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Bergkamp’s destiny was always bound up with great football - right from the day in May 1969 when his family sought to register baby Bergkamp as “Dennis” after the father’s favourite player, Denis Law.
The register refused to accept the name on the grounds that it was too similar to the girl’s name Denise. But he compromised to allow “Dennis”. Bergkamp’s career has hardly suffered.
He made his league debut as a 17-year- old for Ajax against Roda Kerkade in December 1986 and then won a European medal as a substitute when the Dutch giants beat Lokomotiv Leipzig 1-0 in the 1987 European Cup-winners Cup Final in Athens.
Bergkamp’s talent was such that Ajax even obtained special dispensation form his school to fly him out on the day of another Cup-winners Cup tie, against Swedish club Malmo, because the match clashed with a school examination.
In 1987-88 Bergkamp scored in 10 consecutive league games, a Dutch record. He and Ajax were well on the way to winning the championship and, in 1990, Bergkamp made his national team debut as a sub against Italy. Two months later, in a match against Greece, Bergkamp scored his first senior level goal for his country.
Bergkamp was voted Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1991 and won another European medal the following year when Ajax beat Torino in the UEFA Cup Final. Unsurprisingly, he attracted the attention of big-money clubs around Europe and soon was on his on his way to Italy.
His record promised goals aplenty. Some 103 goals in 185 league games for Ajax encouraged the fans of Internazionale to expect great things from the man signed in a joint £12 million deal along with old friend and midfield provider Wim Jonk. Bergkamp did win the UEFA Cup with Inter in 1994, but what the tifosi really wanted was the league title and when that proved elusive, Bergkamp moved to Arsenal for £7.5 million.
He adapted quickly to the lifestyle and football in England and, in 1997, signed a new contract which could keep him at Highbury for the rest of his career. Bergkamp formed a fearsome partnership with England striker Ian Wright.
In September 1997, Bergkamp collected a unique honour when three of his more spectacular strikes were selected as the first, second and third best goals in the BBC’s Goal of the Month competition.
That’s the Bergkamp whom Holland hope to see in the World Cup finals.
-From the official book of World Cup-
Famous quotes:
"If Ryan Giggs is worth 20 millions, Bergkamp is worth a hundred" Marco Van Basten
