Ruud Gullit

1962: Born Amsterdam, September 1st.

1970: Signed by Dutch club Meerboys as a junior.

1978: Signed for Harlem by former West Bromwich Albion player Barry Hughes, then the Dutch club's coach.

1981: Made international debut for Holland against Switzerland on 19th birthday.

1982: Moved to Feyenoord.

1985: Transferred to PSV Eindhoven for £400,000.

1987: Signed by AC Milan for world record £5.5 million. Voted European and World Footballer of the Year. Dedicated European award to Nelson Mandela.

1988: Helped Milan to Italian League title. Captained Holland to European Championship glory. Sustained serious knee injury.

1989: Scored twice as Milan won European Cup with 4-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest.

1990: Won second successive European Cup winners' medal with Milan after 1-0 win over Benfica. Played in World Cup finals for only time but disappointment for the Dutch, who went out to West Germany in the second round.

1992: Won second Italian title medal. Announced retirement from international soccer for "personal reasons" but later had change of heart.

1993: Won third Italian League winners' medal with Milan before joining Sampdoria. Again announced he was quitting international soccer after rowing with Dutch manager Dick Advocaat following his substitution in a World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley.

1994: Made international comeback against Scotland but walked out of training camp after another argument with Advocaat with the World Cup less than three weeks away. In all, made 66 appearances for Holland, scoring 16 goals. Moved back to Milan for seven months before returning to Sampdoria.

1995: Signed two-year contract with Chelsea, leaving Sampdoria on a free transfer.

1996: Appointed player-coach in succession to Glenn Hoddle after the latter's decision to succeed Terry Venables as England coach. Subsequently agrees new two-year contract with further option.

1997: Guides Chelsea to sixth place in the Premiership and wins the FA Cup with a 2-0 defeat of Middlesbrough at Wembley.

1998: On February 12th is relieved of duties after failing to agree contract extension. Gianluca Vialli, the striker he brought from Juventus on a free transfer, is appointed his successor.