Editing Dennis Bergkamp (section)

===Style of play===
{{quote box
| width = 25%
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| quote = "He needs fewer touches to score. Sometimes just one, when others need two or three."</p>
| source = [[Arsène Wenger]] on Bergkamp<ref name="Indy"/>
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Bergkamp was schooled in Dutch [[Total Football]], a playing style and philosophy which relied on versatility. This was primarily to maximise the footballer's potential; players tried out every outfield position before finding one that suited them best.<ref name="Times"/> Every age group at Ajax played in the same style and formation as the first team – [[Formation (association football)#3.E2.80.934.E2.80.933|3–4–3]] – to allow individuals to slot in without effort when moving up the pyramid.<ref name="Times"/> Bergkamp "played in every position apart from [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalie]]" and believed he benefited from the experience of playing as a defender, as it helped him "know how they think and how to beat them".<ref name="Times"/> When he made his debut as a substitute against Roda JC, Bergkamp was positioned on the [[Winger (association football)|right wing]], where he remained for three years.<ref name="Times"/>

During his time at Inter Milan, Bergkamp was switched to the position of a main [[Striker (association football)|striker]], but failed to cooperate with his offensive partner Rubén Sosa, whom he later called "selfish".<ref name="Times"/> Furthermore, due to his introverted character, he was accused of lacking consistency and leadership skills by the Italian press, and struggled to replicate his previous form during his time with Inter.<ref name="FourFourTwo"/><ref name=latimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-07-sp-12912-story.html|title=WORLD CUP USA '94 / QUARTERFINALS : A Happy 'Kamper : Dutch Forward Bergkamp Feeling More Confident|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|author1=Helene Elliot|date=7 July 1994|access-date=25 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=treccani>{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/dennis-bergkamp_%28Enciclopedia_dello_Sport%29/|title=BERGKAMP, Dennis|publisher=Treccani.it|language=it|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref> When Bergkamp joined Arsenal in 1995, he enjoyed a successful strike partnership with [[Ian Wright|Wright]], and in later seasons [[Nicolas Anelka|Anelka]] and [[Thierry Henry|Henry]], playing in his preferred position as a creative [[second striker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/thierry-henry-arsenal-most-premier-league-assists-season-200203-van-nistelrooy-golden-boot |title=Thierry Henry's assist record of 2002/03: how Arsenal's talisman reinvented the Premier League striker |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Haugstad |first1=Thore |date=25 October 2019 |access-date=21 January 2020 }}</ref> The arrival of [[Marc Overmars|Overmars]] in the 1997–98 season enhanced Bergkamp's play, as he was getting more of the ball. Between August and October 1997, he scored seven goals in seven league matches.{{sfn|Palmer|p=81}} A similar rapport developed between him and [[Freddie Ljungberg|Ljungberg]] during the 2001–02 season.<ref name="Tele"/>

