Clarence Seedorf
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 Seedorf playing for Milan in 2008 |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Clarence Clyde Seedorf | ||
| Date of birth | 1 April 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Paramaribo, Suriname[1] | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Milan | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ajax | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1992–1995 | Ajax | 88 | (40) |
| 1995–1996 | Sampdoria | 39 | (18) |
| 1996–1999 | Real Madrid | 173 | (71) |
| 1999–2002 | Internazionale | 106 | (48) |
| 2002– | A.C. Milan | 409 | (170) |
| National team | |||
| 1994–2010 | Netherlands | 115 | (30) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 February 2012. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Clarence Clyde Seedorf OON (born 1 April 1976 in Paramaribo, Suriname)[1] is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Serie A club Milan. Seedorf is the first player to have won the Champions League 4 times and with three different clubs - Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and Milan in 2003 and 2007.
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[edit] Club career
[edit] Early career
Seedorf started his career as a right midfielder for Ajax during the early 1990s. He made his professional debut on 29 November 1992 against Groningen at the age of 16 years and 242 days, making him the youngest debutant for Ajax ever.[2] In his early career, he played a role in Ajax's Eredivisie winning years of 1994 and 1995. He was also a key member during Ajax's 1995 UEFA Champions League winning campaign. After making his name in the Ajax side, Seedorf had one season with Sampdoria,[3] scoring three goals.
[edit] Real Madrid
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Seedorf moved to Real Madrid in 1996, where he was "virtually ever present in the Blancos team for the first three seasons".[3] In his first season he helped that team regain the La Liga title; in his second season (1997–1998), he played a major role in the team's Champions League success, as Real Madrid secured a 1–0 victory over Juventus in the final. It was the second Champions League title of his career.
While playing for Real Madrid, Seedorf scored a notable goal against Atlético Madrid.[4]
At the end of the 1998-1999 season Real Madrid and Juventus wanted to swap Seedorf with the French player Zinedine Zidane, but the deal didn't go through.
Zidane had to wait two more years before he could join Real Madrid.
Starting from the summer of 1999, Seedorf's role at Real Madrid became less prominent during the short term of Dutch coach Guus Hiddink at the club, and he was eventually transferred back to Italy during the 1999–2000 season – this time to Internazionale, for a fee about 44 billion Italian lira (about €23M).[5]
[edit] Internazionale
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Despite helping the team to the Coppa Italia final in 2000, a game that was eventually lost, Seedorf could not help bring any major silverware to the club. However, he will be remembered by many Inter fans for his two goals against Juventus in a 2–2 draw on the 9 March 2002, both of which were superb long-range efforts.
[edit] Milan
After two years with Internazionale, Seedorf moved to city rivals Milan in 2002, exchanged with Francesco Coco.[6] He won the Coppa Italia with Milan in 2003, which was the first time they had won the competition in twenty-six years. In the same season, Seedorf gained his third Champions League medal, to become the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs.[3] The all Italian final saw Milan beat Juventus on penalties after a 0–0 draw, despite Seedorf failing to convert his own penalty.
The following season, 2003–2004, Seedorf played a role in the Milan side that won Serie A. It was also Seedorf's fourth national league title win of his career, after his two Dutch title wins with Ajax and his one Spanish win with Madrid.
Seedorf played a major role as Milan reached the Champions League final again in 2005. He started the Istanbul tie against Liverpool in which Milan contrived to lose a 3–0 lead, eventually losing on penalties after a 3–3 draw. Seedorf did not take any of those spot-kicks. Milan also finished runners-up in the Scudetto to Juventus in 2005.
A match-fixing scandal tarnished Serie A and Milan were weakened by the scandal but were allowed to continue in Europe the following season, which led to their best players staying at the club. Seedorf's role as foil to Kaká became increasingly impressive as the pair combined in style to score and supply the goals which drove Milan past Bayern Munich and Manchester United to another Champions League final, again against Liverpool, beating them 2–1 in Athens, with Seedorf collecting his fourth UEFA Champions League medal. In that same year, Seedorf was a part of a Milan squad which won the FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first European player to win the trophy with three different clubs (Ajax in 1995 and Real Madrid in 1998). He ended up winning the Silver Ball for the competition.
At the end of the 2006–07 season, Seedorf was voted best midfielder of the Champions League. He played his 100th game in the Champions League on 4 December against Celtic.
In Milan, Seedorf has formed a formidable midfield partnership with Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo, which began since the 2002–03 season. This midfield trio was still used in the starting line-up until the 2011-2012 season (Pirlo left the rossoneri in the summer of 2011), although their form had been declining. Under the guidance of coach Carlo Ancelotti, their role was to support an attacking midfielder, whether it be Rivaldo, Rui Costa, Kaká, or Ronaldinho.
Seedorf became the foreigner with the most appearances for AC Milan following a game against his former club, Sampdoria, which he scored in. At 395 appearances, he passed Nils Liedholm for this historic milestone. During the Sampdoria game, he also became the ninth highest scoring foreigner for AC Milan at 58 goals.
