Dennis Bergkamp to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Bergkamp fans. Speculation had been rife that the Dutch footballer is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 56, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 22/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a footballer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a footballer-coach just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouDennis

For a little while on Saturday evening, #ThankYouDennis was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Dennis Bergkamp was unlike any other footballer we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouDennis”
— @universalObserver, 21 Mar 2026

“I thought Dennis Bergkamp retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 21 Mar 2026

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