DENIS BERGKAMP

With so much sadness in our footballing news today, to cheer us up, here is Denis Bergkamp, scoring a great hat trick in Arsenal's 3-3 draw with Leicester City at Filbert Street (remember that stadium?). The third was superb strike, after controlling a 40 yard pass with ease he juggled the ball past Spencer Prior and slotted the ball home, in just four touches. Two of his strikes helped Bergkamp become the first player to "BAG" the top three places in the Match of the Day's Goal of the Month competition!!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=636175197939247

Denis Bergkamp

Bergkamp at the unveiling of his statue at the Emirates in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Denis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp
Date of birth	10 May 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth	Amsterdam Netherlands
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1981–1986	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1986–1993	Ajax	185	(103)
1993–1995	Inter Milan	52	(11)
1995–2006	Arsenal	315	(87)
Total		552	(201)
International career
1989	Netherlands U21	2	(0)
1990–2000	Netherlands	79	(37)
Managerial career
2011–2017	Ajax (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Bergkamp was the last of Wim and Tonnie Bergkamp's four sons. He was brought up in a working-class suburb, in a family aspiring to reach middle-class status. His father, an electrician and amateur footballer in the lower leagues, named him in honour of Scottish striker Denis Law. To comply with Dutch given name customs, an extra "n" was inserted in Bergkamp's first name by his father after their first choice was not accepted by the registrar. According to Bergkamp, his childhood footballing heroes were Geln Hoddle, whom he admired for his soft precise touch and Johan Cruyff, who once coached him when he was twelve.