Before Dennis Bergkamp arrived in English football, players like him were myths who played abroad. A silky playmaker with vision and the ability to compete and score with both feet, there is a reason why Bergkamp is rated as one of the best of all-time in English and Dutch football.

Across a special career, he represented three giant clubs – Ajax, Internazionale, and Arsenal. Playing with Arsenal for 11 years, he made well over 350 appearances for the club and was a key member of the transformative Arsene Wenger era at Highbury.

What made Dennis Bergkamp so special?

Signed by Bruce Rioch, Bergkamp immediately upped the level of professionalism within the Arsenal dressing room. He changed the tone of the tempo, and made it far more likely that players would stick to their dietary needs to stay in the best shape possible.

Without doubt, though, it was his technical vision and big game performances that elevated Bergkamp to the finest names in Arsenal history. His technical ability is impossible to deny, but it was his ability to play in any forward position and still deliver elite performances against any opposition that made Bergkamp so special.

What does Dennis Bergkamp do now?

Bergkamp previously served as a key part of the Ajax coaching staff, acting as an assistant until 2011. However, he was demoted to a more training ground role before being unceremoniously sacked in 2017. Now, he tends to spend his time talking about the game and involved in punditry, though there are strong links with Bergkamp returning to Arsenal in some capacity in the near future.

For now, though, the Dutchman spends his time simply enjoying his career success. A respected pundit with a clear tactical eye, Bergkamp is fondly remembered by all Dutch football fans, as well as those in England and in Italy.

As one of the most revered Welsh footballers of all-time, Gary Speed was a legend of the game. His hugely impressive Premier League career seen him play with clubs like Leeds United, Newcastle United, Everton, and Bolton Wanderers.

Until his tragic passing in 2010, Speed was seen as a highlight of the Premier League era. A solid midfielder with a good goals record and an imperious fitness regime, he was among the most available players in the Premier League during his era. He was also rated as one of the best players when it came to tactical understanding, versatility in positioning, and an ability to play in various roles and systems.

What made Gary Speed so special?

Speed was noted as one of the most fearsome leaders within the English top-flight, a player with genuine quality on and off the ball who could drive his team on to do better. In well over 650 league appearances, Speed was a regular in midfields all across the league and comfortably became one of the most respected professionals.

As his career continued well into his late 30s, Speed was a crucial performer for clubs like Bolton Wanderers and then Sheffield United. He offered a glimpse of the incredible levels of dedication needed to make it at the top. On top of that, he was a driven winner who was a key part of title successes for Leeds United when he was there for the first eight years of his professional career.

What does Gary Speed do now?

Sadly, Gary Speed died in 2010, in what was noted as a suicide by hanging. The football world mourned the loss of a player who was a wonderful person, an elite competitor, and one of the finest examples of how to carry oneself both on and off the pitch. He will be sadly missed.

While wingers might no longer be quite as in-vogue as they were in the past, Ryan Giggs is still regarded as one of the finest wingers of all-time. The Manchester United academy prospect came through at the club, going on to make well over 700 appearances in the red of United. In that time, he also collected 64 caps for his country, Wales, whilst playing in the 2012 Olympics for Great Britain.

A consummate professional on the field, Giggs was lauded his longevity, going from a pacey wide player to an intelligent playmaker as his career reached the latter stages.

What made Ryan Giggs so special?

Giggs was a crucial player for United; a regular goalscorer who had a habit of appearing on the biggest of stages. He was a capable playmaker, too, rated for his excellent crossing, overlapping runs, and dribbling style. Though never the trickiest winger in the world, Giggs used his turn of pace and movement off the ball to his and his teams advantage, often creating openings that other wingers would not see.

A hard-working and tactically intelligent winger, too, Giggs spent much of his professional career acting as a mentor to younger players. He was also regularly lauded for his outstanding fitness, which played a key role in still being a regular for United right up to playing retirement in 2014.

What does Ryan Giggs do now?

Giggs has enjoyed some coaching roles, both at Manchester United and now with his national side in Wales. However, personal issues have stopped Giggs from taking on the Wales job as intended, with his private issues leading to missing huge sums of time as the manager since he took on the role in 2018. A regular presence on the training field when available, though, Giggs is believed to have a bright future in management.

Though rarely as heralded as their outfield counterparts, some goalkeepers can become de facto legends at their club sides. When Chelsea signed Petr Čech from Stade Rennais, few would have expected him to become one of the most important players in the history of Chelsea Football Club. With over 300 games for the club, though, Cech became a regular for both Chelsea and then latterly rival club Arsenal, playing over 100 games for the Gunners.

He holds the records for the most clean sheets in a row in England, as well as the most clean sheets recorded by a keeper in English football.

What made Petr Čech so special?

A cat-like goalkeeper, Čech was often a key deciding factor in various wins for Celsae over the years. He regularly played a key role in Final victories and other major wins, becoming one of the best examples of a goalkeeper who can win his team points.

Known for his incredible agility and also his ability to save penalties, he became a crucial part of the English football scene as he dominated in nets for Chelsea for close to 11 years, followed by 4 years of success at Arsenal.

What does Petr Čech do now?

Today, Cech has taken part in playing goals for the Guildford Phoenix, playing for them during the 2019-20 season. In football, he has taken on a role at Chelsea, where he took on the position of Technical Director. At the club, he has played a key role in developing strategy, pinpointing long-term goals for the club, and also liaising with the fans in times of disharmony.

He played a key role in calming down the Chelsea support after the Blues were leaked as part of the European Super League project, diffusing the situation and eventually playing a role in the club exiting from the ESL discussion.