Ruud Gullit says English football never valued its best ever player

In a cramped studio at GIVEMESPORT, Christy leans over a monitor as a clip of Ruud Gullit plays, his voice echoing the sentiment that English football has never truly valued its best ever player. The atmosphere is charged, the old‑school footage contrasting sharply with the modern data screens surrounding him. It is a vivid reminder of how past legends still shape today’s discourse.

Christy's rise through football media

Christy is Football Operations Lead at GIVEMESPORT and has worked in the football content industry for over twelve years, having joined Football FanCast as an intern in 2012 after graduating with a degree in History and Politics from the University of Leicester. He worked his way up from shift writer to Editor‑in‑Chief at Football FanCast, serving in that position throughout 2019 before joining the GMS team in late 2020. Christy now creates opinion, news, features and viral football content, covering the Premier League, the Championship and the England National Team.

He is a proud member of the Football Writers’ Association, a Charlton Athletic fan and an avid follower of wrestling, interests that colour his storytelling style. His long‑term involvement gives him a platform to amplify voices like Gullit’s, linking historic insight with contemporary analysis. The breadth of his coverage ensures that debates about English football reach both casual fans and seasoned pundits.

Gullit's Chelsea stint and critique of English style

Ruud Gullit signed for Chelsea in 1995 towards the end of his playing career, arriving at a time when English football placed far less emphasis on technical quality and tactical sophistication than he was accustomed to. He found himself operating as a sweeper in a side where centre‑backs would simply launch the ball away, regardless of whether opposition forwards were applying pressure. "It was all about money. You have people around you and they back‑stab you. It's a horrible feeling," Gullit later recalled.

Gullit argues that the English game historically lacked technical intelligence and a refined style of play, a view reinforced by his own experience of being deployed in a role that ignored his creative strengths. He notes that the Dutchman’s assessment of England’s greatest footballer is particularly compelling given his first‑hand understanding of those shortcomings. The former Dutch star highlighted a player who earned only fifty‑three caps for the Three Lions, made just nine starts at major tournaments and was labelled ‘not appreciated’ by Gullit himself.

Gullit crowns Glenn Hoddle as England's best

Writing in 2020, Gullit named England's greatest ever player as his former Chelsea boss, Glenn Hoddle, an intriguing choice given Hoddle’s modest trophy cabinet. Hoddle never won a major tournament with the Three Lions, but he enjoyed considerable success with Tottenham Hotspur, winning two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup, and later secured a French top‑flight title with Monaco. Michel Platini once quipped that if the Spurs legend had been French, he would have earned over one hundred caps and had an entire team built around him.

Gullit echoed that sentiment, suggesting Hoddle would have been far more highly valued had he represented the Netherlands: "In the eyes of the Dutch, he was the best English footballer ever but in England he was not appreciated. In the Netherlands, we said 'oh my god, he was a player meant for us, not for you'." He added, "He was the best player that's hit the planet. Better than Pele, better than Messi or Ronaldo or anyone else."

Hoddle’s almost continental style—outstanding technique, comfort in tight spaces and exceptional creative vision—clashed with the 1980s English emphasis on physical strength, aggression and work‑rate. The national side persisted with a 4‑4‑2 formation, favouring players like Ray Wilkins and Bryan Robson over a true No.10, limiting Hoddle’s impact. In a modern system he would likely operate as a No.10 or a creative No.8 in a midfield three, maximising his technical gifts.

Gullit’s appraisal, amplified through Christy’s platforms, underscores an ongoing debate about whether English football can reconcile its historic physical ethos with the technical brilliance that players like Hoddle embody. As the sport continues to evolve, the Dutch legend’s perspective serves as a reminder that recognising and nurturing talent may be the key to future success.