Who was the “star” in that Euro 88 team? It was probably the first tournament I watched with any interest, I remember the 86 World Cup but was more interested in riding my bike and trying to climb trees at that age but by the time 88 came around I was fully on board. I’m not sure if I was aware at the time or it’s just a lifetime of memories being cloudy now but from England it always seemed like the Dutch produced incredible players (this continued throughout the 90s and 00s) but to my eyes in 1988 Ruud Gullit was the man. I was so excited when he came to play in the Premier League and he rocked up at Villa Park, even if it was when he was trying to be a sweeper but spending most of his time as a No. 6.
Gullit was the main man, mostly because of his charisma and natural leadership qualities, with his drive probably making Koeman a close second. Van Basten had just returned and noone really knew how sharp, capable or good he was. But he was always a bit of an enigma, he could sometims isolate himslef a bit from his teammates. Everyone knew he was leading up to something special in training though, Gullit claims he said ‘remember lads, let’s all just give van Basten some space to figure it out for us’ in the tunnel to lighten the mood before the Germany game.
People sometimes forget how mad talented Gullit was and how good he could still be after signing for Chelsea. He was played as a sweeper at first, which was a mistake. He hadn’t played there in some time and the game (not to mention his legs) had changed. But after moving him into midfield he was on fire. One of the first huge superstars to come to England to prove himself, he became second in the player of the season vote, behind Cantona who was on top of his game.
Gullit is an amazing story teller by the way, he used to have a podcast and visit various talkshows where he would dish out the most insane anecdotes. If only half of them are half factual he has had one of the most colourful private lives of any footballer ever.
Who was the “star” in that Euro 88 team? It was probably the first tournament I watched with any interest, I remember the 86 World Cup but was more interested in riding my bike and trying to climb trees at that age but by the time 88 came around I was fully on board. I’m not sure if I was aware at the time or it’s just a lifetime of memories being cloudy now but from England it always seemed like the Dutch produced incredible players (this continued throughout the 90s and 00s) but to my eyes in 1988 Ruud Gullit was the man. I was so excited when he came to play in the Premier League and he rocked up at Villa Park, even if it was when he was trying to be a sweeper but spending most of his time as a No. 6.
Gullit was the main man, mostly because of his charisma and natural leadership qualities, with his drive probably making Koeman a close second. Van Basten had just returned and noone really knew how sharp, capable or good he was. But he was always a bit of an enigma, he could sometims isolate himslef a bit from his teammates. Everyone knew he was leading up to something special in training though, Gullit claims he said ‘remember lads, let’s all just give van Basten some space to figure it out for us’ in the tunnel to lighten the mood before the Germany game.
People sometimes forget how mad talented Gullit was and how good he could still be after signing for Chelsea. He was played as a sweeper at first, which was a mistake. He hadn’t played there in some time and the game (not to mention his legs) had changed. But after moving him into midfield he was on fire. One of the first huge superstars to come to England to prove himself, he became second in the player of the season vote, behind Cantona who was on top of his game.
Gullit is an amazing story teller by the way, he used to have a podcast and visit various talkshows where he would dish out the most insane anecdotes. If only half of them are half factual he has had one of the most colourful private lives of any footballer ever.