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 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.