Dennis Bergkamp: The Moments That Made Them

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Rest Is Football

Episode: Dennis Bergkamp: The Moments That Made Them

Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards
Date: February 18, 2026
Theme:
A tribute to the legendary Dennis Bergkamp, focusing on the iconic moments and qualities that made him one of the Premier League’s all-time greats. The team explores his impact at Arsenal, technical brilliance, and lasting legacy, with trademark banter, anecdotes, and analysis.

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Gary, Alan, and Micah dive into the career of Dennis Bergkamp, reliving his most famous goals, discussing his influence on English football, and ranking his place among the sport’s modern legends. The conversation blends deep football knowledge, candid stories, and the hosts’ unique chemistry.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Made Bergkamp Special

• Technical Brilliance:
  • “He’s up there with my favorite ever players, really. That's how good he was. Touch, technique, playing people in, awareness, leadership. And his finishing ... just them delicate touches he had.” — Alan Shearer [02:48]
• Character and Humility:
  • Gary recalls interviewing Bergkamp early in his TV career, describing him as “really pleasant” and “humble,” despite being a star [03:10].
• Transfer to Arsenal:
  • Micah highlights: “With him, there are good buys and there are great buys. And Bruce Rioch ... he was a great buy” [03:37].

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2. Early Arsenal Days & Slow Start

• Discussion of Bergkamp's initial struggle, facing criticism before scoring his debut goal against Southampton—relief for player and fans alike [04:05–04:22].

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3. Bergkamp’s Influence and Arsenal’s Legendary Kit

• The panel reminisces about the classic Arsenal JVC kit, blending nostalgia and playful ribbing over club loyalties:
  • “Did you use to wear that when you were little, Micah?” — Gary Lineker [05:12]
  • “I was an Arsenal fan when I was younger, I can’t say it now!” — Micah Richards [05:17]

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4. The Flying Dilemma: Bergkamp’s Aviophobia

• On Bergkamp’s well-known fear of flying:
  • “Did they know that he didn’t like flying?” — Gary [06:01]
  • “He would have to miss the game if it was far. Or get a ferry or a car ... that is a trip and a half, isn’t it?” — Micah [06:14]
• Alan Shearer admits his own fear of flying, sparking a humorous tangent [06:29–07:51].

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5. The Arsène Wenger Revolution

• Wenger’s arrival was a perfect fit for Bergkamp’s style and personality.
  • Gary shares a quirky anecdote about Wenger inheriting his old fax paper in Japan, as recounted in David Dein’s book, before Arsenal’s transformation [08:02–09:06].
• Berger’s Arsenal success came as Wenger shifted club culture away from the old-school English habits toward professionalism and fitness:
  • “Arsene Wenger came in, it changed almost the culture ... not just at Arsenal, but for English football.” — Gary [12:08]
  • “They looked so much fitter and stronger than the opposition.” — Micah [12:47]

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6. Iconic Bergkamp Moments

Hat-Trick vs Leicester City [09:06–10:35]

• The panel relives his legendary hat-trick:
  • “Probably one of the greatest hat-tricks ... first goal, top corner from 25 yards.” — Gary [09:19]
  • “Possibly three of the greatest touches of all time. 1, 2, 3.” — Micah Richards [10:05]

1998 World Cup Goal vs Argentina [10:10–10:35]

• Gary draws a parallel between the Leicester goal and the famously controlled strike against Argentina:
  • “He brings it down in a similar sort of manner ... absolute classic goal.” — Gary

The Newcastle Goal: Did He Mean It? [20:16–22:50]

• The show’s central debate—did Bergkamp mean the outrageous spin-and-finish vs Newcastle?
  • “If it was any other player, you'd question it, but not him.” — Micah [20:48]
  • “Everything about it is perfection ... strength to hold him off, finish with the inside of the foot to just guide it in there.” — Micah [22:08]
  • “That's one of the greatest goals we'll ever see in the Premier League.” — Gary [22:14]
• Reflection on the technical demands of the goal, and how it stands above straightforward “goal of the season” contenders.

