Wim Jonk
ITALY
Wim Jonk helped Dennis Bergkamp make the finishing touches in his career.
After playing in different positions, the combination with the intelligent
playmaker got Bergkamp settled as a so called 'shadow-striker'. Behind the
target man up front, Dennis Bergkamp would occupy those free spaces and Wim
Jonk would launch him in a perfect way. Their excellent combinations on the
pitch were so intense that Inter decided to buy them both in 1993. It was the
club's first international transfer.
"WE'VE GOT DENNIS BERGKAMP. WE'VE GOT DENNIS BERGKAMP."
DENNIS BERGKAMP TESTIMONIAL MATCH V AJAX JULY 22, 2006
"Our special relationship on the
pitch just happened by itself. When
I came to Ajax in 1988, Dennis had
also just become part of the squad.
In the beginning we were rivals,
then Leo Beenhakker was the first
who put me in the position behind
Dennis. He said that I should
deliver and he should finish. It was
that simple. Our secret? Dennis is a
player who always goes forward
and I am a player who always looks
forward. For me he was the ideal
partner. Because he had a great eye
for space I would also notice. Two
players with the same thoughts, it
wasn't so difficult. Our way of
playing was never a matter of
training, but a matter of instinct.
The extra bit came because of the
rest of the team. Even if two players
think the same, the effect will be
reduced if the other players have no
clue about their intentions. But
Dennis and I were very lucky. Ajax
then had some top quality players
and because they adjusted to our
way of playing, we became very,
very strong. We not only won the
UEFA Cup, but also earned a
transfer to Inter. Unfortunately in
Italy our partnership fell apart as
we were forced to play more for
ourselves. During that period
Dennis had to work very hard to
survive on his own. The way they
wanted us to play made us different
players, because we had to play
and act in a different way.
Therefore our first year was very
unstable, but still we won the UEFA
Cup and Dennis and I scored 13 of
the 20 goals. He got eight and I
scored five. Because in the
European games they gave us more
space and that made us play more
in the way we were used to.
But we were both not very happy
with our situation at Inter and after
two years we both left the club.
Dennis went to Arsenal and I signed
for PSV. After that we only saw each
other when Holland played."
