English Football’s Greatest Ever Player ‘Wasn’t Appreciated in England’

Ruud Gullit offers a unique perspective when talking about English football.

Having signed for Chelsea in 1995 during the twilight of his career, Gullit arrived at a time when there was far less emphasis on technical eloquence and tactical saviness than he’d been accustomed to.

He’d played alongside Johan Cruyff in the Netherlands, won two Champions League titles with AC Milan and was crowned the 1987 Ballon d’Or winner. But the Dutchman was suddenly playing as a sweeper in a Blues team whose centre-backs reacted to receiving passes into feet by booting the ball as far away as possible, regardless of how much (or little) pressure they were under from opposition forwards.

Related

‘I Never Wanted to Manage Chelsea – I was Sacked Because I Blocked Expensive Signings’

“It was all about money. You have people around you and they back-stab you. It’s a horrible feeling.”

So if anybody has a first-hand understanding of English football’s ignorance and shortcomings when it comes to footballing intellect and style of play, it’s Gullit. That’s why his interpretation of the greatest footballer England has ever produced is well worth listening to.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s a player who only received 53 caps for the Three Lions, made just nine starts at major tournaments, and is described by Gullit himself as ‘not appreciated’.

England’s Greatest Player was Meant to be Dutch

Writing in 2020, Gullit named England’s greatest ever player as his former Chelsea boss, Glenn Hoddle. It’s certainly an interesting choice; while Hoddle is regarded as one of England’s most naturally gifted players, he isn’t one of the most decorated. He never won a major tournament with the Three Lions and although he enjoyed relative success with Spurs, winning two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup, his only other career trophy was a French top flight title with Monaco.

But it’s fitting that Hoddle’s only league title came in a different country, because he’s often been mooted as a player who was valued far more abroad than in England. Michel Platini once quipped that if the Spurs legend had been French, he would’ve received over 100 caps and had an entire team built around him.

Gullit made a similar point, arguing that Hoddle would’ve been far more appreciated as an Oranje player…

Why Hoddle was Underappreciated in England

Style of play didn’t suit English tactics

Hoddle was well-known for having an almost continental playing style, based on excellent technique, the ability to take possession in tight spaces and creative vision. Unfortunately, during the 1980s, English football was much more concerned with physical attributes, aggression and work-rate.

The other problem was fitting Hoddle into a system with other players, something which ultimately limited his England career. In modern football, Hoddle would be utlised as a No.10 or a creative No.8 in a midfield three. But the Three Lions were obsessed with 4-4-2 during Hoddle’s era, and Ray Wilkins and Bryan Robson were more natural fits for that system, the former being a deep-lying playmaker and the latter being a dynamic box-to-box midfielder.

Related

Spurs Legend Glenn Hoddle Named the Three Greatest Players He Ever Shared a Pitch With

“He was the best player that’s hit the planet. Better than Pele, better than Messi or Ronaldo or anyone else”

Hoddle often found himself playing as a right winger, despite lacking the natural speed to be a significant threat from out wide. Rather than having a team built around him, the future England boss was instead a spare part, shoehorned into gaps around the midfield when they became available. How many times have England’s most naturally gifted footballers shared that fate within the national team?