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Former Chelsea and Leeds United striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has said he proved that “a footballer can dance” following his shock elimination from Strictly Come Dancing.
The 53-year-old Dutchman and his professional partner Lauren Oakley were ousted from the competition on Sunday’s results show (26 October), after finding themselves in a dance off against West End star Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuzmin.
“While I left earlier than I’d hoped, I walk away proud of what I achieved. In just a few weeks, I made my point – a footballer can dance, it’s more than okay to put yourself out there,” he wrote on Instagram.
Hasselbaink thanked Oakley from “the bottom of my heart” for her time spent training him up for the Strictly ballroom. “Your talent, patience, and belief in me made this journey unforgettable,” he said.
“Dancing with you has been a privilege, and I’ll always be grateful for the way you lifted me up and helped me grow.”
The former footballer added that it had been “a pleasure” to get to know the other Strictly contestants. “I’ll be cheering everyone on from the sidelines. Keep dancing and keep shining,” he said.
Hasselbaink’s early Strictly departure came as a surprise to viewers, as the sports star achieved a personal best score of 30 on Saturday and hadn’t appeared in the bottom two during the first weeks of the competition.
When asked by host Tess Daly about his time on the show following his elimination, Hasselbaink said: “I have absolutely loved my experience …I never expected that I would enjoy it this much.”
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley dance during ‘Icons Week’ on Strictly (BBC)
Hasselbaink signed for Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2000, scoring 87 goals in 177 games for the West London side. He had previously played for Leeds, where he scored 42 goals in 87 games. After four seasons at Stamford Bridge, he went on to play for Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City before retiring in 2008.
He now follows in the footsteps of rugby player Chris Robshaw, TV star Ross King and divisive internet personality Thomas Skinner as the first celebrities eliminated from the 2025 series.
The remaining 10 couples will return to the ballroom for next week’s Halloween special, on Saturday 1 November at 6.35pm, with the results show on Sunday 2 November at 7.15pm.