Legend. It's an overused word in football. For World Cup football fans there is only one legend whose retirement worth mentioning at the moment. That is Zinedine Zidane. For Premiership football fans, there are three legends who has retired recently. There is a Scot forward who most people can't bother to remember. Erm.. Duncan Ferguson anyone? There is an English forward who, despite his rough play, deserves my admiration for his bravery and fighting spirit. I will miss your spirit, Alan Shearer. And then, there is one Dennis Bergkamp.I started supporting Arsenal the year Bergkamp signed for Arsenal from Inter Milan. My allegiance to Arsenal has nothing to do with his arrival though. It was more of coincidence.
Eleven years down the road, the time has finally come to bid farewell to this man. Looking back.. he has really been the catalyst for Arsenal's return to elite football. Anyone who has seen him playing in his prime would have told you that he is undoubtedly the best no. 10 Arsenal has ever had. And I would go even further to tell you that he is one of the best shadow strikers I have ever seen playing. The way he make those visionary passes others could never see, the way he plan the moves in seconds, and the fact that he is the only player who could partner Thiery Henry and understand TH's thought.. This is one of the classiest players I have ever seen.
But it is his loyalty and professionalism that stands out for me. There are some talented footballers who know extremely well how to use their feet but struggle to use their brain properly. There is Sol Campbell, the drama queen who quit the game halfway and left his team trailing because he had some personal relationship problem and couldn't play. There is Ashley Cole who is prepared to leave the club he supported since childhood to play for the Bank of Chelsea. But not Dennis Bergkamp.He knows how to shut his mouth and when to speak and what to say. He knows how to control the greed for more money and there has never been issue of wage when it comes to settling his contract. He works for the team on and off the field. He takes care of the younger players and he does not openly oppose the manager in any circumstance. He has integrity and he is wise.
The Ice Man is someone Arsenal could never replace for years to come. It might even be easier for some Arsenal fans to see Henry retires. Just like Eric Cantona, DB10 is the pride of every gooner who grow up supporting Arsene Wenger's Arsenal. He is loved by his fellow players that van Basten and Cryuff turned up for his testimonial last Saturday. It is the first game at Arsenal's new home, The Emirates Stadium. And it's a fitting farewell for a man who will always be remembered as Arsenal's Legend.
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