Star value: David Beckham and Ruud Gullit
joined forces at LA Galaxy
The Dutch legend coached Beckham at LA Galaxy, and
witnessed the incredible rise in interest created by his arrival in
the MLS. However, Gullit believes organisers will always keep a lid
on football's popularity to stop it from undermining traditional
North American sports.
"David is more than just a football player and I think he does
extremely well to give football here a lift," said Gullit. "But I
doubt if they really want that. I think they are afraid of football
because it's so popular everywhere around the world. I think they
will just control it so it doesn't become more popular than their
American sports.
"So it is very hard for him (Beckham)," added Gullit. "They will
never allow that, and in some ways I can understand it as well. "I
have my doubts if they really want to make it popular. Some sports
already have had a bit of a dive so they don't want American
football to become less popular, or basketball or baseball."
Gullit, a former World and European Player of the Year who
previously coached Chelsea, Newcastle United and Feyenoord, had
said he was ready for "a huge challenge" after being appointed
Galaxy head coach last November.
Just nine months later, though, Gullit resigned for personal
reasons with the team struggling to book a place in the
end-of-season play-offs.
Asked if he had any regrets in accepting the Galaxy position,
Gullit replied: "Of course you do, especially if you know what you
know now. I don't know if I would have taken the same decision
again, that's for sure."