The Haarlem globetrotter

In the first part of an extensive piece, Ruud Gullit tells uefa.com about his early years.

By Pete Sanderson, Federico Rocha & Paul Nixon

Ruud Gullit would be the first to admit that failure is the condiment that gives success its true flavour.

Epic journey
The Dutch legend may well have sipped champagne from some of football's most exclusive trophies but it took an early setback in the dawn of his career to make him truly appreciate the success he would eventually carve out later on in his football journey.

Haarlem globetrotter
"I have had my fair share of disappointments," Gullit told uefa.com, recalling the three years he spent trying to establish himself at Haarlem FC before his move to Feyenoord. "It was not until I arrived in Rotterdam that I genuinely believed I could make it in the game. Before then I was only playing football at a low level and playing for fun. But, when I moved to Feyenoord, not only did I realise I had the talent I also realised how much I wanted to make it to the top."

'Wrong attitude'
Bizarrely one of Gullit's darkest hours was spent in the corridors of Portman Road - home of English side Ipswich Town FC - where he was rejected after a short trial as a young player after Sir Bobby Robson questioned his attitude. Like John Barnes and Paul Gascoigne who were also shown the door by Ipswich at an early age, the charismatic Dutchman was soon laughing in the face of adversity, eventually becoming one of the most iconic players of his generation.

Early years
"It is tough trying to make it in the game when you are young," he said. "The first time I was picked for the national youth team I suddenly I realised I could play. I was lucky because I worked with some great coaches from a young age. First there was Louis van Gaal when I was 16 and then I could turn to people like Willem van Hanegen and Johan Cruyff as my career progressed."

Dutch courage
A young Gullit made a big impression at the De Kuip before switching allegiances to join PSV Eindhoven where he captured two Dutch titles 1986 and 1987. Unsurprisingly, his trademark dreadlocks were soon gracing the full international stage too. It was the perfect platform for the gifted Dutchman and he further enhanced his blossoming reputation in the 1988 UEFA European Championship by leading his side to glory.

'Best side'
"We started badly in our opening game against Russia and we certainly didn't realise we would go on and win it," Gullit said. "Everyone fancied Germany because they were strong and playing at home but we proved we were the best side at that tournament. We knew if we could just get the ball to [Marco] van Basten then we could beat anyone."

'Golden touch'
Seldom has a team possessed a trident as strong as Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Gullit. Rijkaard was a rock, Gullit a magician and to cap it off, Van Basten had the golden touch, as his captain remembered: "Everything he touched went in so all that I had to do was give him the ball."

'On a cloud'
After beating the Germans in the semi-finals, Gullit headed the first goal as the Dutch beat Russia 2-0 in the final. The scenes after the final whistle are still firmly etched in his mind. "When you lift the trophy it's like something inside you screams," he said. "It's incredible and you just live on a cloud for 24 hours." He did not know it at the time but he would soon get used to the sweet taste of success.