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7. The Invincibles Season and Modern Comparison [15:18–16:45, 25:19–26:48]

• Arsenal’s unbeaten title run under Wenger:
  • “Do you think that’s better than Man City’s 100 points? ... It’s still unbeaten.” — Alan [15:26]
• Why going unbeaten is unlikely to be repeated:
  • Increased fixture congestion, depth in the Premier League, and competitive smaller clubs.

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8. Bergkamp in the Premier League Pantheon [26:48–27:20]

• Comparison to other great Number 10s (Silva, De Bruyne):
  • “He’s absolutely right up there in terms of being pleasing on the eye ... graceful and skillful and classic.” — Gary [27:20]
  • The team agrees he set a trend for creative, intelligent attacking players in England.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What a player.” — Alan Shearer [02:48]
• “Possibly three of the greatest touches of all time. 1, 2, 3.” — Micah Richards [10:05]
• “He was a spectacular footballer. It was interesting. I wonder whether ... did they know that he didn’t like flying?” — Gary Lineker [06:00]
• “He changed almost the culture of ... not just at Arsenal, but over time a different way of thinking, perhaps, for English football.” — Gary [12:08]
• “He’s absolutely right up there in terms of being pleasing on the eye ... wonderful footballer.” — Gary [27:20]
• “That’s one of the greatest goals we’ll ever see in the Premier League.” — Micah Richards [22:15]
• “He was one of the originals, wasn’t he?” — Alan Shearer [27:17]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:48] – What made Bergkamp special: technique, composure, touch
• [03:37] – Arrival at Arsenal, transfer fee
• [04:05] – First goal relief and end of early criticism
• [06:00] – The flying issue and how Arsenal coped
• [08:01–09:06] – Wenger arrives, changing club ethos
• [09:06–10:35] – Recalling Leicester hat-trick and World Cup goal
• [12:08–13:18] – The Wenger revolution: professionalism and fitness
• [15:18–16:45] – Discussing the Invincibles and legacy
• [20:16–22:50] – The Newcastle goal: analysis, debate
• [25:19–26:48] – Can unbeaten seasons be repeated?
• [26:48–27:20] – Bergkamp in the “number 10” tradition and legacy

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Conclusion

The episode is a heartfelt, insightful celebration of Dennis Bergkamp’s genius and his transformative impact on English football. Combining tactical analysis, personal anecdotes, and a love for the game, the hosts immortalize Bergkamp’s artistry, situating him among the Premier League’s true greats. The episode closes with warm admiration for his legacy—“He was graceful and skillful and classic. Wonderful, wonderful footballer.”

Transcript

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[Gary Lineker]

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[Micah Richards]

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[Alan Shearer]

And it doesn't stop there. Switch to Fuse Energy and you could have your question answered on the show.

[Gary Lineker]

Sign up to Fuse energy@fuse energy.com football use the referral code football and you could also win a 1990 England shirt signed by the three of us. The Rest is Football. Hello and welcome to the Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and me, Gary Lineker. We're doing another episode on Premier league greats the moments that that made them and this time we're doing one of the invincibles. You probably grew up watching him play, Micah. You certainly watched him play from the other end of the pitch scoring one of the all time great goals and slightly controversial goals in the sense that some people don't think he meant it. I am of course talking about certain Dennis Bergkamp. I mean Malwa cooking graceful.

[Alan Shearer]

Oh my God. He, he's up there with my favorite ever players really. That's how good he was. Touch technique, playing people in like awareness on the pitch. Leadership. Quite strong as well, wasn't he? Quite Strong for a big lad, but he's finishing the art of finishing. Just them delicate touches he had. What a player.

[Gary Lineker]

He's one of the first people I interviewed when I went into television. I was in their national team camp somewhere and he was really, really pleasant.

[Alan Shearer]

Was he?

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. I don't think I've ever met him since, but I always remembered that because I was a bit in awe, because even though I'd had a good career myself, but he was a bit more gifted. Let's say I met him at a.

[Alan Shearer]

Hotel and I was just like, I just have to shake your hand. I just. Amazing. And he was just so humble.

