Editing Ruud Gullit (section)

== Style of play ==
A complete and versatile player capable of aiding his team both defensively and offensively, Gullit epitomised the ethos of [[Total Football]], possessing work rate, adeptness in ball-winning, tactical intelligence, skills and physical qualities.<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Ruud Gullit">{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/archive/show_player/Ruud-Gullit|title=AC Milan Hall of Fame: Ruud Gullit|publisher=AC Milan|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103203844/http://www.acmilan.com/it/archive/show_player/Ruud-Gullit|url-status=live}}</ref> Normally utilised as an [[attacking midfielder]] or [[second striker]], he was capable of playing anywhere in [[Midfielder|midfield]] or along the [[Forward (association football)|front line]], on either [[Winger (association football)|wing]] or even in the [[Central midfielder|centre]], and could also play as a [[Sweeper (association football)|sweeper]].<ref name="Gullit: The Netherlands’ Black Tulip"/>

Gullit's foremost attribute was athleticism, being tall, powerful and an excellent jumper.<ref>Glanville, p3</ref> Yet, unusually for a man of his stature, Gullit had outstanding natural balance, poise, technique, [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] and [[Free kick (association football)|free kick]] ability.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acmilan.com/it/news/classifiche/2017-08-30/top-10-i-migliori-gol-rossoneri-su-punizione |title=TOP 10: I MIGLIORI GOL ROSSONERI SU PUNIZIONE |publisher=AC Milan |language=it |date=30 August 2017 |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323192700/https://www.acmilan.com/it/news/classifiche/2017-08-30/top-10-i-migliori-gol-rossoneri-su-punizione |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also noted for his mental acuity, creativity, vision and spatial abilities, which helped him score many goals early on and enabled him to play in a [[deep-lying playmaker]] role late in his days, where he was known for [[Assist (association football)|creating chances for teammates]].<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Ruud Gullit"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/championsleague200607/story/0,,2084976,00.html|title=Memories of past magic fire Gullit's enduring passion for Milan|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Donald|last=McRae|date=22 May 2007|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=18 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618114157/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/may/22/championsleague.acmilan|url-status=live}}</ref> Beyond his footballing qualities, Gullit also stood out with his leadership and tenacity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.quotidiano.net/sport/sacchi-calcio-capito-lezione-gullit-berlusconi-1.815247 |title=Sacchi: "Così ho cambiato il calcio. Quando Gullit rispose a Berlusconi..." |publisher=www.quotidiano.net |language=it |author1=Giuseppe Tassi |date=1 April 2015 |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-date=7 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707035855/https://www.quotidiano.net/sport/sacchi-calcio-capito-lezione-gullit-berlusconi-1.815247 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite his talent, however, he struggled with injuries throughout his career, which later affected his fitness.<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Ruud Gullit"/>

Gullit's brilliance prompted [[Garth Crooks]] to comment in his 1990 Team of the Week column, "Ruud Gullit is a great player by any standards. He has all the skills. He's not afraid to do things with the ball. And he looks as if he's enjoying every second of it. By my reckoning that's what makes him an even better player than [[Diego Maradona|Maradona]]. Both have the key quality you will find in all the best players: balance. You just can't knock them off the ball. It was the same with [[Pelé]], [[Franz Beckenbauer|Beckenbauer]] and [[Johan Cruyff|Cruyff]]."<ref>Andrew Godsell, Europe United (2005), p129</ref>