Dutch icon Ruud Gullit has defended his own managerial spells with Chelsea and Newcastle United, while trying to defend current under-fire boss Robin van Persie.
De Telegraaf have comments from the former Dutch star today. And it seems he’s less than impressed by how his own managerial career is viewed.
Gullit was commented as Van Persie currently finds himself under fire at Feyenoord. Pressure is mounting on the former striker after a run of form that’s seen his side lose eight of their last 11 games.
The latest of those was a 3-0 defeat to PSV Eindhoven, with Feyenoord now 17 points behind the league leaders. Fans have been left frustrated and calling for him to go, but Van Persie has refused to resign.
He’s only been at the club since last year, but it’s been a tumultuous few months, which has seen him confronting angry fans face to face. The transformation from talented player to talented coach, is, so far, not proving to be a smooth one.
That’s something that Gullit knows all about. He was a highly successful player himself, before then transitioning into management at Chelsea.
He was appointed player-manager there in 1996 and brought in a continental style that secured the FA Cup in 1996. That was Chelsea’s first major trophy in 26 years. He was sacked the following year, despite Chelsea sitting second in the Premier League.
His next managerial spell came at Newcastle. He was appointed there in 1998 and led them to the FA Cup final in his first season, where they were beaten by Manchester United. That proved to be the high point though as his time at St James Park was marred by poor results and public fallout, notably with Alan Shearer. He resigned three games in to the 1999-2000 season.
He was then manager at Feyenoord, LA Galaxy and Terek Grozny. His last work in coach was as assistant manager to the Netherlands in 2017. Now he wants history rewritten somewhat.
“Few great players have made it as top managers, and Van Persie is the next to try,” he said.
“I was in a similar situation as manager of Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Feyenoord. I’ve often read or hear that I failed, but that’s not the case. I won the FA Cup with Chelsea and reached the final with Newcastle United.
“But did I succeed as a top manager? No, not really. In retrospect, I wasn’t cut out to be a top manager. I fell into it because Chelsea asked me to become player-manager after the manager left. I couldn’t refuse, but I never really enjoyed it. But I don’t feel like I failed, but I do feel like I didn’t succeed as a top manager. There’s a world of difference between the two.”