[Micah Richards]

With him, there are goodbyes and there are great buys. And Bruce Riock it was that bought him for, I think it was around seven, seven and a half million. And he was a great buy.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

And I got a slow start, though, didn't he? Went off to. Got off to a slow start.

[Gary Lineker]

Relatively slow start.

[Micah Richards]

Oh, yeah. What a player.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Because he was getting a bit of criticism early on and then. Then scored against Southampton.

[Micah Richards]

Father's gone ahead of him.

[Alan Shearer]

Allowed to run and run and shoot and score.

[Gary Lineker]

This is a truly special talent. You could see him breathing out a sigh of relief there. It's always good to get your first goal.

[Micah Richards]

Not a bad one, eh?

[Alan Shearer]

Look at the shape, though, the technique. Oh, change of direction. Bang.

[Gary Lineker]

No, that is a goal. What a strike there. Top corner.

[Micah Richards]

I think if you speak to anyone, Arsenal player around when he was playing with, they'll all tell you how unbelievable he was. And we speak to Ian Wright about him, about what it was to play with him, what he did for him, what he did for the team, what he brought to the team. The praise is incredible for him and rightly so.

[Alan Shearer]

Can we just see that kit again? This is one of the best ever kits, wasn't it?

[Gary Lineker]

The best kits.

[Alan Shearer]

Well, look at that kit. Look at. Everything is perfect. The jvc, the night, the collar. That's one of the best kits ever made.

[Gary Lineker]

You think?

[Alan Shearer]

Definitely. I just. I just think.

[Gary Lineker]

Did you used to wear that when you were little, Micah?

[Alan Shearer]

Are we going there?

[Micah Richards]

All right.

[Alan Shearer]

Yes. I was an Arsenal fan when I was younger. It's okay. I can't say when I was younger. Just tell the camera. I'm a Man City fan, though, now, because I've been getting stick. I've been getting abuse as well.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, but that's fine. It's justified. That's for your punditry.

[Alan Shearer]

But growing up, that kit there was. What did you say?

[Gary Lineker]

Not at all. Not at All. I'm kidding.

[Alan Shearer]

Look at that. It is just a thing of beauty.

[Gary Lineker]

I don't know.

[Alan Shearer]

You know.

[Gary Lineker]

I don't know.

[Alan Shearer]

Well, sounds like the Spurs.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, there you go, you see.

[Alan Shearer]

Come on, Al, you've got to back me up on that.

[Micah Richards]

No, I mean, I prefer what's inside it rather than the kit itself. Yeah, he was a genius. I'm not sure about the kit.

[Alan Shearer]

Talking about the same thing.

[Gary Lineker]

He was a spectacular footballer. It was interesting. I wonder whether you could. I mean, when they. They signed him. I mean, you said it was Bruce Riock, wasn't it season before. I wonder if they take into account in that point. Did they know that he didn't like flying?

[Micah Richards]

Well, yeah. That was football. I mean, if it was. God knows where it was, then he would have to miss the game. But if it was.

[Gary Lineker]

Or get a ferry.

[Micah Richards]

A ferry or a car or whatever. Yes. I mean, that is a trip and a half, isn't it? There and back, wherever. A ferry and a car.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, I. I don't blame him. I don't like flying.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, I know you don't fly, but you do fly.

[Alan Shearer]

I do, but I don't want to.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, well, nobody wants to, but you have to get there somehow.

[Alan Shearer]

It's horrible. Yeah. Turbulence.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

It's my biggest fear. I've got to do it. Is there anything I can take for a flight, though? Gus, your experience this time.

[Gary Lineker]

Pillow.

[Alan Shearer]

A pillow. It doesn't. Doesn't work. It doesn't work.

[Gary Lineker]

I don't know.

[Alan Shearer]

I'm frightened every single time.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, but they don't.

[Alan Shearer]

That's the worst that can happen. He could crash and he could die.

[Gary Lineker]

You've got way more chance every time you get in a car.

[Alan Shearer]

No, but I hate this argument. I know we're going off topic here. Yeah, but if you crash in a car, you're going to be all right as long as you're doing not daft speeds. If you crash in a plane. You finished?

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. It'd be quick.

[Alan Shearer]

I haven't done my will yet.

