Since its inception in 1992, Premier League has played host to number World class players from all around the globe. Dutch has a rich pedigree in world football, with the north-western European nation producing some of the greatest players ever to play the game. Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten, are some of the greatest from the Oranje nation.
Some of the great Dutch footballers of 90s and early twenty-first century have plied their trade in the premier league. This article intends to list some top Dutch performer and their achievements, in English football.
1 Ruud van Nistelrooy
The Dutch scoring machine, Ruud Van Nistelrooy was a highly prolific goal scorer. A poacher with excellent positional awareness, footballing intelligence, movement off the ball, physical strength and clinical finishing made him one the best center-forward of his time. at a reported transfer fee of £19 million in 2001. The Dutchman played five seasons at United scoring 150 goals in 219 appearances including six hat-tricks. With 38 goals, he is still the club’s second all-time European goalscorer behind Wayne Rooney. Van Nistelrooy won the premier league golden boot as well as player of the season award in 2002/03 season.
2 Robin Van Persie
The flying Dutchman took over the goal-scoring mantle from Thiery Henry at Arsenal. He started out as a winger but was soon transitioned into a striker by Wenger and after the departure of Henry, he finally moved into center-forward position. Known for his incredible dribbling and finishing skills, Van Persie scored 132 goals from 278 games for the gunners. Van Persie shocked the world by signing for Arsenal’s arch-rivals Manchester United in August of 2012 at an estimated transfer fee of £24 million.
3 Dennis Bergkamp
Arguably the greatest Dutch player to play in English football, Dennis Bergkamp is an Arsenal legend. Signed in 1995 from Inter Milan, Bergkamp mostly played as a second strike or a deep-lying striker due to his creative play and ability to link up play between midfield and forwards.
His vision and passing range also helped him rack up 94 premier league assists at Arsenal. Bergkamp scored a total of 120 goals in 423 appearances for Arsenal. He also enjoyed successful partnership initially with Ian Wright, then with Henry and Anelka. A crucial member of Arsenal’s invincible side of the early 2000s, also won three premier league titles while playing for gunners.