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      Harper Non-Fiction

      An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

      1 London Bridge Street

      London SE1 9GF

       www.harpercollins.co.uk

      First published in hardback 1996 by CollinsWillow

      First published in paperback in 1997

      Copyright © Harry Harris 1997

      Harry Harris asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

      A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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      HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication.

      Source ISBN: 9780002187817

      Ebook Edition © JUNE 2016 ISBN: 9780008192068

      Version: 2016-06-03

Dedication

       To Linda … a true Chelsea fan

       Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1 ‘I’m Not A Foreigner – I’m a World Traveller’

2 Rebuilding the Bridge

3 Gullit Mania

4 A New Season, a New Challenge

       5 Dreaming of Total Football

       6 Cup Battles

       7 The Troubleshooter

       8 Ruud Awakening

       9 Italy – the Dream that Turned Sour

       10 World Stage

       11 Private Life: The Man Behind the Dreadlocks

       12 Boss of the Bridge

       13 A Cup-Winning Season

       Career Highlights

       Index

       About the Author

       About the Publisher

Acknowledgements

      My thanks to close Dutch friend and colleague Marcel van der Kraan for his expert views on the young Ruud Gullit; Godric Smith at the Conservative Party Press Office; and to former Prime Minister John Major for offering his views on Ruud. Plus all the other MPs, celebrities and people in the game who contributed their opinions. My thanks also go to Chelsea chairman Ken Bates, chief executive Colin Hutchinson, Ruud’s UK advisors Jon and Phil Smith of First Artists Corporation, and Sky TV press officer Chris Haynes. The Daily Mirror provided a number of pictures for the book, and it was nice to get so much co-operation from my ‘Fleet Street’ colleagues, notably Michael Hart and photographer Frank Tewkesbury for the snap of Ruud winning the Evening Standard Footballer of the Month award for January 1996, for which Ruud insisted all his team-mates appear! At publishers HarperCollins, praise too for Editorial Director Michael Doggart for recognising straight away my conviction that a biography of Ruud Gullit would make such fascinating reading; Tom Whiting for his patience and helpful suggestions; and Andrew Clark and David Williams for their diligent sub-editing.

      Finally, a special thanks to Dutch photographer Peter Smoulders for his excellent portfolio of Ruud Gullit pictures.

Introduction

      The first non-British manager to reach the FA Cup Final is none other than the charismatic Dutchman Ruud Gullit. This is all the more remarkable considering that he achieved this distinction in his very first season in football management.

      When he was informed that he had made English football history after Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final demolition of Wimbledon at Highbury in April 1997, it was a moment to savour, a special achievement even in his distinguished career. ‘I have just been told that I am the first foreign coach to take a team to Wembley in an FA Cup final and am very proud of that. But it is important we win it, as first place is the only thing that matters in any competition.’ And win it they did, in true style.

      Gullit’s first season in charge produced a whirlwind of activity at the Bridge. Witnessed by thousands of fans were a kaleidoscope of spectacular goals, famous victories and disappointing defeats. Winning at Old Trafford and beating mighty Liverpool twice at the Bridge would be etched forever in the memories of Chelsea supporters

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