[Gary Lineker]

It'd be quick. Haven't you? I'm not in it. Do you want to just sign this here? I've written something for you earlier and we'll get you a flight back tonight.

[Micah Richards]

Is there anything I need to take? Honestly, other than your passport, you'll be.

[Alan Shearer]

All right just sleeping tomorrow.

[Gary Lineker]

So does it bother you when it gets bouncy or. No, I hate it. You hate it?

[Alan Shearer]

I hate it more than.

[Gary Lineker]

It's just like going speed bump in the car.

[Alan Shearer]

The Euros I got the train there.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, well, so did I. So did I. I got the train.

[Alan Shearer]

There, the train back. It took me like 12 hours.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, I did the train. I did the train as well, just to do something different, but my back.

[Alan Shearer]

Did you.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, you're sitting down. Yeah. Anyway, anyway, by the by. Oh, we took him up and then obviously Arsene Wenger comes in, doesn't he?

[Micah Richards]

A year.

[Gary Lineker]

A year later, wasn't it? And he was brought in from Japan and it seemed like a really good fit kind of Bergkamp player with Arsene Wenger, funnily enough, because I was at the same team as Arsene Wenger in Japan, grandpa state. Right. So we didn't quite overlap. But what did happen is that when I left, Arsene Wenger came in and Arsene Wenger took my apartment. All right. Put my apartment. So he was in there. And then I read David Dean's book. Who was the then. Was he CEO or chairman of Arsenal for years? You know, I know David very well and in his book he's got this thing that he was starting to contact Arsene Wenger and he did it by fax, he said. And every time I got a fax back from Arsene Wenger, on the top of it was Gary Lineker. He had my. Use my fax paper. Do you know what fax?

[Micah Richards]

True story.

[Alan Shearer]

I know what fax is.

[Gary Lineker]

You remember the facts.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, for facts sake.

[Gary Lineker]

So there were a lot of moments to pick out of Dennis Bergkamp's career. There was a hat trick against Leicester, which sort of pains me in some ways, but it was. It was probably one of the greatest hat tricks, I think. Scored first goals on top corner from 25 yards.

[Micah Richards]

It's Bergkamp.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, that is special. Dennis Bergkamp.

[Micah Richards]

Keeper doesn't even die for it, does he?

[Gary Lineker]

Got no chance.

[Micah Richards]

He watches it in.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Second goal's not bad either. Just a little. A little bit off the keeper, but.

[Alan Shearer]

Not clean, is it?

[Micah Richards]

But the last touch, what about that?

[Alan Shearer]

Touches class.

[Micah Richards]

Speaking of touches.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, wait for the third goal there. See Keller in goal there and Clats in for Bergkamp. And Dennis Bergkamp.

[Alan Shearer]

What a goal.

[Micah Richards]

This touch. Wow.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, oh.

[Micah Richards]

Possibly three of the greatest touches of all time. 1, 2, 3.

[Gary Lineker]

Do you know what that reminds me a little bit of is the goal that he scored in the World Cup.

[Commercial Narrator]

Yes.

[Gary Lineker]

Against Argentina. And amazing bit of commentary from Barry Davis. So we've not got that on this, but you look that up, you can find that anywhere. I'm sure people remember it. And he brings it down in a similar sort of manner and knocks it away. Absolute classic goal. I mean, what a touchy hand.

[Micah Richards]

Three of the touches.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

And then the finish. So the three touches do. Oh, my God.

[Alan Shearer]

I think Suarez got a better hat trick, though.

[Micah Richards]

Do you?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Do you? Do you.

[Alan Shearer]

Do you don't remember the Suarez one?

[Micah Richards]

I do, yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Is that Norwich?

[Micah Richards]

Norwich.

[Alan Shearer]

Norwich.

[Gary Lineker]

Norwich.

[Micah Richards]

Unbelievable.

[Gary Lineker]

I'm sure we will do one on Suarez at some point in this series. Not necessarily this series, but we'll. At some point, over the next few months or so, I'm sure we'll do one on Louis Suarez and that Patrick will be in there.

