 Bergkamp was brought up through Ajax 's youth system , joining the club at age 11 . Manager Johan Cruyff gave him his professional debut on 14 December 1986 against Roda JC ; the game ended in a 2 – 0 victory for Ajax . Bergkamp scored his first senior goal for the club against HFC Haarlem on 22 February 1987 in a match Ajax won 6 – 0 . He went on to make 23 appearances in the 1986 – 87 season , including a European debut against Malmö FF in the 1986 – 87 European Cup Winners ' Cup , earning him praise . Ajax won the competition , beating Lokomotive Leipzig 1 – 0 as Bergkamp made an appearance as a substitute . 
