Ruud Gullit

Ruud Gullit (born Rudi Dil on 1 September 1962) is a Dutch former footballer and manager. He could play in several positions, won the Ballon d'Or in 1987, and captained the Netherlands for many years, leading them to victory at UEFA Euro 1988.

In 1987, Gullit moved from PSV to AC Milan for a world-record transfer fee. Fellow Dutch players Marco van Basten joined at the same time, and Frank Rijkaard arrived a year later. Together, they won two Serie A titles and two European Cups, though Rijkaard missed the 1987–88 league title. Gullit also received individual honors: the Ballon d'Or and World Soccer Player of the Year awards in 1987 and 1989.

In 1995, Gullit signed for Chelsea and became their player-manager the next year. In his first season as manager, Chelsea won the FA Cup—the club's first major trophy in 26 years—making Gullit the first foreign manager to win the competition.

Besides Euro 1988, Gullit played for the Netherlands at the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1992. In 2004, he was named one of the top 125 greatest living footballers as part of FIFA's centenary celebration.

Gullit was born Rudi Dil in Amsterdam to George Gullit, a Surinamese immigrant who arrived with Frank Rijkaard's father, and Ria Dil, a Dutch woman from the Jordaan district. The family lived in a single split-level room at the top of a small apartment building. His father taught economics at a local school; his mother worked as a custodian at the Rijksmuseum.

He developed his football skills playing street football on the Rozendwarsstraat. His first club was Meerboys, which he joined as a junior in 1970. At age ten, he moved from Jordaan to Amsterdam Old West, where he played street football with Rijkaard. He then joined DWS and caught the attention of the Dutch youth team, playing alongside future internationals Erwin Koeman, Ronald Koeman, and Wim Kieft. While at DWS, he began using his father's surname, Gullit, thinking it sounded more like a footballer's name.

Gullit signed his first professional contract with HFC Haarlem on 22 September 1978, coached by former West Bromwich Albion player Barry Hughes. He made his debut at 16 years and 11 months, then the youngest player in Eredivisie history. Haarlem finished last in his first season but won the Eerste Divisie title the next year, with Gullit named league best player. In 1981–82, Haarlem finished fourth and qualified for Europe for the only time. That season, Gullit scored what he later called his finest goal: dribbling past four defenders and the goalkeeper against Utrecht. Hughes called him the "Dutch Duncan Edwards." In total, Gullit made 91 league appearances for Haarlem, scoring 32 goals.

English clubs Arsenal and Ipswich Town considered signing him, but managers Terry Neill and Bobby Robson passed. Neill later said £30,000 was too much for "this wild kid." Gullit moved to Feyenoord in 1982, making 85 league appearances and scoring 31 goals. In his second season, he played alongside Johan Cruyff, with Wim van Hanegem as assistant manager. Feyenoord missed major honors his first year but won the league and cup double the next. Gullit was named Dutch Footballer of the Year. At Feyenoord, he moved from sweeper to a more advanced midfield role. He also faced racial abuse: manager Thijs Libregts allegedly called him "blackie" and criticized him for laziness, though Libregts said it was just a nickname. While playing Feyenoord at St Mirren in September 1983, he was racially abused and spat on by Scottish fans, calling it "the saddest night of my life."

In 1985, Gullit moved to PSV for 1.2 million Dutch guilders, scoring 46 goals in 68 league appearances. He was again Footballer of the Year in 1986 as PSV won the Eredivisie, repeating the feat the next year.

Gullit signed for AC Milan in 1987 for a world-record 18 million guilders, replacing Ray Wilkins. Club president Silvio Berlusconi aimed to revive Milan's fortunes after their 1960s glory days. Gullit played alongside van Basten, and later Rijkaard, as well as young Paolo Maldini and experienced Franco Baresi. His performances with PSV and Milan earned him the Ballon d'Or.