[Alan Shearer]

I think that's the best one.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

Do you remember when he was unbelievable and he had that torch and. Oh, yeah, yeah. I think that was my thing.

[Gary Lineker]

He was not bad. Suarez. Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

So what, are you getting inducted into this? Why are you not.

[Micah Richards]

I'm not sure. I'm sure there might be in another series. We'll wait for it, though. It's fine.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, are you still alive as all the others? I'm just trying to think of an excuse.

[Alan Shearer]

Why are you going the first one now?

[Gary Lineker]

I just think. No, what I'm saying is it'd be a nice thing to do once you die.

[Alan Shearer]

Because.

[Gary Lineker]

Because once you die, I'll probably go first because I'm on the 18th. You're only on, what, the 15th, right? 15th. Fairway.

[Alan Shearer]

What am I on?

[Gary Lineker]

You're on the front night. I think. Well, you just. I think you're at the turn. You make the turn, you're probably in the. In the shop having a sausage sandwich.

[Alan Shearer]

Okay.

[Gary Lineker]

At the turn, which is always the highlight of my golf rounds, we're always, always getting a sausage sandwich. That was it. Everything else was rubbish. But, yeah, so, you know, Arsene Wenger came in and he changed almost the culture of. Not just, I'd say Arsenal, but over time, a different way of thinking, perhaps for English football, you know, it's got that drinking reputation, not looking after, you know, players going to the pub. We know we lived it. We all went through that period. And he came in, it was slightly more thoughtful, maybe. Careful what you eat, watch what you drink.

[Micah Richards]

When I used to go in against Arsenal and Arsenal, Wenger's teams, I always used to think they look so much fitter and stronger than the opposition.

[Gary Lineker]

Not been down the pit on the public, probably.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, whatever. Whatever they were doing. You've heard Martin Keon talk about this.

[Gary Lineker]

What.

[Micah Richards]

What they had to take and what. Whatever. Whatever else.

[Gary Lineker]

I mean, Ian Wright Talks about it as well. And he said, you know, just. They said it was vitamins. Sure it was. I'm sure it was. I have no reason to doubt otherwise.

[Micah Richards]

But he did change that side of things, didn't he?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Larson Wenger, did it change for you though, as well? Because Mancini, it changed for us. He used to come in in the morning and just like pinch your fat and say, you need to get that down. He just didn't care. Scales every single morning.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, Terry Venables did that.

[Alan Shearer]

Did he?

[Gary Lineker]

We weighed us every. I went to Barcelona and it's something I've done to this day. I've done it ever since. They used to weigh the players every single day. And it's actually, even for someone, if you're watching your own weight, I would say this to anyone at home, it's a really good thing to do because if you go up a little bit, you can just tone down and then if you go a bit low, you can have a bit.

[Alan Shearer]

So not if you're a meat eater like me. Nando's every week. Steak every week.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, but if your weight suddenly goes up, you can cut down a little bit.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, but I just go on like the. You know, like in the morning, Sunday night. So Monday morning you get weighed 8 o' clock in the morning, Sunday night, I'm doing it on the treadmill.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, but if you just get the weight down, if you weighed every day, you'd be more professional. Possibly. I mean, I still to this day weigh myself, actually. I've not the last two weeks because my battery's died and I haven't replaced it yet. My batteries in the scales, not my batteries have died, although they're very close to dying, honestly, because, you know, I'm in a green sign bunker on the 18th, so. No, that's a good thing to do.

[Alan Shearer]

Are you taller?

[Micah Richards]

So do you feel yourself getting heavier as your ears get bigger? Because you said your ears get bigger as they get older. Does that mean you get heavier?

[Gary Lineker]

No, but they weigh my head down a bit. Bloody idiots. How did it come to this? Yeah, because Wenger did change things. I mean, he was thoughtful and, you know, being for the better. Yeah, because in those days, yeah, definitely invincible. I mean, what they. What they did. And obviously Bird Camp was a. An important part of that team. That's what a team.

[Micah Richards]

You know, what about that as achievement? Going through a season. More about that.

[Gary Lineker]

A league season on beating.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Do you think that's better than Man City's? Was it 100 points?

