Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was known for scoring floods of goals - now he's leaving Strictly Come Dancing fans in floods of tears.
The Premier League icon and former Cardiff City striker left Strictly viewers reaching for the tissues last weekend after dedicating his dance to his late mother, Cornelli, who passed away a few years ago. The song chosen for the routine also paid homage to Suriname, the country of his birth.
Hasselbaink, who had memorable stints at Chelsea and Leeds, is among several legendary Dutch footballers with roots in Suriname - a former Dutch colony - including Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert and Virgil van Dijk.
In the VT ahead of his latest performance, Hasselbaink's wife Natalie got teary as she spoke about her husband's relationship with his mother, who raised him and his five siblings singlehandedly. "He was raised by his mum only, he's the youngest of six," she said.
"I think he always saw his mum (Natalie fights back tears) - sorry... He saw how hard his mum worked and that gave him the work ethic he has today."
Emotional Strictly fans rushed to social media to confess they were in bits after watching the video. One wrote: "Jimmy is such a sweetheart and everything this show is about."
Another commented: "Jimmy your mum would be so proud of you. What a beautiful story." A third said: "Sobbing at Jimmy VT." While a fourth added: "Jimmy's VT [heartbroken emoji]."
For Hasselbaink, family means everything. Having grown up with little, he fought fiercely throughout his football career to secure a better life for his loved ones - even if it meant ruffling feathers along the way. While at Leeds, his push for a pay rise drew criticism, but behind it was a man determined never to see his family struggle as he once did.
His playing days may be behind him, but he hasn't stopped giving his all. A proud father of four daughters, the 53-year-old said that joining Strictly Come Dancing was all for them - another way to make his family proud and show that it's never too late to take on a new challenge.
"Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I've done before but I'm looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals," he said.
"The drive is more about showing my girls that I can put myself in a vulnerable position and try to learn a new skill, try to compete and work hard to become better and be open-minded."
It's a fitting lesson, given that two of his daughters, Miah and Lauren, are already making their mark in the entertainment world. The pair appeared in Netflix's 2022 adaptation of Matilda the Musical, sharing the screen with stars including Emma Thompson and Stephen Graham.
Both girls are represented by Mary Liz Management, with Miah already landing further roles - including a part in The Man in My Basement alongside Willem Dafoe. Drawing parallels between his own Strictly journey and his daughters' artistic paths, Hasselbaink spoke of the joy he feels in sharing their creative world. And while he's faced countless challenges on the pitch, his latest venture into the ballroom may yet prove the toughest test of all.
"That's our thing. I've got a daughter as well that used to be in the West End and does performing arts and drama," he told Covers. "She can dance and sing, and my middle daughter as well. So, the dancing and the singing and stuff.
"It is very common in my household. They are not footballers, so I have to integrate myself into their world, which I do with all pleasure."
In January this year, Hasselbaink revealed he had also become a grandad. "I feel very young. I'm not that happy with my daughter that I'm already a granddad! But no, she's absolutely beautiful," he said.
"Unfortunately, because they live in Holland, I've only seen her once, so there is a lot of FaceTime. It's a strange feeling because I still have young girls here - 14, 12 and six - and that definitely keeps me young. But it's different - my children, I have to take everywhere with me. My granddaughter, I can love, kiss and give her back to mummy!"
Anchoring the family is Hasselbaink's wife, Natalie, who tends to keep a low profile. The couple married in 2012 and have built a close-knit family life away from the spotlight. Speaking to the BBC in 2014, Hasselbaink offered a rare glimpse into their home life, saying: "I still live in England, my wife is English and my kids go to school here so that would be the best and easiest option."
He began his football journey in the Netherlands in the early 1990s, but it was in Portugal, with Boavista, that his career truly took off. In 1997, he signed for Leeds United, where he quickly became a fan favourite, scoring 42 goals in 87 appearances for the Yorkshire club.
In 1999, he made the move to Atletico Madrid and enjoyed a prolific season in Spain, netting a career-best 33 goals in all competitions. The following year, Chelsea secured his signature for a club-record £15million - a move that cemented his status as one of Europe's most feared strikers. During his time at Stamford Bridge, he scored 87 goals in 177 games for the Blues.
Hasselbaink later turned out for Middlesbrough and Charlton before ending his playing career with a short spell at Cardiff City in 2007/08. After hanging up his boots, he moved into management, taking charge of clubs including Burton Albion, QPR and Northampton Town. He also served as part of Gareth Southgate's England coaching team, spending 18 months as an assistant before stepping down after Euro 2024.