Former Chelsea star and manager Ruud Gullit has opened up about rejecting a move to Arsenal early in his career, describing his time at Stamford Bridge as "paradise." The revelation comes ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday.
Arsenal's Early Interest Rejected
In an interview with Gambling Insider, Gullit, now 63, revealed that Arsenal attempted to sign him when he was just 17 years old, playing for HFC Haarlem between 1979 and 1982. The Gunners' scouting team, which included former stalwart Liam Brady, approached him about a transfer to Highbury.
"When I was at HFC Haarlem at the age of 17, I heard that Arsenal wanted to sign me," Gullit said. "Liam Brady was a scout at the club at the time, and I was made aware of their interest in bringing me to Highbury. There were talks between the two clubs."
Despite the privilege of such interest from a major club, Gullit turned down the opportunity, feeling it was too early in his career. "It was a privilege that such a big club was interested in me at that age, but it was too early for me at that stage in my career, so I turned them down," he explained. "I just didn’t want to move to the club at that particular point in time."
Path to Chelsea
After spending additional years at Haarlem, Gullit moved to Feyenoord, which he described as the right step for his development. His career later flourished with stints at PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan, where he won three Serie A titles, two European Cups, and other silverware. He also claimed three Dutch league titles and the European Championships with the Netherlands in 1988.
In 1995, Gullit signed for Chelsea from AC Milan, attracted by manager Glenn Hoddle. "I must say I didn't know much about the club or even that part of town when I went there - it was just because Glenn Hoddle was manager, that's what persuaded me to go," he told the BBC in 2020.
Stamford Bridge: A Culture Shock
Gullit admitted that Stamford Bridge was a shock initially, describing it as primitive compared to the world-class stadiums he was accustomed to. "When I came for the first time to see Stamford Bridge, I was like 'what the hell kind of stadium is this?'" he recalled. "I was used to playing in the best stadiums in the world, but here there were only two stands. The place wasn't just a building site; it was a total wreck. You had to walk around on planks of wood."
However, he quickly fell in love with the environment, comparing it to his early playing days. "But I loved it. It was almost like I was going back to when I had just started playing, when I was nine years old. It was fantastic."
Embracing English Football
Gullit highlighted the differences between Italian and English football in the 1990s, praising the Premier League's fan culture. "There was another way English football was different from Italy, and in a good way - the crowd, and the attitude in the stands," he said. "I felt a different bond with them, and not just the Chelsea supporters. In the Premier League, the fans appreciated what you were doing more - if you did something special on the pitch that they loved, people went crazy."
He emphasized his immediate connection with Chelsea fans, stating, "I hit it off with the Chelsea fans straight away. Their supporters were fantastic, always, even when I left, and they still are now. I loved it. I loved the way they were with me and I will always treasure that."
Player-Manager Success and Sacking
In the summer of 1996, after Hoddle left to manage England, Gullit was appointed as Chelsea's player-manager, becoming the first Dutch manager in the Premier League. He led the club to the FA Cup in 1997, their first trophy in 26 years, and secured a sixth-place finish in the league. During his tenure, he signed key players like Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli, Roberto di Matteo, and Frank Leboeuf.
Despite being second in the Premier League in February 1998 and in the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup, Gullit was sacked in his second season. He disputed the reasons given by the board. "Being sacked was a horrible experience, and there was no reason to do what they did," he said. "They made out it was over my contract demands but that was rubbish because there had not been any negotiations."
Reflecting on His Time in England
Despite the abrupt end to his Chelsea career, Gullit maintains a positive outlook on his time in England. "I'm still sad about the way it ended, but my time at Chelsea will always be my happy time. It was paradise for me," he expressed. "I fell in love with London straight away because I found a kind of freedom that is priceless. It was my happy place."
He later managed Newcastle United in 1998, though his stint lasted just over a season. Reflecting on his overall experience, Gullit said, "I felt that living in England enriched my experiences in life, and enhanced my ideas about football. I still feel the same way."
Gullit takes pride in his role at Chelsea's early stages and the Premier League's evolution. "I am very proud I was there at the start for Chelsea, and to see what the Premier League has become too. Both have moved on so much, they are unrecognisable. But they had to start somewhere."