[Gary Lineker]

Season that's good going as well. I mean, I think just what. They had about 12 draws, didn't they? Yeah, but I mean, that's. It's still unbeaten.

[Tabitha Syrett]

Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Book Club, a new podcast from Goal Hanger.

[Dominic Sambrook]

Hosted by me, Dominic Sambrook, and me, Tabitha Syrett. As some of you may know, I have been Dominic's producer on the Rest Is History, and we even did a miniseries last year about all things books.

[Tabitha Syrett]

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[Dominic Sambrook]

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[Dominic Sambrook]

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So please join us on our journey into all things books. Wherever you get your podcasts, just search for the book club every Tuesday and hopefully we will see you there.

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[Gary Lineker]

Dennis Berkap if he's remembered something in Premier League history, it will be for this goal is making a run to.

[Alan Shearer]

The edge of the area. Perez has found him. Dennis Berkham is in and that is brilliant. A touch of class. World class.

[Gary Lineker]

You were playing Alan. You got a good view of this and the argument will always be did he mean it? And I I look at it and I think he certainly meant it to go in an area where he wanted to finish it. And I it just looks to me like this is what he wanted to do.

[Micah Richards]

Well, if it was any other player, you'd question it, but not him.

[Gary Lineker]

Unbelievably skillful.

[Micah Richards]

I mean I'm probably on the halfway line at this stage, just clapping. Yeah, I'd say him. Well Done.

[Gary Lineker]

Wow.

[Micah Richards]

What have I just seen Nikos Dabizas at the Gallagher end? I think it was.

[Gary Lineker]

I think he's instinctive, but I think he definitely wants to flick it into that.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, we can see where his body language. Look, he's off straight away.

[Gary Lineker]

I wonder, though, whether he wanted to actually drag it to the other side of his own body. That's what I think. But his natural movement would then be to turn that way. So whilst I don't think he meant it to go behind his own back, because if you look here, that's a sideways. That's a normal thing to just take it onto that side. But if he meant that, I mean, he's even better than I thought he was. But I think he definitely meant to drag it one way. But I think it may have accidentally gone the other side of his body. But it was instinctive, wasn't it?

[Micah Richards]

Just a bit. I. I just think because of his body shape.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

After the split second, look, he's off. He actually knows exactly where.

[Gary Lineker]

I think you might be Right.

[Micah Richards]

I think even the strength to push the.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

To push Dabizas off the ball. I mean, everything about it is perfection. Because look, he's off now he's away, he's gone, he's turned.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, there it is. Yeah, I think he probably did.

[Micah Richards]

And the strength to hold him off. Then the finish with a. The inside of the foot to just guide it in there.

[Gary Lineker]

It's one of the great.

[Micah Richards]

One of the greatest goals we'll ever see in the Premier League.

[Alan Shearer]

That's the greatest.

[Gary Lineker]

Did you get a good view of it? Can you remember?

[Micah Richards]

I can remember, yeah, definitely. Did you think, oh, my God, what's he just doing?

[Alan Shearer]

Who's that say given in it.

[Micah Richards]

She given. Nikos Dabizas was the center.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

What does he think?

[Micah Richards]

He's still trying to get the. Not out he socks that would be.

[Gary Lineker]

In anyone's top 10 of Premier League.

[Alan Shearer]

Has to be number one.

[Gary Lineker]

He roughly meant it one way or the other. Whether it meant to go behind his back or it didn't go behind his back.

[Alan Shearer]

It's.

[Gary Lineker]

It's still. I think he probably did mean it, but only he will know and he probably can't remember either.

[Micah Richards]

What do you think is the best one? Either that one or the one that came over the top at Leicester with three touches?

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, well, that one because the other one was against Leicester.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah. I mean, two, like, outstanding goals.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, they're better than Garnachos. Remember Garacho's volley that was some gun shows.

[Gary Lineker]

Have a head kick, sort of.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Side. Yeah. But that's a different kind of goal in it. I mean, anyone can occasionally. Not anyone, because you need to be an athlete to hit that kind of Garnacho finish. But I don't know. There's a bit more in there. That sort of goal, the touch. Because you. In with that thing. There's only one thing that can go right or one thing that can go wrong with something like that goal or the one he scored against Leicester. There are two or three different, unbelievably brilliant things you've got to do within it.

