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After a wonderful career in Holland and Italy, which had seen Ruud
Gullit capture virtually every honour in the game, another chapter in
his long and illustrious career unfolded with a move to Chelsea in July
1995. Manager Glenn Hoddle brought Gullit to the club to play in the
sweeper role that he himself had occupied towards the end of his career.
The plan was that Ruud's vision and passing skills would flourish,
given the extra time that he would receive on the ball as the last line
of defence. It was not a move that was a particular success, however,
and the Dutchman moved forward into a more accustomed midfield role in
the second-half of the season. Gullit scored three times in both the
League and the F.A. Cup in that first season at Stamford Bridge,
including a fine headed goal in the F.A. Cup semi-final defeat to
Manchester United.
The summer of 1996 saw Glenn Hoddle depart to take
the England managers job and Ruud was asked to step into his shoes. His
new found responsibilities saw his playing appearances few and far
between, but success as a manager was immediate. The F.A. Cup was won,
for the first time since 1970, in his first season with the Blues,
courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough. The 1997-98 campaign
appeared to be going well for Gullit, with the club in second place in
the League and in the quarter-finals of both the Cup Winners Cup and the
Coca-Cola Cup, but Chelsea then shocked the football world by sacking
the Dutchman in February '98. Gullit was clearly unhappy with his
departure from Stamford Bridge but it was not long before he was back in
English football with Newcastle United. (David Scranage)
1979–1982 HFC Haarlem 91 (32)
1982–1985 Feyenoord 85 (30)
1985–1987 PSV 68 (46)
1987–1993 Milan 117 (35)
1993–1994 Sampdoria 31 (15)
1994–1995 Milan 8 (3)
1994–1995 Sampdoria 22 (9)
1995–1998 Chelsea 49 (4)
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