The European Player of the Year. Unlike the Golden Shoe, this award happened to be fair and right, which was not always the case. Journalists from 27 European countries made their lists and although there were some samples of local patriotism (Rodion Camataru got 2 points and Albanian Sokol Kushta 1 point), at the top everything was fine. Emilio Butrageno (Real Madrid and Spain) ended 3rd with 61 points, Paulo Futre (at the time of the voting – Atletico Madrid and Portugal) – 2nd with 91 points, and number one was Ruud Gullit (at the time of the voting Milan and Holland) with 106 points.
This was one of the fairest elections ever, for it was unusually timely: Ruud Gullit was 25-years old, already established star, who had everything – he was at perfect age for a player, had plenty of experience, and practically at its peak as a player.
The 1986-87 season he finished captaining PSV Eindhoven and was transferred to Milan in the summer.
And he did not need time for adjustment to new club and essentially different kind of football, but shined right away. Critics could say Gullit was somewhat thin on success, but he was elegant, highly skillful player, excellent playmaker, physically fit, goalscorer, and strong leader – practically, having all expected from world-class star. Perhaps even more than usual, for unlike most playmaking midfielders, he was tall and excellent in the air, like English classic center-forward on occasion. Titles were few, but he was already Dutch champion with Feyenoord. PSV Eindhoven was on the rise and he was part of it. He was key part of the Dutch revival and the return of Holland to the front of European football. And his move to Milan was also very important, for it was with him Milan finally returned to success. It is questionable whether 1987 was his best year – certainly there was bigger success in the following years – but he was most deserving player this year. Certainly he was more complex player than Futre, Butrageno, even Marco van Basten (who finished 6th). Did not fail to deliver, like Matthaus (voted 12th) and was no longer just a rising start, like Gheorghe Hagi (voted 21st). Nobody deserved the award better than Ruud Gullit – and he got it. He was a timely sign of what is coming (the success of Holland and Milan), but also a bright hope of football – in the dull 1980s, there was a player who was delight to watch, who played instead of fight.