[Micah Richards]

Agreed.

[Gary Lineker]

So I think some. That sort of goal, for me, we see lots of goals with side volleys and overhead kicks and long shots and all that. There's something like that. Like what is that? That's over 20 years ago and we still remember it and we still discuss it as though with an interest, as.

[Alan Shearer]

It'S number one in it.

[Gary Lineker]

It's right up there.

[Micah Richards]

It's one of the best we'll ever see that.

[Gary Lineker]

It's one of the greatest.

[Micah Richards]

I think there's a great debate, though, about which one's best that Leicester one or the Newcastle one? Two incredible goals.

[Gary Lineker]

They actually won the title at Tottenham, which is the second time they've done that with four games still to go. Bergkamp had an assist in that game. That was Patrick Vieiro. He was your hero, wasn't he?

[Alan Shearer]

What a guy. Got to play with me as well tonight. Man City.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, God, yeah. Did you? He's a lovely guy as well, isn't he?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, well, he can be nasty.

[Gary Lineker]

I interviewed him in New York, you know, when he was coaching the New York City team.

[Alan Shearer]

Oh, yeah. New York City. Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. I went out there and he was. It was really lovely. Gentle. Yeah, lovely. Interviewed David V as well out there and it was really.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

And in watch training, which I don't like doing, as you know, I don't just stand in there watching. But David Veer was like unbelievable in this training session. He was, you know, way older than everyone else, but it was completely bossing it. And Patrick Vieira was, you know, he was really good. He was really good with his coaching and stuff. But this is not about Patrick. This is about. But they're all part of that invincible team, do you think? I think we've discussed this before, but it's unlikely it'll be done again, isn't it?

[Micah Richards]

Very unlikely. It's an unbelievable achievement.

[Gary Lineker]

Do you think it would be harder to do now, perhaps, because of the. The number of games that teams play, does that make a difference? Because of all competitions and you, you know if you. There's so. I mean there might have been in Europe these teams but nowadays there's so many more games even in the Champions League these big group stage. So you play eight games extra even if you don't go through. And, and the teams are always going to go through. So you got way more matches, haven't you?

[Micah Richards]

But I also think teams. There's more teams that are better now overall.

[Gary Lineker]

The depth. The depth is stronger. The so called smaller clubs are richer and can afford better players than they used to be able to.

[Alan Shearer]

Agree.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, exactly. That's why I think it's a. I'm not sure it'll ever be done again though.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. But you think about who were they going up against? United, Chelsea, Liverpool. Liverpool back then going to Anfield that was.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, but if you could take the bottom half, you'd get there.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Maybe the bottom half.

[Gary Lineker]

There wasn't the depth. There is now, I don't think. Not the depth.

[Alan Shearer]

Not the depth.

[Gary Lineker]

I mean now, now you. Even if you look at the table recently, you know you've got that big pack and that big pack includes a lot of teams that prior to 15, well 10 years ago wouldn't have been as competitive as they are now.

[Micah Richards]

Agreed. I'm not sure it'll ever be done again. Some achievement.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Where does Bergkamp rate in the. It's one of my favorites pantheon of great Premier League players.

[Alan Shearer]

He's a number 10 though, wasn't he? Yeah, I mean.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, he was definitely a number 10.

[Alan Shearer]

So you're putting him in with like David Silva.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah. Kevin De Bruyne going against all.

[Gary Lineker]

I think he's absolutely comfortable in that.

[Alan Shearer]

Company but numbers wise he's not as, as good as De Bruyne, is he? But setting trends. He was one of the originals, wasn't he?

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, he was one of the best.

[Alan Shearer]

Touch and technique and all that stuff.

[Gary Lineker]

You know what it was. He's absolutely right up there in terms of being pleasing on the eye because he was graceful and skillful and classic. Wonderful, wonderful footballer. Yeah. Perfect way to finish this episode. Goodbye from me.

[Alan Shearer]

Goodbye from me.

[Micah Richards]

Goodbye from me.

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