Saturday debate: Who is the greatest Dutchman to have played in England?

Steve Curry

The finest individual Dutch performance came from Johan Cruyff in Holland’s 2-0 victory over England at Wembley in 1977 when their Total Football was in full flow. He was the conductor, pointing where he expected his team-mates to run before delivering devastatingly accurate passes.

However, if that was a memorable single performance, for lasting impact on the English game the choice has to be Dennis Bergkamp.



The master: Johann Cruyff was a star for Holland

His signing by Bruce Rioch from Inter in 1995 was to transform Arsenal, though it was Arsene Wenger who honed his talent as a support striker, giving rise to the expression playing ‘in the hole’.



His reading of play from that position and his deft touch was instrumental in Arsenal winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.



Hope Powell

Dennis Bergkamp. When he came to Arsenal I remember watching him and thinking he didn’t really look that good.



But he just grew and grew and grew. He was so talented but it was the subtlety and finesse with which he played, showing such style and grace.



Matt Barlow

It’s hard to get beyond Dennis Bergkamp — a genius, scorer of some of the most beautiful goals ever seen in this country. Van Persie may be moving into the same territory.

Neil Ashton

Ruud Gullit’s arrival led to some of the best players of that generation coming to play in England. The former European Footballer of the Year brought a touch of class to the cluttered and clumsy midfields.



Gullit personified the sexy football that he famously described when he managed Chelsea and Newcastle.

Iconic look: Ruud Gullit was easy to spot with his famous dreadlocks

Matt Lawton

Dennis Bergkamp — Bruce Rioch’s first signing as Arsenal boss and a wonderful player. My favourite Bergkamp moment was that brilliant goal against Argentina at France 98.



He’s also the subject of one of my favourite pieces of journalism, when his refusal to fly to European games prompted a former colleague to take a life-size cardboard cut-out of him on an extraordinary train journey to Kiev and so prove — well sort of — that he could have got there for the game.

Like the man, it was pure genius.





Martin Keown

Dennis Bergkamp was a special player but let’s not forget Marc Overmars. His pace, directness and intelligence terrorised defences.



I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves because of the way he left. Gary Neville was delighted when he joined Barca.



It was a huge relief for all defenders in the Premier League.

Flying Dutchman: Marc Overmars' pace was a real threat in the Premier League

Ian Ladyman

Ruud van Nistelrooy. Ask any manager and they’ll say that the hardest vacancy to fill is that of centre forward. In Van Nistelrooy, though, Sir Alex Ferguson managed to buy the complete striker in 2001.

Goal machine: Ruud Van Nistelrooy was lethal for Manchester United

Lee Clayton

I'll tell you who wasn’t: Marco Boogers. He came to West Ham, got sent off at Manchester United and went to live in a caravan, so the urban myth says.



Growing up, I was fascinated to see how terrific the Ipswich pair of Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen were.



In later years it has been Dennis Bergkamp, but Arnold Johannes Hyacinthus Muhren created a tempo and could pass a football. A Dutch Hoddle.

Ruud Gullit

Dennis Bergkamp was good but Frans Thijssen was the pioneer, the inspiration for other Dutch players. We knew he was a good player in Holland but we didn’t know lots about him and then he went to Ipswich and won Player of the Year and the UEFA Cup. He was a great.

The greatest? Dennis Bergkamp had a huge impact on Arsenal and the Premier League

Jeff Powell

A gallery of artistic Dutch footballers have decorated some English club teams, with Dennis Bergkamp the best of them. But when it comes to deciding the finest to have graced the football fields of England there can be only one choice. Johan Cruyff, who came here with Ajax and Holland, is the most gifted of all the Dutch masters.



