Dennis Bergkamp quotes

Dennis Bergkamp is a Dutch former professional footballer widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted strikers of his generation. Renowned for his vision, creativity, and exquisite ball control, he achieved great success with clubs like Ajax, Inter Milan, and especially Arsenal. He became a legendary figure in football, inspiring fans with his unique style and memorable goals. Here are 28 of his quotes:

I love playing football, being out on the pitch with a ball, and I will be a little sad when that ends.

Dennis Bergkamp

In Holland and Spain and France, where so many of us come from, people aren't interested in the sex lives of their players. We don't hear these stories - even in Italy where the media is right on top of football.

Dennis Bergkamp

You have to shoot, to want to score goals no matter how. Just score that goal! You can't be afraid to miss.

Dennis Bergkamp

I've never seen myself as a manager. As a manager, you have to put all your time into the job, and that would be difficult for me.

Dennis Bergkamp

Other clubs never came into my thoughts once I knew Arsenal wanted to sign me.

Dennis Bergkamp

Behind every kick of the ball there has to be a thought.

Dennis Bergkamp

It will be a hard game if you think about winning a championship. We need to think about our own game at the moment and focus on getting good results especially over the Christmas period.

Dennis Bergkamp

The regular things in my life now - training sessions and playing matches - will all fall away. That will leave a big empty space and it will need to be filled.

Dennis Bergkamp

So I took it as a very positive sign that the club came to me rather than the other way round.

Dennis Bergkamp

We're still a great team. In your mind you can understand that but, emotionally, we needed to express the same belief. We came out full of fire and scored two early goals, two really beautiful goals, and that changed everything.

Dennis Bergkamp

Our two biggest rivals had adjusted their whole season to this one aim of beating us. Of course, it is a big compliment that they were so motivated to stop us but it was very tough to face two matches like that so close together. Suddenly three trophies are down to one.

Dennis Bergkamp

I just wanted to get back to playing attacking football after my time in Italy. It was a little difficult at first but the atmosphere and the fans were just fantastic.

Dennis Bergkamp

My aim is to play as many games as possible and to go out and be one of the 11 players again.

Dennis Bergkamp

So here, at Arsenal, we are often surprised when we are shown some of the newspapers, and at the bottom of an article there is a line saying if you know of anyone who had an affair with a player, call this number. It is very strange to us.

Dennis Bergkamp

When I played in Holland, I always tried to lob the goalkeeper. People used to say, 'Oh, you're always only trying to make a nice goal'. But I said, 'Listen, if the goalie is a little bit off his line, how much space do you have on his left or right?' It's not a lot. 'And how much space do you have above him?'

Dennis Bergkamp

"Bergkamp. He had the finest technique [of all Dutch players]." - Guus Hiddink.

Dennis Bergkamp

"If Ryan Giggs is worth 20 million, Dennis Bergkamp is worth 100 million." - Marco van Basten.

Dennis Bergkamp

Arsene Wenger's idea is not only to play good football. It's to play good football to win. In my day, we knew that with our style we could hurt teams and win trophies too. But we did it our way, with the positional game, passing, movement.

Dennis Bergkamp

Sometimes you feel the emotion. You think this might be my last pre-season or my last Champions League match. But, overall, those thoughts aren't important right now. But the time will soon come.

Dennis Bergkamp

When I retired in 2006, I stayed for a further two years in England. I stayed because I wanted to be in England without being a footballer, without the rhythm. I wanted to enjoy the city.

Dennis Bergkamp

"Dennis is the best player I have ever played with as a partner. It is a dream for a striker to have him in the team with you." - Thierry Henry.

Dennis Bergkamp

Playing football was like being trapped in a rhythm, and my whole career was like that. You have very little time to switch off.

Dennis Bergkamp