Name: Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp Born: 10th May 1969, Position: Forward Clubs: Ajax, Internationale and Arsenal Country: Holland
Major Honours:   European Cup Winners Cup 1987, Eredivisie 1990, KNVB Cup 1987, 1993, UEFA Cup 1992 (with Ajax), UEFA Cup 1994 (with Internationale), Premier League 1998, 2002, 2004, FA Cup 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, FA Community Shield 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004 (with Arsenal). Relevant Career Statistics: 79 caps and 37 goals for Holland and 424 appearances for Arsenal with 121 goals.
Admitted to the Hall of Fame: November 2007 with 29% of the votes (joint with Zinedine Zidane). Typical comment listed by voter during poll: "The goals were marvellous, the running like an athlete, remember the goal Holland Argentina, absolute world class!"
Roy of the Rovers References:
Internet Links: There are a number of web pages dedicated to Dennis Bergkamp. The profile of Dennis Bergkamp on the Internet's best and free encyclopaedia. This page also give links to other references to this hall of famer. You Tube tribute -.  set to the song "New Sensation" - by INXS including 'that' goal for Holland against Argentina and many other 'masterclass moments! Dennis Bergkamp Profile -  The Football Database Profile on the Dutch Wizard. The Ice Man! -  A truly brilliant website to the coolest man in front of goal the English Premiership has seen!  ArseWeb's Tribute  - A write up by the no 1 fan site for Gunner fans!
Videos:  Arsenal Centurions: A video showing 100 goals each from Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry!    Arsenal Bergkamp Picture: A 12 x 6 player profile of the Dutch master!	Bergkamp - A Perfect 10! A video Dennis in action for club and country! Arsenal Heroes Picture: A 20 x 18 framed picture of the former Arsenal number 10.

The 'Non-flying Dutchman' Dennis Bergkamp was named after his father's idol Denis Law and ended up becoming a hero at the arch-rival North London club of the team (Tottenham Hotspur) his own childhood favourite Glenn Hoddle starred for.  That club is of course Arsenal and he is considered very much a legend by their fans; having been signed by Bruce Rioch he brought a new imagination and style to a team previously labelled as boring. 

When the now world-famous French manager Arsene Wenger arrived he introduced a new wave of attacking football to Arsenal and of course he had the perfect centre-forward to be a part of this in Bergkamp.  Dennis played as a forward with both exceptional finishing abilities and wonderful creative talents and Wenger has pointed out that he managed to combine top-notch technical skills with a brain that made the very most of them - this was top praise of his on-pitch decision making that came instinctively to Bergkamp but was exceptional to the viewer.

At Arsenal especially Dennis played as a 'support striker', frequently dropping deep to receive the ball before playing imaginative and incisive passes to team-mates, often resulting in goals.  He could also operate as the main centre-forward and often did this for his nation Holland, being the main goalscorer for the team as well as a creative provider for the wide players and midfielders around him. 

He scored a total of 37 international goals in 79 appearances and was loved by the colourful Dutch fans too - in the build-up to Euro 2000 in Holland and Belgium 'Dennis Bier' was proving a very popular beverage and inspired a song in tribute to the player.  He was the icon of Dutch football throughout the 1990's.

Bergkamp made his Ajax debut aged just 17 under Dutch legend Johan Cruyff and he proved a prolific scorer with over 100 goals in the Dutch league alone before he was bought by Inter Milan in 1993.  Ajax had won the UEFA Cup with Bergkamp leading the attack in 1992 - they were a perfect match for the young Dennis as the club that founded total football - here was a player who fitted that philosophy completely.  His club form did take a dip when he moved to Inter as he struggled to fit into the team and adapt to the style of Italian football but he continued to star for Holland and scored 3 goals in the 1994 World Cup in the USA, including a typically cool effort to start a comeback from 2-0 down to 2-2 against Brazil in the quarter-final.  Holland did lose that match 3-2 eventually though and Brazil went on to be World Champions. 

The next World Cup in 1998 in France arrived with Dennis at the height of his career with Arsenal who had just won the English league and cup double with the Dutchman picking up his own double of PFA and Football Writers Player of the Year awards.  He again scored 3 World Cup goals and this time the quarter-final ended happily and magically as he scored one the great goals in the final minutes of the match with Argentina to win the game, controlling Frank De Boer's raking pass exquisitely then in his own trademark style knocking the ball inside past a defender and with the outside of his right boot curling a half volley into the back of the net before falling on his back in joy as the Dutch fans and all viewers of the match reacted in amazement - surely the epitome of Roy of the Rovers stuff! 

In fact the style of Bergkamp's goals throughout his career was a key factor in his popularity and regard amongst fans; his cleverness and technique providing many beautiful and also brilliantly effective moments.  He scored a unique goal at St James' Park against Newcastle United, touching the ball round one side of the defender as he received the ball with his back to goal and spinning the other side before collecting the ball and side footing home - another goal right at the top of his personal picture-book collection. 

His assists were often just as good to watch, such as one in the Champions League for Arsenal against Juventus where he used lovely skill and guile to manoeuvre the ball around before slipping a pass through to the on-rushing Ljungbjerg to score.  All in all Bergkamp's play makes a great watch on video and ideal footage for a comic book illustration, much like a certain Roy Race of course!

The label of the non-flying Dutchman was applied to Bergkamp after he vowed not to travel by air again due to a few worrying events regarding flights early in his career.  This meant that he had to make long trips by road and sea if he was to play in away games in the Champions League.  This was a hindrance to Arsenal in their attempts to win the competition but generally Bergkamp continued to be a star and a crucial cog in their team well into his thirties, frequently being given new one-year deals by Wenger before finally retiring - he was given a fitting testimonial against Ajax as the first game at the Emirates Stadium. 

Both clubs fans and football fans in general can look back on the era of 'Dennis the Menace' and 'Walking in a Bergkamp Wonderland' as we welcome the Dutch maestro Dennis Bergkamp to the Roy of the Rovers Hall of Fame!