Over the years, numerous Dutch players and managers have graced English football, from the Premier League to the Championship. They have significantly influenced the game, showcasing their excellence and technical ability. Legendary names like Ruud Gullit, Louis van Gaal, and Ronald Koeman have all worked across divisions of English leagues.
Former PL and Netherlands legends such as Dennis Bergkamp, Dirk Kuyt, and Ronald Koeman, alongside Dutch football agent Rob Jansen, are now seeking ambitious projects to invest in, aiming to collaborate on a single club project in England.
Dennis Bergkamp, Kuyt, Larsson, Koeman seeking English football return
The Dutch consortium, led by agent and former Netherlands player Rob Jansen, is looking to invest in English football by acquiring clubs in either League One or League Two. The group includes former Arsenal icon Dennis Bergkamp, ex-Liverpool player Dirk Kuyt, former Manchester United and Celtic forward Henrik Larsson, and Ronald Koeman.
Previously, Bergkamp, Kuyt, and Larsson attempted to purchase Wycombe Wanderers in 2019 but were unsuccessful. According to Jansen, who did not disclose the name of the club, it is likely to be from a lower division.
Jansen revealed that he, along with the other few renowned legends, is planning to buy the team, with each member of the group being assigned a significant role in the project.
In a recent podcast, Jansen revealed, “We are in the process of buying a club in England. I’m not allowed to say which club yet. I can say which group we will do it with. Ronald Koeman, Dennis Bergkamp, Henrik Larsson and Dirk Kuyt.”
“We do this with some people around us and we also have the financiers. It doesn’t have to be in London. The plan is to manage the football club in the broadest sense of the word. So the way we think it should be. Training, hospitality, merchandising, marketing, everything,” he added.
Looking back at Individual careers of the Dutch legends in England
The Gunners’ icon Dennis Bergkamp made 422 appearances, scoring 120 goals and providing 103 assists for them. Bergkamp won 10 titles with the London club, including three English Premier League titles, and was a key figure in the famous ‘Invincibles’ squad under Arsène Wenger.
Dirk Kuyt is another Premier League legend who played for Liverpool for six seasons from 2006 to 2012, making 285 appearances, netting 71 goals and 43 assists as the winger and lifted the community shield alongside the EFL cup as a player with the Merseyside club.
The Swedish legend Henrik Larsson, renowned for his time in the Scottish and Dutch leagues with Celtic and Feyenoord, respectively, had a brief stint in England with Manchester United. During the 2006/07 season, he moved to Old Trafford on a loan from Helsingborgs IF.
The legendary Dutch defender, Ronald Koeman, has never played in the English league but has experience managing Premier League clubs Southampton and Everton. He served as their head coach from 2014 to 2017 before taking up the role at Barcelona in 2020.
