LEGENDS - NETHERLANDS - KEYPLAYER - Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 03/2015
Personal information
Full name
Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard
Date of birth
30 September 1962
Place of birth
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position
Defensive midfielder, Centre back
SENIOR CAREER*
Ajax
1980-1987
205x apps / 47x goals
Sporting CP
1987-1988
0x apps / 0x goals
→ Real Zaragoza (loan)
1987-1988
11x apps / 0x goals
Milan
1988-1993
142x apps / 16x goals
Ajax
1993-1995
56x apps / 12x goals
TOTAL
414x apps / 75x goals
NATIONAL TEAM
Netherlands
1981-1994
73x apps / 10x goals
TEAMS MANAGED
Netherlands
1998-2000
Sparta Rotterdam
2001-2002
Barcelona
2003-2008
Galatasaray
2009-2010
Saudi Arabia
2011-2013
(* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only)
Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard, born 30 September 1962), is a Dutch football manager and former player.
Rijkaard has played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals.
In his coaching career, he has been at the helm of the Dutch national side, Sparta Rotterdam, Barcelona, Galatasaray and Saudi Arabia.
In 2010, Rijkaard was described by British broadsheet The Daily Telegraph as having been "a stylish player of faultless pedigree".
A complete, tenacious, and consistent midfielder, throughout his career he was praised by pundits for his physical and athletic attributes, his work rate, positioning, his acute tactical intelligence and decision making, as well as his outstanding ability to read the game.
Rijkaard was also a strong tackler, who was adept at starting attacking plays once he won back possession.
He also possessed a powerful shot.
He is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in footballing history and one of the best players of his generation.