Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink profile: How the Premier League footballer went from almost losing a leg to starring in Strictly Come Dancing
Ed Lauder | 9:01am Sat 20 SepJimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is set to swap the football pitch for the dancefloor this autumn as he joins Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
The former footie ace will slip into ballroom shoes and compete in the hit BBC show when it returns this weekend.
Jimmy has admitted he’s nervous about the challenge in case he makes any “own goals”.
Here, we take a deep dive into all things Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, looking at who he is, which football teams he’s played for and how he almost lost a leg after a very nasty accident.
Who is Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink?
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was born Jerrel Floyd Hasselbaink in Paramaribo, Suriname, on March 27, 1972. This makes him 53 years old. He is the youngest of six children.
Jimmy’s childhood changed dramatically when his family emigrated to the Netherlands in 1978. They settled in Zaandam, where he began to play football.
Interestingly enough, despite being known as one of the greatest strikers the Premier League has ever seen, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink first played as a goalkeeper before moving into more attacking positions.
He turned professional in 1991 with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar. His early career also saw him play for Portuguese sides Campomaiorense and Boavista. He won the Taça de Portugal with Boavista in 1997.
Which football teams has Hasselbaink played for?
In 1997, Jimmy joined Leeds United for £2 million. His debut season saw him adapt to English football, but his second year was outstanding. He ended up scoring 18 league goals in 1998-99, winning the Premier League Golden Boot and firing Leeds to European football.
In 1999, Atlético Madrid signed Jimmy for £10 million. He became an instant hit in Spain, scoring in the Madrid derby and against Barcelona. Despite his goals, Atlético were relegated in 2000, yet Jimmy still finished as one of La Liga’s top scorers.
Jimmy has also played for Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City. He reached the UEFA Cup final with Middlesbrough in 2006 and the FA Cup final with Cardiff in 2008. But he is most likely to be remembered for his time at Chelsea.
When did Hasselbaink join Chelsea?
Chelsea FC paid a club record £15 million for Jimmy Hasselbaink in 2000. He was 28 at the time and at the peak of his powers. Jimmy won the Premier League Golden Boot again in his first season, scoring 23 league goals. He also reached the FA Cup final in 2002 and finished runner-up in the league in 2004.
During his career, Jimmy was known for his powerful shot and incredible speed. He could score with both feet and was also a strong free-kick taker. Many Chelsea fans still remember his partnership with Eidur Gudjohnsen and his long-range strikes at Stamford Bridge.
To this day, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s name is still sung by Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge, and he is seen by many fans to be one of the club’s all-time great strikers.
Hasselbaink’s horrific accident
Jimmy was often forced to play through pain during his football career due to a horrific accident.
At the age of five, Jimmy was hit by a woman on a moped while chasing after his older brother. The crash left him with a broken leg, and further complications meant the bone had to be reset. Hasselbaink’s injuries were helped slightly by the fact that the woman on the moped was a nurse.
Jimmy was taken to the hospital after the accident, where he was told his leg was broken. He stayed in the hospital for a few days before being released.
“A nurse was driving the motorcycle, got me to the hospital, and for an operation and all that kind of stuff. Then a year later, we emigrated to the Netherlands, but my leg was growing a little bit wrong, so they had to break it again and reset it,” Jimmy revealed on The Overlap.
Jimmy added: “If you look at my pictures, my right leg was always going a little bit in, it was from that, from when I was five and hit by a motorcycle.”
Jimmy admitted that he often worried about having another operation throughout his playing career. The Dutch footballer added that he would often find himself “playing through the pain”.
When did Jimmy retire?
As for Jimmy’s international career, the Dutch player made his debut for the Netherlands in 1998. He was part of the squad for the World Cup in France that year. He managed to score nine goals in 23 caps for his country. His last international appearance came in 2002.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink retired from professional football at the end of the 2007-08 season, aged 36.
Across his club career, Jimmy scored more than 250 goals. His time at Chelsea, Leeds and Atlético Madrid cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s top strikers. He remains one of the most successful Dutch forwards to have played in the Premier League.
After retiring, Jimmy moved into coaching and management. His first senior role came at Royal Antwerp in Belgium in 2013. He later managed Burton Albion, Queens Park Rangers and Northampton Town. His most successful spell came at Burton, where he secured promotion to League One in 2015.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: England coach
In 2023, Jimmy was appointed as a coach for the England national team under Gareth Southgate. Jimmy worked with Gareth Southgate during the 2024 Euros in Germany, in which England ended up getting to the final. However, the England team heartbreakingly lost that final to Spain by two goals to one.
Jimmy left the role in 2024 following Southgate’s departure after Euro 2024.
Does Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink have any kids?
Jimmy is a father to four daughters. He has revealed that he and his daughters are big Strictly Come Dancing fans, and that influenced his decision to join the hit BBC show.
Speaking about his home life on Gary Neville’s The Overlap YouTube show, Jimmy revealed: “I have got only girls in my house. So we do girly things, we’re always doing dancing and make-up and Strictly is a show that we as a family always watch all through the years.”
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Strictly Come Dancing
In August 2025, Jimmy was announced as one of the stars joining Strictly Come Dancing. Jimmy will be joined by contestants including Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston, Chris Robshaw, Vicky Pattison and Ellie Goldstein.
EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal is taking part, along with social media influencer George Clarke, Drag Race UK’s La Voix, rugby legend Chris Robshaw, and footballer Karen Carney. Soap star Lewis Cope completes the line-up, having stepped in to replace Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn. He has pulled out on medical grounds.
Jimmy said of his appearance on the BBC show: “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 added that the show is out of his comfort zone, but admitted: “The professional sportsman in me wants to win!”
When does Strictly Come Dancing 2025 start?
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing starts on Saturday, September 20, 2025. It will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Beginning the following week, there will be a live show on the Saturday night and a Results show on Sunday.
The series will run all the way through until December. Last year’s Strictly Live Final aired on Saturday, December 14.