Although he was known for his composure and ability to score several goals for his team as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]],<ref name="Indy"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/holland/squad/743887.stm|title=Dennis Bergkamp|publisher=BBC|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref> Bergkamp was also capable of playing in a free role behind a lone striker, where he essentially functioned in the [[Squad number (association football)|number 10]] role as a [[Playmaker|playmaking]] [[attacking midfielder]] or deep-lying forward, due to his ball skills and creative ability, which enabled him to drop deep between the lines and link-up play, and operate across all attacking areas of the pitch. His tendency to move freely about the entire front-line made it difficult for opposing defenders to mark him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/settembre/05/gia_Inter_griffata_Bianchi_co_0_94090511365.shtml|title=e' gia' un' Inter " griffata " Bianchi|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=5 September 1994|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Dennis Bergkamp's career in football">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/5200630.stm|title=Dennis Bergkamp's career in football|work=BBC Sport|date=22 July 2006|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="career">{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/dennis-bergkamp|title=Dennis Bergkamp|publisher=Arsenal.com|author1=Josh James|date=6 May 2016|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="tuttomercatoweb">{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/nato-oggi/dennis-bergkamp-l-olandese-non-volante-che-delizio-i-palati-gunners-827904|title=Dennis Bergkamp, l'olandese non volante che deliziò i palati Gunners|publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb.com|language=it|author1=Simone Bernabei|date=10 May 2016|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="pagelle">{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,26/articleid,0721_01_1994_0005_0026_10401328/ |title=Lo zar: di Van Basten ce n'è uno |trans-title=The tsar: There's only one Van Basten |newspaper=La Stampa |page=26 |language=it |author1=Franco Badolato |date=6 January 1994 |access-date=17 November 2018 }}</ref> As such, Sam Tighe of ''[[Bleacher Report]]'' has retroactively compared Bergkamp's role as a free [[centre-forward]] to that of the modern [[Forward (association football)#False 9|false-9]].<ref name="false9History">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1385356-9-best-false-nines-in-world-football-history |title=9 Best False Nines in World Football History |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=17 April 2022 }}</ref><ref name="false9Best">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1802653-complete-guide-to-the-false-9-and-who-plays-it-best |title=Complete Guide to the False 9 and Who Plays It Best |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=8 October 2013 |access-date=17 April 2022 }}</ref> A quick, elegant, intelligent, and gifted player, who was regarded as one of the most technically accomplished players of all time, he possessed an excellent first touch, which – allied with his quick feet, [[Dribbling (association football)|dribbling]] ability and change of pace – enabled him to beat defenders in one on one situations, while his attacking movement, physique, balance, and close control allowed him to hold up the ball and create space for teammates; his vision and passing range with both feet, despite being naturally right-footed, subsequently allowed him to provide [[Assist (association football)|assists]] for on-running strikers.<ref name="Burgcamp"/><ref name="FourFourTwo"/><ref name=latimes/><ref name=treccani/><ref name="first touches">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/nov/11/joy-of-six-first-touches-bergkamp|title=The Joy of Six: football first touches|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Rob Smyth|date=11 November 2011|access-date=22 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="Gunners' Greatest">{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/greatest-players-no-2.-dennis-bergkand |title=Gunners' Greatest Players 2. Dennis Bergkamp |date=17 July 2008 |access-date=18 December 2011 |publisher=Arsenal.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517020650/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/greatest-players-no-2.-dennis-bergkand |archive-date=17 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/dream-team-we-reveal-the-first-striker...|title=Arsenal Dream Team: 10. Dennis Bergkamp|publisher=Arsenal.com|access-date=25 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/feb/06/match.sport5|title=Bergkamp swoops to conquer|newspaper=The Guardian|date=6 February 1999|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref><ref name=training>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/when-dennis-came-what-training-bergkamp-was-really|title=When Dennis came: What training with Bergkamp was really like|magazine=FourFourTwo|author1=Adrian Clarke|date=19 June 2015|access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref> Bergkamp often stated he preferred playing in this deeper role, as he derived more pleasure from assisting goals, rather than scoring them himself.<ref name="FourFourTwo"/><ref name="first touches"/>

Throughout his playing career, Bergkamp was accused of [[Diving (association football)|diving]], and was referred to as a "cheat" and "dirty player" for retaliating against players who had previously challenged him, something his former manager [[Arsène Wenger|Wenger]] denied.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bergkamp cleared in dive cheat row |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60706357.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602221544/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60706357.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 June 2013 |newspaper=The Mirror |location=London |date=20 January 1998 |access-date=30 April 2012}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bergkamp treats the Newcastle fans to wrong kind of trickery |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-97384039 |newspaper=The Mirror |location=London |date=10 February 2003 |access-date=30 April 2012 |last=Holt |first=Oliver }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bergkamp is not dirty, says Wenger |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3036972/Bergkamp-is-not-dirty-says-Wenger.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3036972/Bergkamp-is-not-dirty-says-Wenger.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[Telegraph.co.uk]]|date=29 October 2002 |access-date=30 April 2012 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[The Times]]'' in 2004, he said that while he was at Inter, he realised the importance of being mentally tough in order to survive: "A lot of people there try to hurt you, not just physically but mentally as well, and coming from the easygoing culture in Holland, I had to adopt a tougher approach. There, it was a case of two strikers up against four or five hard defenders who would stop at nothing."<ref name="Times"/> Bergkamp says his aggression often stems from frustration.<ref name="Times"/>