Ruud Gullit makes no sense

When coaches or players fail, the more sensible of them learn from the experience and move on. The less sensible look for someone other than themselves to blame.

Sadly, Ruud Gullit has placed himself in the latter category.

The former Dutch star, who spent all of nine months as coach of the Galaxy, on Monday suggested that there is a conspiracy among other American sports to keep soccer down, and therefore that no amount of David Beckhams could turn it into a major sport in the U.S.

"I think they are afraid of football because it is so popular everywhere around the world," Gullit told Reuters. "I think they will just control it so it doesn't become more popular than their American sports."

Gullit said that as a result, Beckham is fighting an uphill battle to sell soccer to U.S. fans.

"So it is very hard for him," Gullit said. "They will never allow that, and in some ways I can understand it as well.

"I have my doubts if they really want to make it popular. Some sports have already had a bit of a dive, so they don't want American football to become less popular, or basketball or baseball."

All of which is utter nonsense, of course.

If there are unnamed, shadowy figures lurking in the corners of American sports trying to keep soccer down, why have such influential figures as Phil Anschutz, Robert Kraft, the late Lamar Hunt and more recently the likes of Andrew Hauptman, Stan Kroenke and Dave Checketts invested

literally hundreds of millions of dollars in Major League Soccer?

Why are there now seven soccer-specific stadiums in North America -- with another handful on the way -- when there were none only a dozen years ago?

Why have American television networks begun devoting countless hours of programming to soccer, not just MLS but the European Champions League, the English Premier League, World Cup qualifying and the like?

Why have at least 18 American cities said that they would very much like to stage games if and when the World Cup returns to the U.S.?

Why are more American players than ever before seeing the opportunity that soccer presents and actively carving out careers in the U.S., Mexico and Europe?

Why is a new women's professional league being launched next spring?

The truth is, Gullit did not do is homework before coming to the Galaxy. Perhaps the money being thrown at him by AEG distorted his perspective. He should have known about the salary cap. He should have known about the modest skill level of players a little further down the salary line than Beckham. He should have known about the heat, the travel, the artificial playing surfaces and all the other things that he later complained about.

Instead, he thought his reputation as a player would allow him to do as he pleased in MLS, but forgot that as far as coaching goes he has no reputation whatsoever. He failed at Chelsea, Newcastle United and Feyenoord and he failed with the Galaxy.

When the losses started to pile up, Gullit cut and ran, citing unspecified personal reasons. Now he is blaming the system and inventing an anti-soccer conspiracy.

There is no need to listen to him any longer.

-- Grahame L. Jones

Photo:  Ruud Gullit during a Nov. 9, 2007 news conference in Los Angeles. Credit: Phil McCarten / EPA

Comments

[Brian]

After I read his comments, all I could wonder was what screen name he used on Big Soccer because he sounded more like one of the stereotypical "Internet nuts" Kevin Payne used to talk about instead of a guy who has traveled the world and been at the highest level.

It's really said when paranoia and anger take over after failure.

[JR]

Indeed, Ruud Gullit will be forgotten in these football circles, and will only remembered for absolutely doing nothing to turn this year's Galaxy side around.

[Jonathan]

I understand what Ruud is talking about. There is a palpable open anti-soccer sentiment in many sports communities (particularly gridiron) in this country. The largest transgressors are in the media. I certainly don't think that there is an organized effort in any other sports organizations such as the NFL, NBA or MLB agains't soccer. In fact several owners from these leagues are also owners of MLS teams or want to be owners of MLS teams. There is no doubt it's an uphill battle but the game will prevale. Soccer type football has been played in this country since the 1600s. It experienced a dark age in this country since the early 1930s until it's resurrgence after the 1966 World Cup was broadcast around the World by satellite for the first time. The North American Soccer League with Pele planted a seed in this country which is still growing. Beckham has made a significant change but it's still not going to happen overnight. He has raised the awareness of MLS in the U.S. and Canada. As more and more American's (and Canadian's) attend games - they will discover how exciting the Worlds game is. The league (and sport) will continue to grow.

[James]

Soccer will always be hated in American because of what it represents to the average American. It represents the un-American: foreign countries, foreign culture and foreign players.

