Former Chelsea and Leeds United striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has said he proved that "a footballer can dance" following his surprise elimination from Strictly Come Dancing.
The 53-year-old Dutchman and his professional partner Lauren Oakley were ousted on Sunday's results show after a dance-off against West End star Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.
Writing on Instagram, Hasselbaink said: "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 thanked Oakley for her patience and belief, calling the journey unforgettable.
The former striker also said he had loved his time on the show, telling host Tess Daly: "I never expected that I would enjoy it this much." His departure came as a surprise to viewers after he scored a personal best of 30 on Saturday and had avoided the bottom two in previous weeks.
Hasselbaink scored 87 goals for Chelsea and 42 for Leeds during his playing career. He is the first celebrity eliminated from the 2025 series.
The remaining ten couples will return for Halloween special on Saturday 1 November at 6.35pm, with the results show on Sunday 2 November at 7.15pm.
