Jimmy Floyd Hasselbain (Part 2)

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31 Mar 2024

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Part 2)

Atlético Madrid also reached the final of the Copa del Rey, but suffered a 2–1 defeat to Espanyol, with Hasselbaink scoring a late consolation goal. Unfortunately, the club's league form did not improve following Ranieri's departure, and his successor Radomir Antić was unable to prevent Atlético from being relegated to the Segunda División.
Due to a relegation clause in his four-year contract, Hasselbaink was allowed to leave the club in the summer.

In May 2000, Jimmy Hasselbaink made his return to the Premier League by signing with Chelsea for a club record fee of £15 million, which also matched the then-transfer record for an English club. He penned a four-year contract with the club.
Hasselbaink wasted no time in making an impact, scoring on his debut for Chelsea in the 2000 FA Charity Shield, helping them secure a 2–0 victory over Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. However, manager Gianluca Vialli was dismissed in September, and Claudio Ranieri, Hasselbaink's former boss at Atlético Madrid, took over. Hasselbaink later expressed dismay at Vialli's dismissal and revealed discontent among the players regarding Ranieri's training methods, which were heavily focused on fitness.

Despite the managerial change and training issues, Hasselbaink had a prolific 2000–01 season, netting 23 goals in 35 league appearances and claiming the Premier League Golden Boot. His standout performance included a memorable four-goal haul in a 6–1 victory against Coventry City.
The following season, Hasselbaink continued his scoring prowess, notching the first competitive goal at Southampton's new St Mary's Stadium and securing a hat-trick in a 4–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur. He formed a strong partnership with Eiður Guðjohnsen, with the duo contributing a total of 52 goals across all competitions. Despite their efforts, Chelsea finished as runners-up in the FA Cup after a 2–0 defeat to Arsenal in the final.

In the summer of 2002, Hasselbaink underwent surgery to address a blockage in the arteries of his right leg, which had been hampering his performance. Despite this setback, he managed to score 15 goals in 44 games during the 2002–03 season, although he faced limited playing time due to a squad rotation system implemented by Ranieri.
During the 2003–04 season, Hasselbaink continued to be a key contributor, finishing as the top scorer for Chelsea with 17 goals across all competitions. He celebrated his 32nd birthday by coming off the bench to score a hat-trick in a 5–2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Chelsea finished the season as runners-up in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, although they were eliminated by AS Monaco.

Jimmy Hasselbaink made a significant move to Middlesbrough, rejecting offers from clubs like Fulham, Celtic, and Rangers. He joined Middlesbrough on a two-year contract after a free transfer, turning down lucrative deals elsewhere in favor of the opportunity at the Riverside Stadium.
Hasselbaink made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut for Middlesbrough in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United at the Riverside Stadium on 14 August. His first season with the club, the 2004–05 campaign, saw him finish as the club's top scorer with 13 goals in 36 Premier League games. Notably, he recorded a hat-trick in a 4–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on 16 October. Middlesbrough's seventh-place league finish secured qualification for the UEFA Cup in the following season.

The 2005–06 season saw Hasselbaink continue his goal-scoring form, netting nine goals in 22 league games and eight goals in 22 cup appearances. He played a crucial role in Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup journey, contributing to victories over several European teams including VfB Stuttgart and AS Roma. However, Middlesbrough fell short in the UEFA Cup final, suffering a 4–0 defeat to Sevilla at the Philips Stadion.
Despite his contributions, Hasselbaink's time at Middlesbrough came to an end in July 2006 when new manager Gareth Southgate opted to release him. Despite his departure, Hasselbaink's impact during his time at Middlesbrough was notable, especially in their European campaigns and domestic performances.

After a potential move to Celtic of the Scottish Premier League didn't materialize, Jimmy Hasselbaink joined Charlton Athletic, his fourth Premier League team, on a free transfer in July 2006. However, his time at Charlton was marked by controversy and a lack of significant goal-scoring impact.
Shortly after joining Charlton, Hasselbaink faced charges from the FA for improper conduct and bringing the game into disrepute. This was due to his claims that Chelsea paid players a bonus after the 2004 Champions League win over Arsenal. Although a Premier League inquiry found no evidence to support these claims, they stirred controversy and were denied by Chelsea.

Hasselbaink scored his first goal for Charlton against his former club Chelsea in a 2–1 defeat at Stamford Bridge on 9 September. However, he struggled to find consistent form, going seven games without a goal before scoring against another former club, Middlesbrough, on 13 January. Despite this, Charlton released him at the end of the 2006–07 season.
His goal-scoring record at Charlton was modest, with only four goals in 29 games. Notably, half of his goal tally came against League One side Chesterfield in the League Cup. Hasselbaink's time at Charlton was relatively short-lived and marked by controversy and a lack of on-field impact.

After a potential move to Leicester City fell through in August 2007, Jimmy Hasselbaink found himself joining Cardiff City instead, thanks to the efforts of chairman Peter Ridsdale, with whom he had previously worked at Leeds United. Hasselbaink signed a one-year deal with Cardiff, where he formed a veteran strike partnership with Robbie Fowler.
Initially, Hasselbaink took some time to settle in and regain match fitness. However, despite being a demanding player, his professionalism ultimately had a positive influence on the team, according to manager Dave Jones. He scored his first goal for Cardiff on 19 September with a 20-yard low drive in a 2–1 league defeat to Watford at Ninian Park.

Hasselbaink's impact was notable throughout the 2007–08 season, as he remained a regular starter for Cardiff. He played a key role in the FA Cup run, making appearances in five of the six matches that Cardiff played to reach the final. In the final, however, Cardiff lost 1–0 to Portsmouth, with Hasselbaink playing 70 minutes before being substituted.
Despite talks to extend his stay at Cardiff, Hasselbaink left the club in July 2008 following a dispute over pay. His time at Cardiff was marked by significant contributions on the pitch, particularly in cup competitions, but it ultimately ended due to contractual issues.