The Non-Flying Dutchman

The well turned out fellow above is one Dennis Bergkamp, born this day 1960 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In the picture above he is wearing the Arsenal shirt, and his performance whilst wearing that shirt is what puts him on our hero podium for the day. He was a product of the famed Ajax youth system, joining the club at the grand, old age of 12. He went on to make 185 appearances for the club, and scored 103 goals. Not a bad return at all in today's game. In 1993, he signed for Inter Milan for 12 million pounds, a figure which made him the second most expensive footballer in the world at the time. After two unhappy, and for him, rather unproductive season in Italy, he signed for the Arsenal for 7.5 million quid, and when on to be worth so very much more than that. It took him seven games to "break his duck" in English football, but after he did he went on to score, score, and score. He banged in 87 goals in his 315 appearances with Arsenal, and scored the greatest goal I have ever seen scored in a World Cup game against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. YouTube it and gasp in awe at his control, and his finishing. He scored a total of 37 goals in 79 games with the Dutch national side, and remains one of my favourite players of all time. He was famous for his fear of flying, leading him to be nicknamed the "non Flying Dutchman." So, for all those glorious goals for the Arsenal, and for all the goals he created, Dennis Bergkamp (May 10th, 1969-present) you are my (257th) hero of the day.