RUUD GULLIT is described by Freddy Shepherd as "one of the most honourable men in football".
If that staggers some members of the Toon Army who hold him and Kenny Dalglish in low esteem after the KK years, then Shepherd defends the appointment of both, each of whom took Newcastle to an FA Cup final at Wembley of course.
"Football is supposed to be a world full of greed yet Ruud walked into my office, said he had lost the dressing-room, and wanted to go the next day.
"He didn't ask for a penny and he didn't get a penny. That was the act of an honourable man.
"He had just lost at home to Sunderland when he left Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson on the subs' handbags l bench and went with a kid Paul Robinson up front. That was his undoing.
"Ruud fell out with Shearer, of course, but even Alan admitted he was a wholesale designer shoes good coach.
"When Gullit first arrived, just as it was with Michael Owen, a huge crowd gathered at St James' Park to welcome him.
"He promised them sexy football which was something after the departure of Kenny Dalglish who had a dour image.
"However, it must be remembered that Alan Shearer was instrumental in Kenny coming here.
"Dalglish had won the championship with Liverpool and Blackburn, where he was Shearer's manager, so his record was first rate.
"We had just finished runners-up and he looked like the man to take us that final step."
CAPTION(S):
HONOUR: Ruud Gullit
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