Dennis Bergkamp was a player surrounded by mystery, from his bewildering skill to his incomprehensible vision.
But equally mysterious was the Arsenal and Holland legend's fear of flying.
Upon his imminent return to the Gunners as a coach, Bergkamp might stay at home during Arsenal's long Europa League trips, just like he did as a player.
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The Non-Flying Dutchman's aviophobia is almost as famous as his mercurial talent, so deeply is it intertwined with his legendary career.
For every moment of magic at Highbury, there was a Champions League defeat away from home in Bergkamp's absence, although he did make his best efforts to travel by land when possible.
The 51-year-old doesn't talk much about anything, not least his fear of flying, but the story behind it is one of hellish experience and mental trauma.
A combination of nature and nurture, Bergkamp is scarred by both a psychological condition and his own encounters with aviation.
Let us explain...
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Why is Bergkamp afraid of flying?
Most people believe Bergkamp's decision to stop flying stemmed from two incidents at the 1994 World Cup, which we will come onto.
However, there was an incident in 1989, when Bergkamp was just 20, which resulted in the loss of several close friends.
The Surinam Airways crash in Paramaribo claimed the life of Ajax teammate Lloyd Doesburg, as well as Virgall Joemankhan, who played for the club's academy alongside Bergkamp.
Many of the 176 victims were footballers in the Dutch league, who were travelling from Amsterdam to Suriname to compete in a charity event.
Rumours have suggested Bergkamp, as well as Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, wanted to play but were denied permission by their clubs.
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Two other teammates of Bergkamp's at the time, Henny MeijerandStanley Menzo, escaped death by taking an earlier flight after ignoring Ajax's decision.
For five years after that, Bergkamp got on planes, but has since revealed he always hated it - and not in an ordinary way.
This wasn't about holding the hand of the stranger next to him because of some pre-flight nerves, Bergkamp would physically shake and break out in a cold sweat.
The last straw was the 1994 World Cup in the USA, which required more air travel than your average event.
There was mass panic on the Dutch team's flight to the tournament when the engine briefly cut out, although this was eventually fixed.
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Then, one of their flights during the World Cup was delayed after a Dutch journalist joked about having a bomb in his bag.
He was jailed, such was the seriousness of the situation.
Bergkamp has spoken about how the thought of flying would distract him during games, but he performed well at the 1994 World Cup and finished as his country's top scorer.
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However, matters were made worse when Inter Milan requested that Bergkamp return within ten days of Holland's quarter-final exit.
Troubled by injuries and fatigue, he experienced a nightmare 1994/95 campaign at Inter, scoring just five times in 26 matches, and the club decided to sell him to Arsenal.
Upon joining the Gunners, he made it clear he would never fly again, a decision which cost him £100,000 in pay.
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What has he said about it?
Bergkamp first publicly admitted his fear of flying during his debut campaign at Arsenal, revealing that he may seek psychiatric help.
He said: "I've got this problem and I have to live with it. I can't do anything about it, it is a psychological thing and I can't explain it. I have not flown on a plane for two years.
"The Dutch FA has been sympathetic, so have have Arsenal, so far.
"I am considering psychiatric help. I can't fly. I just freeze. I get panicky. It starts the day before, when I can't sleep.''
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In 2013, the Dutchman delved further into his condition in his autobiography, revealing that his experience of small planes at Inter was the main reason behind his phobia.
He wrote: "They were those nasty little planes that stay in the clouds and shake all the time.
"When you looked out all you could see was white or grey. And there was hardly any space. It was so cramped it made me claustrophobic.
"You had absolutely no room to move and you just sat there shaking the entire trip. It made me feel so awful and I began to develop such an aversion to it that it suddenly dawned on me: 'I don't want to do this any more'.
"It got so bad I would look up at the sky during away games to see what the weather was like. Were there any clouds coming? Sometimes I was preoccupied by the flight home while I was playing football. It was hell.
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"The last straw was when we had an away game against Fiorentina. I saw that boneshaker with its propellers standing on the runway and I broke out in a cold sweat. And sure enough it was another disastrous flight.
"I know what flying is! I've flown countless times in large planes, small ones, tiny ones.
"At Ajax, I once flew in a minuscule plane over Mount Etna near Naples when we got into a terrible air pocket – in terms of flying, I've seen and done it all and I'm simply not flying again. Ever.
"In talks with Arsenal, if I said 'a million' they automatically deducted a hundred grand 'because you don't fly'. And I accepted that."
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert in the field, I can provide you with information related to the concepts mentioned in the article about Dennis Bergkamp's fear of flying. I have extensive knowledge and understanding of the topic, which I will share with you.
Dennis Bergkamp's Fear of Flying
Dennis Bergkamp, the legendary Arsenal and Holland football player, is well-known for his fear of flying, also known as aviophobia. This fear has been deeply intertwined with his career and has had a significant impact on his travel arrangements during his time as a player and now as a coach.
Origins of Bergkamp's Fear
While many people believe that Bergkamp's fear of flying originated from incidents at the 1994 World Cup, there was actually an earlier incident in 1989 that played a significant role. At the age of 20, Bergkamp lost several close friends in the Surinam Airways crash in Paramaribo. This tragic event claimed the lives of his Ajax teammate Lloyd Doesburg and Virgall Joemankhan, who played for the club's academy alongside Bergkamp. Many other victims of the crash were footballers from the Dutch league who were traveling to Suriname for a charity event.
Following this incident, Bergkamp continued to fly for five years but always had a deep dislike for it. The turning point came during the 1994 World Cup in the USA, where the Dutch team experienced a moment of panic when their flight's engine briefly cut out. Additionally, one of their flights was delayed due to a Dutch journalist joking about having a bomb in his bag, resulting in his arrest. These incidents further intensified Bergkamp's fear and made him decide to never fly again.
Psychological and Emotional Impact
Bergkamp's fear of flying goes beyond ordinary pre-flight nerves. He would physically shake and break out in a cold sweat, making it a deeply distressing experience for him. The fear of flying even affected his focus during games, as he would be preoccupied with thoughts of the upcoming flights. Despite these challenges, Bergkamp performed well at the 1994 World Cup and finished as the top scorer for the Dutch team.
Bergkamp's Decision and Consequences
Upon joining Arsenal, Bergkamp made it clear that he would no longer fly. This decision cost him £100,000 in pay, as the club deducted a portion of his salary due to his refusal to fly. Despite the financial impact, both the Dutch Football Association and Arsenal have been sympathetic and understanding of his fear.
Bergkamp's Reflections
In his autobiography published in 2013, Bergkamp delved further into his fear of flying. He attributed the main reason for his phobia to his experience with small planes during his time at Inter Milan. These planes were cramped, constantly shaking, and provided little space, which made him feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable. The combination of these factors led him to develop a strong aversion to flying.
Bergkamp emphasized that he had extensive experience flying in various types of planes, including large ones, but the negative experiences with small planes and the associated anxiety were enough to make him decide never to fly again.
Conclusion
Dennis Bergkamp's fear of flying is deeply rooted in personal experiences, including the Surinam Airways crash and subsequent incidents during the 1994 World Cup. His fear goes beyond ordinary pre-flight nerves and has had a significant impact on his career and personal life. Despite the challenges, both the Dutch Football Association and Arsenal have been supportive of his decision to avoid flying.
