Silvio Berlusconi, AC Milan president, in 1987 signed him from PSV Eindhoven for £ 6 million. He was sure to buy a leader and a very skilful player. He had even more and very soon the Italian giant started to win again, taking home scudetto, Champions League and what at that time was the Intercontinental Cup. Today Ruud Gullit is a manager. Many people remember him for his way of play and many more for his commitment against racism. Goldenfoot.com ask him about football and a special friend he got far away from Europe...
Q. After winning almost every trophy in your career, this year Gullit will leave his footprints on the Champions Promenade. What is your feeling? Have you ever thought a thing like this?
A. I never thought that one day someone would ask me to do something like this. It sounds nice to leave my footprints forever. I always tried to play well and to win as much as possible. This important prize is a consequence of what I have accomplished. People who watched me to play, they understood I did it with passion giving my best on the pitch.
Q. As a young player, who were your idols?
A. Ah, my idol was surely Johan Cruyff. I know I am the first Dutch player to leave my footprints on the Champions Promenade. I guess, in this prize I came first: I'm number one! (he laughs…)
Q. Somebody says that the "Black Tulip" made a football era. Great player but also an extrovert ,legendary for dreadlocks ,and a very strong personality .Was it this combination, together with your football talent, that made Ruud Gullit an icon?
A. I didn't realize I became an icon, I didn't think I was particularly different from other football players. I love Football. That’s the reason why fans loved me. My particular look and style was something extra I gave the fans to enjoy.
Q.You had great physical strength but also great football skill and technique. Gullit was a rare player from this point of view. Any player you think plays like you?
A. (Gullit smiles) Journalists always try to compare players from different times, but it is very hard. Every player is unique and makes football in his own way. Thats why football is great. Talking about a physical strength point of view, I would say that Didier Drogba looks like me a lot. His style seems mine.
Q. What’s harder, playing or coaching?
A. It’s very much harder to be a coach. When you are a player you take your position on the field, you know you have to play in a certain way , or kick in a certain way to score a goal. As a coach you have to try to make all the players understanding the way you want, and have your same vision. It happens sometimes they accept it, and some other times it doesn’t work and you have to accept it even if it is very frustrating.
Q. Your team, AC Milan used to play against Maradona's Napoli, Matthaus's Inter, Vialli and Mancini's Sampdoria: great opponents who made greater your victories.
A. Well its not only that. When you play against talented opponents the level of football rises, and it is nice not only to win, but even staying on the same pitch with these great players it’s very good. It pushes you to give your best to play at that same level of those champions. My Milan played against Maradona's Napoli and we won because we had a great team, but we also lost because they were very strong. They had Maradona but also Careca, Bagni and Carnavale. Diego was the best player. I never saw a player as good as him.
Q. Hollland is FIFA vice champion of the world. What do you think of this “oranje” generation?
A. My generation was physically very strong. We also had player like Marco Van Basten and Rijkaard. Definitely the generation you are talking about is different, but they are good as well. The leader is Wesley Sneijder, technically the best player. He is for sure the best dutch player at the moment.
Q. Tell us about Chelsea and AC Milan, your ex teams?
A. Chelsea is a very good team, they have an obsession of winning the Champions League, which won't be easy to do. It is one of the best teams in Europe thanks to Roman Abramovich. I am very proud of what I was able to do as a player and coach at Stamford Bridge. The team was not exactly well known like it happens today. I am happy of what I had there. Milan seems to have undertaken a policy of frugal spending, with a balanced budget, and this is a good thing. They are going through a transition phase where the famous players are getting to the end of their careers, and strong young players are stepping up.
Q. Chelsea and AC Milan can win the Champions League this year?
A. I think it is a little early for both teams. Chelsea live the Champions League like an obsession. Villas Boas might be the right man to bring them the trophy but I also thought the same with Carlo Ancellotti. Milan will also have to wait and be patient. There is a team called Barcelona that has a lot to say about it!
Q. A few years ago, Nelson Mandela told reporters that Ruud Gullit was one of the very few friends he had when he was still in prison.
A. I am very proud of my friendship with the great Nelson Mandela. When he was in prison, I wanted people in Europe to know who he was and what he was fighting against: racism and apartheid. He appreciated this very much. I met him many times after he got out of jail .In my life I have often taken positions, sometimes difficult ones, that I believed in. This hurt me sometimes, but I am like that. This is my character and my personality.
Salvatore Siviero