Over the years there have been many footballers that have inspired me in ways I can’t comprehend. But the man that has managed to do so better than anyone else was and always will be Arsenal legend, Dennis Bergkamp. Being a midfielder when I play football, I really appreciate what he did when on the pitch. Everything about his game was just pure magic, from his passing to his ball control; everything was perfection.
As the man himself once said: “Behind every kick of the ball, there has to be a thought”. That quote, in itself, has been the quote to inspire me since a very young age. In a nutshell, his game was summed up with his notorious goal against Newcastle United… Only Dennis could even think of attempting such a piece of skill, let alone carry it out with the most exquisite of executions. Bergkamp and Thierry Henry played a major role in the reason I started to watch football, I would sit there watching how they play, how they control a game and be astounded.
I have been watching football for just over a decade now and I am 100% sure that Bergkamp is the best player, technically, that Arsenal have ever come across. Yes, Henry was beyond amazing, but Dennis, when he had the ball at his feet, always produced magic. Miraculous, at times.
What makes him so different to the other players I admire? His modesty and the way he carries himself off the pitch. You never ever heard a story of negativity about the Dutchman and that is testament to his game on the field of play too. I aspire to be like him in every way possible and I’d like to think I have a similar playing style to him, the way I find passes, the way I control the ball.
Overall, Dennis Bergkamp is my childhood hero. The guy who inspired me to be the footballer I am today and I hope to continue doing so for as long as possible.
Dennis Bergkamp; My Childhood Hero.
