2000 UEFA Cup Final. Bergkamp signed a new contract in December 2000. In the 2000–01 season, Arsenal finished second again. With new strikers like Thierry Henry joining, Bergkamp played fewer games.

Success finally came in the 2001–02 season. Arsenal won the league and the FA Cup again. Bergkamp played in 33 league games and set up 15 goals. One of his most famous goals was against Newcastle United in March 2002. He received a pass with his back to goal. He then flicked the ball around the defender and scored. Wenger called the goal "unbelievable."

Bergkamp with Arsenal in 2003

In the 2002–03 season, Bergkamp scored his 100th goal for Arsenal. This happened in an FA Cup game in January 2003. Arsenal won the FA Cup again that year. On 20 July 2003, Bergkamp signed a one-year contract extension. The 2003–04 season was historic for Bergkamp and Arsenal. They won the league title without losing a single game! This team was called "The Invincibles."

Bergkamp played in 29 league games in the 2004–05 season. Arsenal finished second in the league. In a game against Everton, Bergkamp had an amazing performance. He scored one goal and assisted three others in a 7–0 win. Arsenal fans chanted "one more year" for him. He signed a one-year contract extension after Arsenal won the 2005 FA Cup Final.

The Emirates Stadium filling up during Bergkamp's testimonial match between Arsenal and Ajax in July 2006

In Bergkamp's final season at Arsenal, the team finished fourth in the league. Arsenal honored Bergkamp with a special "Bergkamp Day" on 15 April 2006. Fans wore orange T-shirts with "DB10" on them. Bergkamp came on as a substitute and set up the winning goal. His last goal for Arsenal was in this match. He was an unused substitute in his final match for Arsenal, the Champions League final, which Arsenal lost.

Bergkamp was the star of the first match at Arsenal's new stadium, the Emirates Stadium. On 22 July 2006, a special game was played in his honor. Arsenal played his old club, Ajax. Bergkamp started the match with his father and son. Many famous former players from both clubs played in the second half. Arsenal won the match 2–1.

International Career

Bergkamp played his first game for the Netherlands national team in September 1990. He scored his first goal for the team in November 1990. He was chosen for Euro 1992. He scored three goals in the tournament. His team reached the semi-finals but lost to Denmark. Bergkamp was named in the Team of the Tournament for his great performances.

Bergkamp lines up prior to a Euro 1996 match against Scotland

Bergkamp scored five goals in the qualifiers for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He played in every game for the national team at the World Cup in the United States. He scored against Morocco and the Republic of Ireland. He also scored against Brazil, but the Netherlands lost 3–2. At Euro 1996, Bergkamp scored against Switzerland. The Netherlands were knocked out after a penalty shootout against France.

In November 1996, he scored his first hat-trick for the national team against Wales. The Netherlands qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Bergkamp scored three goals in the competition. His most famous goal was the winning goal in the last minute of the quarter-final against Argentina. He controlled a long pass, flicked the ball through a defender's legs, and then scored. This goal was his 36th for the national team. It made him the record scorer for the Netherlands at that time.

In the semi-finals, the Netherlands lost to Brazil on penalties. Bergkamp was part of the All-Star team of the tournament. On 9 October 1999, Bergkamp scored his final goal for the Netherlands against Brazil. The Netherlands were co-hosts for Euro 2000. Bergkamp didn't score in this tournament, but he assisted three goals. The Netherlands lost to Italy in the semi-finals on penalties. After this defeat, Bergkamp announced he was retiring from international football. He wanted to focus on his club career.

How He Played

Style of Play

Bergkamp learned football in the Dutch "Total Football" system. This style teaches players to be good in many positions. Players try out every position on the field before finding their best one. Bergkamp played in "every position apart from goalie." He felt this helped him understand how defenders think. When he first started, he played on the right wing for three years.

At Inter Milan, Bergkamp played as a main striker. But he found it hard to work with his attacking partner. He was also a quiet person. The Italian media said he lacked consistency. When he joined Arsenal in 1995, he played in his favorite position. This was as a creative second striker, playing behind a main striker. He formed great partnerships with players like Ian Wright, Nicolas Anelka, and Thierry Henry.

Bergkamp was known for being calm and scoring goals. But he was also great at playing in a free role behind a striker. He was like a playmaking attacking midfielder. He had excellent ball skills and was very creative. He could drop deep, link up play, and move all over the attack. This made it hard for defenders to mark him. He had an amazing first touch, quick feet, and great dribbling skills. He could beat defenders easily. His vision and passing ability were also excellent. He often said he preferred assisting goals more than scoring them.

Sometimes, Bergkamp was accused of diving or being a "dirty player." This was usually for reacting to players who had challenged him. His former manager, Wenger, disagreed with these claims. Bergkamp said his aggression often came from frustration.

Coaching Career

After retiring from playing, Bergkamp said he would not become a coach. He turned down a job to scout for Arsenal. Instead, he wanted to travel and spend time with his family. However, in April 2008, he started a coaching course for former Dutch international players. He also took on a trainee role at Ajax.

In October 2008, Bergkamp was appointed assistant coach for the Netherlands B team. For the 2008–09 season, he returned to Ajax in a formal coaching role. He was in charge of the D2 (U12) youth team. In December 2010, he became assistant manager for Ajax's A1 (U19) youth team.

