Clarence Seedorf was born on April 1, 1976. This is a man who was once a famous football player and has become a current coach. His life is quite interesting and full of various facts that are worth telling.
Beginning of a club career
Clarence Seedorf began his professional career as a football player in the 1990s. He immediately took the position of the right midfielder. His first club was “Ajax”, which is not surprising, because many Dutch players started there.
Interestingly, Clarence Seedorf became the youngest player in the history of the club. He debuted at the base at the age of 16 years and 242 days. He was a very young football player when he began to try himself on a professional level.
The young Dutch midfielder played a part in many Ajax victories in the 1994 and 1995 national championships. He also showed himself worthy in the 1995 Champions League. Then, “Ajax” became the winner of this tournament. It was playing for this team that Clarence Seedorf made a name for himself. It is not surprising that they were interested in representatives of other teams. So then he moved on to Sampdoria for one season, which included five goals.
Transition to Real Madrid
In 1996, Clarence was bought by Real Madrid. In the first season, Seedorf helped his new club come to the title of champion of Spain. The next year turned out to be even more responsible and serious for him. Because this season he helped the team win the title of winners of the UEFA Champions League. In addition, this trophy has become special for the football player himself. This was his second UEFA Cup in his career.
At the end of the 1998/1999 season, Clarence could go to Juventus. More precisely, Real Madrid were considering exchanging a talented player for a Turin football player Zinedine Zidane. However, negotiations broke down, so the famous Zizu moved to Real Madrid two years later.
Careers in Italy
In mid-1999, Clarence Seedorf was bought by Inter Milan for an amount of 23 million euros. The footballer was acquired not in vain. “Internationale” managed to get to the final of the Italian Cup with the help of a talented Dutch player. What are only two goals, decorated at the goal of “Milan” with a long distance. That match, by the way, only thanks to him ended in a draw with a score of 2: 2.
The midfielder spent two seasons at Inter, and then moved to Milan. The player was exchanged for Francesco Coco. Seedorf helped the Rossoneri win the Italian Cup. This was the first such trophy of the team in 26 years. And then he and the club won the Champions League. This was a special achievement for the player. Having won this trophy, the Dutchman became the first player in history to win the Champions League with three different teams.
Career heyday
In the 2003/2004 season, Seedorf, together with the club, won the national championship. Thus, the honorary title of the Italian champion was added to his achievements. I must say that Clarence played a really important role in the path of “Rossoneri” to the final stage of the Champions League. But there, “Milan” lost, as you know, in the penalty shootout.
In 2006/2007 he was recognized as the best midfielder of the Champions League. Clarence played his 100th match in this tournament. This game took place on December 4 against FC Celtic.
The club managed to achieve such successes due to the powerful trio, which consisted of Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso. And in the 2010/2011 season, the team regained the Scudetto. That season, the Dutchman scored four goals and entered the field 36 times. Then he helped “Milan” beat “Inter” in the final of the Italian Super Cup.
The last club of the Dutchman became “Botafogo”. Until the beginning of 2014, he played for this team, and then announced that he had decided to end his career.
Coaching
What else can you tell about a person like Clarence Seedorf? Biography, career, rating - all this is very important and interesting. But there is one more nuance. And it directly relates to the current activity, which Clarence Seedorf has now devoted himself to. A coach is who he is at the moment. Since the beginning of 2014 he is the head coach of “Milan”. Seedorf became the first Dutch coach to head the Serie A club. In the first mast, led by this specialist, the Rossoneri defeated Verona. It would seem that the Dutch footballer and coach Clarence Seedorf should lead “Milan” to big victories. However, not all talented field players manage to become good coaches. By the end of the 2014 season, AC Milan lost almost all the chances and opportunities to get into European competitions. This was the reason that the club management decided to part with the coach without compensation until the end of the championship.
Nevertheless, this does not make it worse. The player has a lot of achievements. Some have already been described above. But besides all of the above, I would also like to say that he is the best midfielder in Europe 2006/2007, a football player on the FIFA-100 list, two-time holder of the “Talent of the Year in the Netherlands” status and a knight of the Order of the Orange-Nassau. And such achievements, it must be said, are impressive and cause respect.