Rioch pays tribute to Bergkamp

You might think that after seeing Dennis Bergkamp give Arsenal 11 years, 423 games and 120 goals, the man who signed him for the club would feel a dash of pride.

The £7.5m he paid for the Inter Milan star may have been a British record fee for a foreigner, but it now looks, in relative terms and given Bergkamp's contribution, almost paltry.

Yet Bruce Rioch is keen to stress how easy the decision was to go after the Dutchman, who retires from football after his testimonial at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

"Paying that money for him was not a risk," Rioch told BBC Sport.

"I've taken bigger risks paying £100,000 for a player at a Second Division club when that was all the money the club had and you had to get it right.

"It was an easy signing - Dennis was blessed with great talent, technique and he fitted perfectly into the way I wanted the team to play.

"I had a really explosive striker in Ian Wright who liked to run down behind defenders and what he needed was service. Dennis could link the back and midfield with the frontline and he scored his fair share of goals as well.

"He was perfect for the club - a good team man, great for spirit, popular in the dressing room and he just integrated well into the club."

Rioch was invited to the Dennis Bergkamp Day held at Arsenal towards the end of last season, when a match against West Brom became a tribute to the striker.

The former Arsenal manager could not attend due to commitments with his current club, Odense, but is hoping to get back to London for the testimonial.

"He's had a great career at Arsenal," added Rioch.

"He's been there more than 10 years and to my knowledge - certainly in the period I was there - he never once indicated that he didn't want to stay.

"He found he was at the right football club. He enjoyed life in London - not the nightlife but being able to find seclusion away from football when he wanted it. He has a great family and he's just had a fantastic career."

Rioch hesitates, however, when asked if Bergkamp is the best Arsenal player ever.

"I wouldn't necessarily go that far because that's for other people to make that decision," he said.

"Arsenal Football Club in their great history have had some outstanding players and it's for others to decide who the best one is. That's not an easy decision because there have been some truly fantastic players, like Thierry Henry.

"But Dennis Bergkamp's loyalty has been without question, he's been an integral part of the club and the team. I guess you could say they've had value for money!"

Rioch certainly ranks the Dutchman as the best player he personally has signed at any of the clubs he has managed - even if it was without risk.

He added: "I wish him well - one of the greatest guys I have met, popular with his team and the fans. He has all the qualities you look for in a football player."

From : BBC