Since soccer has been stigmatized as an un-American/foreign sport it will always be ridiculed and insulted at every mention. AMericans will always turn up their noses at it, sneer whenever they are told its the most popular sport in the world and spew out "soccer bashing" in spades against the invasion of this foreign sport.

Its as simple as that.

[Ronny]

Well said Grahame...Well said. Ruud needs not to be heard anymore.

[Kevin]

Jonathon, Ruud wasn't talking about the media in general or specific sports leagues; he was talking about specifically MLS. Evidentally, the owners investing hundreds of millions of dollars in MLS are doing it in an effort to keep soccer, "down."

[Dragos]

Grahame Jones named his article appropriately ("Ruud Gullit Makes No Sense") and is also right in saying that RG did not do his homework prior to moving to the Galaxy. Gullit's misstep applies to his views of the American soccer world as well as the American society as a whole. In making his recent comments, Gullit is ignoring the fact that a free market follows the rules of supply and demand, and not those of unidentified private interests. The economic viability of American soccer has skyrocketed recently, and I realize that Gullit was not here to see the "before" picture. But no baseball-loving capitalist will get in the way of value growth for his or her soccer investment. If Gullit were a bit more astute, he would notice the historical importance of what is happening here: Americans are "making" soccer just the way we are "making" money--through creativity, investment, and hard work dedicated to supply a growing demand. This was in fact a great opportunity for him to sever his ties with a generally unaccomplished European coaching career and become part of something new, providing a possible path to management stardom. Too much Dutch and too little American in him?...

[Peg Manning]

Spot on, Grahame. I could not believe Gullit's bitter and delusional remarks. Sorry, Ruud, but it's the long-suffering Galaxy fans who have a right to complain, not someone who was paid a bundle and failed miserably.

[Malby]

The people who think soccer is "foreign" are the same type who won't vote for an African-American because he's too "different." Happily, many of them are getting close to shuffling off this mortal coil and allowing younger folk who know how to use computers and aren't afraid of the world begin to make their presence known.

[forza juve]

It's a shame.
He should have stayed. He wouldn't fare any worse than Bruce Arena.
He could have been god for the Glaxy down the road.
We need all the pros in this country.

[TOM]

RUUD AND GRAHAME;DO TALK,DO WRITE

[Carla]

Bravo Mr. Jones. Not only did Ruud Gullit leave the Galaxy in shambles, he has shown his ignorance of soccer in the U.S. Soccer may not be the number one or number two spectator sport in the U.S. However, with the millions of children who are growing up learning, playing and watching the beautiful game, soccer’s bright future in this country is assured. I was outraged by his comments which reeked strongly of sour grapes. As an avid soccer fan, I can't thank David Beckham enough for the interest he has created in the sport by playing in the MLS. He has helped to increase attendance at games, viewership on television and if some of those who were there only to see David Beckham found they enjoyed what they saw and return, he will have furthered the future of soccer and the MLS and that can only be a good thing.

[alexandre s]

Grahame is absolutely right. Gullit didnt do his homework. He thought his Great Player Reputation, would automatically equal a Great Coach. It didnt happen for him in Europe and it didnt happen in the U.S. Sour Grapes. Great players dont necessarily make good coaches.

[pierre]

Gullit was a mistake from the start. My recommendation would be Mr. Guus Hiddinck.
The guy is a tactical genius and brought Russia, Australia and the Ivory Coast out of oblivion and into the top of the soccer world. Gullit does not have that kind of personality. Sorry Ruud but as the old Dutch saying goes.
Wooden Shoes, Wooden Head, Wooden Listen.

[Alexander Zaalberg]

I am Dutch. From Ruud's country. Which is the Netherlands, to you Americans better known as Holland, Europe.

Perhaps Ruud is a nice guy, I don't know. I do know his wife is very among the Dutch celebs. Shopping and creditcards. She loved her move to LA.

Ruud was a great football (soccor) player in his days. He looks very distinquised as trainer (British style).

But perhaps Ruud loves the red carpet more than the green carpet.

I think soccer is a long term sport in the U.S. Don't contract very expensive foreign players. Contract a great trainer and train your own kids. That's long term thinking, not short term money making (or money losing).

Hope by the way whenever soccer will be big in your country it will be a fun sport. Not the very violent sport it is in Europe (with the hard core almost criminal fans).

good luck.

Alexander Zaalberg
Amsterdam
Holland
Europe