In 1996, when Hoddle led Chelsea, Gullit was appointed as a player-manager. The Dutchman guided Chelsea to an FA Cup triumph in 1997, the club’s first major trophy in 26 years. The first won by a non-British manager. The following season, with Chelsea in second place in the Premiership and proceeding to the quarterfinals in two cup competitions, he was sacked. After Gullit’s controversial sacking, chairman Ken Bates famously said of Gullit – “I didn’t like his arrogance – in fact I never liked him”.
In 1998, he was named manager of Newcastle United, with an FA Cup final appearance in his first year. Shortly later, fans began to turn against him, and after a political controversy with star striker and local hero Alan Shearer and captain Robert Lee, Gullit resigned in 1999.
After a disappointment at Feyenoord in the 2004/2005 season, Ruud Gullit became head coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy, in 2007. His $2 million per year salary was the highest ever given to an MLS head coach. After rumours and living the LA Glamour life he was fired in august 2008 after a seven-game winless streak.
His last club as a trainer was, FC Terek Grozny, a club in the explosive outback of Russia. Standing next to Ramzan Kadyrov (who is seen as a terrorist heading the Chechen totalitatarian regime), Gullit stated: “I’d like to believe that I can bring joy into the lives of the Chechen people through football […] Of course, I won’t deny that I’m getting lots of money from Terek.” Gullit was sacked by the club 5 months later, having only won 3 games. Gullit was often spotted in Russian nightlife accompanied by questionable people.
The past month Gullit was named as for a position as a national manager for the Netherlands. Especially by Ruud himself. The charismatic person raised too many question marks. As a player he convinced, as a manager there was always an air of conflicts, glamour and arrogance.
>At this moment Ruud is looking for a new goal, using Twitter to stay on the national radar. A radar he is definitely on, helped by his third wife Estelle, niece of Johan Cruyff. In June 2012 Estelle filed for divorce when she noticed he placed bugs in their house. After cheating on his wife frequently during the past 16 years she left him for kick boxer and K1 fighter, Badr Hari. Hari was convicted for physical abuse and was arrested july 27th for beating two persons cripple.
However Ruud is moving on: the globetrotter has to be in the limelight surrounded by obscure individuals. Latest gossip: “il Tulipano Nero” might become national manager for Afghanistan.
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