A Dutch of class inspired Bobby’s Ipswich to glory
ARNOLD MUHREN had no idea he was about to become a pioneer when he signed for Ipswich.
In the 42 years since the Dutchman crossed the North Sea to join Bobby Robson at Portman Road, Dennis Bergkamp, Ruud Gullit, Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Virgil van Dijk have followed the trail he blazed with such brilliance.
And English football has been better for it.
But Muhren admits he thought he’d made the biggest mistake of his life when he was initially thrown into the tumult of the old First Division, following his £150,000 arrival from FC Twente.
He said: “I made my debut against Liverpool. We lost 3-0 at home.
“I only touched the ball three times – once at kick-off, once when I took a throw-in and then after 90 minutes when I handed the ball back to the referee!
“I thought to myself, ‘I have made the biggest mistake of my life’.
“The ball was just walloped up front in a typical English style and so after a while I decided to go up to the manager.
“I said, ‘Mr Robson, if you want to get the best out of me, you will have to give me the ball, otherwise you might as well put the kitman in my position.
“The rest is history. That season we won the FA Cup and the team got going from then on.
“We finished in the top three almost every time and, in 1981, we won the UEFA Cup.
“It was an incredible period of success and the most amazing time of my life. I went back to Ipswich just before the Covid crisis and realised the people are never going to forget that great period again.
“The UEFA Cup was – and still is – the biggest trophy they had won.”
Muhren – now 69, and back working for his former club Ajax as a scout – later signed for Manchester United and helped the Reds win the FA Cup in 1983.
Five years later he supplied the cross that enabled Marco van Basten to volley home one of the greatest-ever goals as Holland became European champions.
But it was at Ipswich, playing alongside compatriot Frans Thijssen, where he illustrated how talent nurtured in Holland could excel in England.
Last week marked the 11th anniversary of Robson’s death. And Muhren said: “I’d never heard of Ipswich, but when Bobby came over to talk to me he was so heartwarming that my wife Geer told me I had to play for him.”
Muhren added: “When I visited Ipswich a few months ago, the people who work for the club were lovely and full of respect for me.
“They treated me like a hero and said, ‘We will never forget what you have done for us’.
“I still follow Ipswich every week. I always have done since I left the club.
“The people at
Ipswich feel like family and that is why they will always keep a special place in my heart.”