In August 2011, Bergkamp became assistant manager for the main Ajax team. However, when a new head coach arrived, his role changed. He no longer sat on the bench during games. Instead, he focused more on training and helping young players join the first team. He was let go from his role in December 2017.

Personal Life

Dennis Bergkamp married Henrita Ruizendaal on 16 June 1993. They have four children: Estelle, Mitchel, Yasmin, and Saffron. His son Mitchel is also a footballer. His daughter Estelle is the partner of footballer Donny van de Beek. They had their first daughter in April 2022.

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

Dennis Bergkamp speaks Dutch, English, and Italian fluently.

Fear of Flying

Bergkamp's nickname is the "Non-Flying Dutchman" because he has a fear of flying. Some people thought this fear started after a scary incident on a plane with the Netherlands team in 1994. The plane's engine cut out during a flight. Another time, a flight was delayed because a journalist joked about having a bomb.

In his 2013 autobiography, Bergkamp said his fear actually started during his first season at Inter Milan. The team often traveled to away games in small airplanes. After the 1994 World Cup, Bergkamp decided he would never fly again. He even thought about getting help for his fear. He said, "I've got this problem and I have to live with it. I can't do anything about it, it is a psychological thing and I can't explain it."

This fear made it hard for him to play in away games in European competitions. He also couldn't travel with the national team sometimes. For some matches, he would travel by car or train. But for other games, he couldn't travel at all.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Bergkamp before an international match in 1996

Scores and results list Netherlands goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bergkamp goal.

List of international goals scored by Dennis Bergkamp

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	21 November 1990	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Greece	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
2	19 December 1990	Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta	Malta	5–0	8–0	UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
3				7–0
4	11 September 1991	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Poland	1–1	1–1	Friendly
5	4 December 1991	Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece	Greece	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
6	27 May 1992	Trendwork Arena, Sittard, Netherlands	Austria	2–0	3–2	Friendly
7	12 June 1992	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Scotland	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 1992
8	18 June 1992	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Germany	3–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 1992
9	22 June 1992	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Denmark	1–1	2–2	UEFA Euro 1992
10	9 September 1992	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Italy	1–0	3–2	Friendly
11				2–0
12	23 September 1992	Ullevaal, Oslo, Norway	Norway	1–1	1–2	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
13	28 April 1993	Wembley Stadium, London, England	England	1–2	2–2	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
14	13 October 1993	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	England	2–0	2–0	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
15	17 November 1993	Stadion Miejski, Poznań, Poland	Poland	1–0	3–1	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
16				2–1
17	1 June 1994	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Hungary	1–1	7–1	Friendly
18				7–1
19	12 June 1994	Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada	Canada	1–0	3–0	Friendly
20	29 June 1994	Citrus Bowl, Orlando, United States	Morocco	1–0	2–1	1994 FIFA World Cup
21	4 July 1994	Citrus Bowl, Orlando, United States	Republic of Ireland	1–0	2–0	1994 FIFA World Cup
22	9 July 1994	Cotton Bowl, Dallas, United States	Brazil	1–2	2–3	1994 FIFA World Cup
23	29 March 1995	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Malta	2–0	4–0	UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
24	4 June 1996	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Republic of Ireland	1–1	3–1	Friendly
25	13 June 1996	Villa Park, Birmingham, England	Switzerland	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 1996
26	9 November 1996	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Wales	1–0	7–1	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
27				6–0
28				7–1
29	12 December 1996	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Belgium	1–0	3–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
30	26 February 1997	Parc des Princes, Paris, France	France	1–0	1–2	Friendly
31	30 April 1997	Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino	San Marino	1–0	6–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
32				6–0
33	6 September 1997	Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Belgium	3–1	3–1	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
34	20 June 1998	Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France	South Korea	3–0	5–0	1998 FIFA World Cup
35	29 June 1998	Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse, France	Yugoslavia	1–0	2–1	1998 FIFA World Cup
36	4 July 1998	Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France	Argentina	2–1	2–1	1998 FIFA World Cup
37	9 October 1999	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Brazil	1–0	2–2	Friendly

Honours and Awards

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 1989–90
• KNVB Cup: 1986–87, 1992–93
• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1986–87; runner-up: 1987–88
• UEFA Cup: 1991–92

Inter Milan

• UEFA Cup: 1993–94

Arsenal

• Premier League: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04
• FA Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05; runner-up: 2000–01
• FA Charity/Community Shield: 1998, 2002, 2004
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2005–06
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 1999–2000

Individual Awards

Bergkamp statue outside the Emirates Stadium

• Dutch Football Talent of the Year: 1990
• Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1991, 1992
• Eredivisie top scorer: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1992
• IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer: 1992
• Ballon d'Or runner-up: 1993; third place: 1992
• FIFA World Player of the Year bronze award: 1993, 1997
• UEFA Cup top scorer: 1993–94
• Arsenal Player of the Season: 1996–97
• Most assists in the Premier League: 1998–99 (shared)
• Premier League Player of the Month: August 1997, September 1997, March 2002, February 2004
• PFA Team of the Year: 1997–98 Premier League
• FWA Footballer of the Year: 1997–98
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1997–98
• BBC Goal of the Season: 1997–98, 2001–02
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998
• FIFA 100
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2007
• Premier League Hall of Fame: 2021

Images for kids

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  Robot image

See also

In Spanish: Dennis Bergkamp para niños