Biography
Who is Ruud Gullit?
Early life and real name
Ruud Gullit was born as Rudi Dil in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on September 1, 1962. His father was George Gullit, a Surinamese teacher, and his mother was Ria Dil, who worked as a custodian at the Rijksmuseum. The family lived in a single split level room on the top floor of a small apartment building in the city.
Ruud developed his football skills playing street football in the Rozendwarsstraat alongside future international teammate Frank Rijkaard. He joined his first team, the Meerboys, as a junior in 1970. Later, he moved to Amsterdam Old West and joined the DWS club, where he eventually started using his father's surname because it sounded more like a football player name.
Club career highlights
Ruud Gullit signed his first professional contract with HFC Haarlem on September 22, 1978, making his debut at sixteen years and eleven months old. He helped the club win the Eerste Divisie title and later moved to Feyenoord in 1982. At Feyenoord, he played alongside Johan Cruyff and won the league and cup double, earning the title of Dutch Footballer of the Year.
In 1985, Ruud transferred to PSV Eindhoven and captured consecutive Eredivisie titles before moving to AC Milan in 1987 for a world record transfer fee. With AC Milan, he won two Scudetti and two European Cups, playing alongside compatriots Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard. His strong performances earned him the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 1987.
International career
As a key player for the Netherlands national team, Ruud Gullit served as captain and led his country to victory in the UEFA Euro 1988 tournament. His contributions on the field secured his status as a famous figure in Dutch football history.
Aside from the victorious European Championship campaign, Ruud also represented the Netherlands at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1992. In 2004, FIFA recognized his famous status by naming him one of the top 125 greatest living footballers during their centennial celebrations.
Height and personal details
Ruud Gullit stands at a height of 191 centimetres. Throughout his life and career, he has been associated with several major European clubs and has one known child named Maxim Gullit.
His contributions to sports and society have been recognized with numerous honours, including being named a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau and earning a spot in the Italian Football Hall of Fame.
Birthday and age
Ruud Gullit was born on September 1, 1962, which makes Ruud 64 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Ruud shares the date with 34 other famous people.
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