WORLD SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ruud GULLIT
1987
Unique…1987 was the first cover where the award winner wasn’t pictured
“I like total freedom”
Ruud Gullit speaks to World Soccer after winning our World Player of the Year award for 1987… How did you prepare for your Italian adventure? For three months I took an Italian language course, one lesson each week. I had no great knowledge of football in Italy. Dutch television shows goals from the Italian championship from time to time but that hardly teaches you anything. I knew, of course, that it would be very different and I was warned to be careful, particularly about the power of the press in Italy to influence officials and fans. But you cannot let yourself become frightened of going out of the front door. Some Italian players cut themselves right off from anybody because if they go out the least gesture or word is criticised. You never see an Italian player at a concert or a disco. But you’ll see me! And if the papers make big headlines and big pictures the next day, so what? How do you cope with all the attention everywhere you go? I accept that this is part of my life now. People wouldn’t understand if I did not spare them a little of my time. Anyway, the supporters in the north of Italy are comparatively restrained. The further south you go the more they
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PLAYER OF THE YEAR
want of you. I can’t imagine what it must be like for Diego Maradona at Napoli. Do you think your unique hairstyle means you attract more attention? Everyone needs an image which reflects their personality. I like total freedom in all things. That includes my hair! Milan are in transition so how do you rate your form so far in Italy?
We are a team with a long way to go yet, that’s true. But we are learning to play in a much more attacking style than is usual in Italy. That much I’ve learned already! We still need more time to get it right. Our coach, Arrigo Sacchi, wants us to play with three forwards. That’s hard, particularly on the Italians, because such tactics demand a great deal of flexibility from players who are brought up to play everything cautiously from the back.
Italian adventure… Milan new boy
