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Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp has taken his first steps into management by applying to take his coaching badges in his native Holland.
The mercurial Dutchman hung up his boots at the end of the 2005-2006 season after an 11-year career with The Gunners that saw him win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, the Footballer of the Year and PFA Player of the Year awards in 1998 and the long-standing admiration of many an observer.
After his testimonial in North London, the first game to be held at Emirates Stadium, his life outside of football has been typically low-key but Bergkamp has now shown an inclination to engage with the game once more.
The 38-year-old has applied to enroll on a course which is run by the Dutch Football Association and would enable him to coach in De Eredivisie.
He is eligible for a fast-track scheme having won 79 caps for his country, scoring 36 goals in the process, and has joined his former team-mates Tony Adams, Steve Bould and, briefly, Paul Merson in moving into the world of coaching.
Bergkamp told Dutch magazine Sportweek recently that : “Being out of the game is beginning to itch”, and it has been reported that he has now been installed as 16/1 to replace Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager at some point in the future.
The mercurial Dutchman hung up his boots at the end of the 2005-2006 season after an 11-year career with The Gunners that saw him win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, the Footballer of the Year and PFA Player of the Year awards in 1998 and the long-standing admiration of many an observer.
After his testimonial in North London, the first game to be held at Emirates Stadium, his life outside of football has been typically low-key but Bergkamp has now shown an inclination to engage with the game once more.
The 38-year-old has applied to enroll on a course which is run by the Dutch Football Association and would enable him to coach in De Eredivisie.
He is eligible for a fast-track scheme having won 79 caps for his country, scoring 36 goals in the process, and has joined his former team-mates Tony Adams, Steve Bould and, briefly, Paul Merson in moving into the world of coaching.
Bergkamp told Dutch magazine Sportweek recently that : “Being out of the game is beginning to itch”, and it has been reported that he has now been installed as 16/1 to replace Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager at some point in the future.
