Mikel Arteta reportedly wants Dennis Bergkamp to join his coaching staff after Freddie Ljungberg’s departure and the Dutchman wants to come.
As the news broke at the weekend that Freddie Ljungberg was leaving the club, my first thought was ‘Dennis Bergamp is free.’
So, imagine my delight to wake up on Monday morning to see that Arteta is indeed thinking of bringing Dennis back. Then, imagine my double-delight to read on Tuesday morning that Bergkamp is ‘really interested’ in returning to the club (in a non-flying role).
That, however, was a bit misleading as the headline on TalkSport was based on a Bergkamp interview with FourFourTwo in July so not in direct relation to these links.
“When the time is right, I’d love to go back and get a role somewhere,” he told FFT.
“At the moment we’re great in Holland. I’ve got a young family and have been out of coaching for a little while now. But I must admit, I have the urge to go on the pitch again and help, whether it’s with the technical or coaching staff.
“It might be a bit too early, but you never know. We’ll see what comes my way.”
The last I head, Bergkamp had taken up a new role with Almere City in March 2019 after leaving Ajax under something of a cloud. Bergkamp was then said to be part of a consortium trying to buy a League One side.
Bergkamp left Ajax in 2017 and there was even a legal case ongoing between the parties. However, the Arsenal legend then joined the technical staff at Almere City FC, the side his son was playing for.
Not only did he sign for them, he did so for free.
Speaking to reporters, Bergkamp was trying to explain why he didn’t want to talk to reporters.
“I am a volunteer,” he said. “Should volunteers also do press? No right?
“I just don’t have much to say. Except that I really like it. I like to help.
“I didn’t feel the need [to work] for a moment after what had happened [at Ajax]. I wasn’t really looking either. This came my way, it felt good, that’s how it works.”
Bergkamp also added, somewhat surprisingly when talking about Ajax, “I don’t watch that much football by the way.”
Founded in 2001, by which point Bergkamp had already been an Arsenal player for six years and had won an Eredivisie, two KNVB Cups, a European Cup Winner’s Cup, two UEFA Cups, one Premier League, and one FA Cup in his career, they currently play in the Eerste Divisie in front of a 3,200 capacity crowd.
Although they can trace their history back to 1972, this current iteration came into being in 2001 when the sports club Omniworld was formed and until 2010/11 the football team were known as FC Omniworld.
Bergkamp’s 22-year-old son Mitchel was on the books of the club but is currently without a club after being let go at the start of July without making his debut for the first team.
He plays as an attacking midfielder.
Bergkamp was reportedly removed from his role as assistant manager at Ajax after a disagreement with Marc Overmars prompting some to claim the Arsenal legend’s ruthlessness was feared at the club.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have reportedly started (and possibly completed) talks with Andreas Georgson about also joining Arteta’s backroom staff.
We understand that Andreas Georgson @georgson82 has already left for @Arsenal #BrentfordFC https://t.co/FWfrL0Gc2z
— Griffin Park Grapevine (@bfcgpg) August 23, 2020
The Swede, according to the Evening Standard, “…has a growing reputation and currently works at Brentford as their Head of Set Pieces and Individual Development.
Prior to that he had been working at Malmo as an assistant coach.”