On 29 March 2010, Seedorf was the target of racist chants from Lazio fans in Saturday's 1-1 draw, which led to the Rome club being given a 15,000 Euro fine by the Italian. This led the Italy's players' union want racism stamped out in Serie A.[7]
He won his second Scudetto with Milan in the 2010-11 Serie A season, where he once again played a vital role. No longer a starter, coach Massimiliano Allegri got the best out of Seedorf by using him sparing, but often and usually subbed him on late in games as an impact player where his lack of speed and agility would not detriment his game as much. In this role he thrived and the fans reignited their love for him. He scored four goals and made thirty six appearances in the 2010-11 season, very impressive for a thirty-five year old midfielder.
Seedorf added yet another medal to his trophy cabinet in the first official game of the 2011-12 season where he played the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 comeback win over rivals F.C. Internazionale in the Italian Supercup. He scored the winning goal of Milan's first win of the 2011-12 Serie A campaign.
Seedorf was ranked 7th of the 20 best players of the Champions League, since it started 20 years ago. Although many say that he should be ranked much higher than that, because he is the player with the most Champions League titles. The ranking was done by Champions, the official magazine of UEFA.
[edit] International career
Due to Surinamese rules against dual citizenship, players who take Dutch citizenship are no longer eligible to represent the Netherlands' former colony. Because of this Seedorf, then of Ajax, played international football for the Netherlands national football team. He received his first call up in 1994, at the age of 18.
Seedorf was in the Netherlands' squad for the UEFA European Championships in 1996, (where his penalty miss proved decisive in the quarter final shootout defeat to France), 2000 and 2004, as well as the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
On 12 November 2006, Seedorf was recalled for the first time since June 2004 as a replacement for the injured Wesley Sneijder. He started and played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 friendly draw against England. Seedorf won the last of his 87 caps for the Netherlands in 2008.[3] In Euro 2008 qualifiers against Romania (0–0 at home) and Slovenia (1–0 away win), Seedorf played 4 and 6 minutes. There were doubts on his position within the national team, as Marco van Basten favoured younger players such as Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie. On 13 May 2008, Seedorf announced that he would not take part in Euro 2008, due to his ongoing conflict with Van Basten.
[edit] Other work
Seedorf has dabbled in media-related work during recent years. He joined the BBC's team covering the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, working as a television pundit alongside more established broadcasters such as Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen.[8] He also presented a number of features for the BBC coverage, including one about Robben Island.[9] Seedorf was widely praised for his contribution to the BBC's coverage, with a Daily Mail article praising his "classy, informed stints in the BBC studio".[10]
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Because of his strong connection with the country Suriname where Seedorf was born, he is involved in many social development projects there. He built his own "Clarence Seedorf Stadium" in the district of Para in Suriname. In this stadium the Para Juniors League of Suriname is being held and the teams of the Suri Profs & Brothers play there regularly. With his Champions for Children Foundation he supports projects for good causes in Suriname. For this, Suriname has honoured him to Commandor of the High-Order of the Yellow Star and recently in 2011 the Netherlands also honoured him to Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau (OON).
On 5 June 2009 Clarence Seedorf announced at a press conference after a meeting with Nelson Mandela that he had become the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s latest Legacy Champion. He joins Patrice Motsepe, Tokyo Sexwale, David Rockefeller, Peggy Dulany and Bill Clinton, who are also members of a select group of philanthropists who are helping to ensure that Mr Mandela’s legacy lives on.
[edit] Career statistics
- As of 15 February 2012
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Netherlands | League | KNVB Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 1992–93 | Ajax | Eredivisie | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| 1993–94 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 4 | ||
| 1994–95 | 34 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 45 | 6 | ||||
| Total | 65 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 86 | 11 | ||
| Italy | League | Coppa Italia | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 1995–96 | Sampdoria | Serie A | 32 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 35 | 4 | |
| Total | 32 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 35 | 4 | |||
| Spain | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 1996–97 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 38 | 6 | 4 | 0 | - | 42 | 6 | |
| 1997–98 | 36 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 49 | 7 | ||
| 1998–99 | 37 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 50 | 7 | ||
| 1999–00 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 121 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 25 | 3 | 157 | 20 | ||
| Italy | League | Coppa Italia | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 1999–00 | Internazionale Milan | Serie A | 20 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 5 |
| 2000–01 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 35 | 5 | ||
| 2001–02 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 32 | 4 | ||
| Total | 64 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 92 | 14 | ||
| 2002–03 | A.C. Milan | Serie A | 29 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 48 | 7 |
| 2003–04 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 42 | 3 | ||
| 2004–05 | 32 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 49 | 7 | ||
| 2005–06 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 49 | 6 | ||
| 2006–07 | 32 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 51 | 10 | ||
| 2007–08 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 39 | 9 | ||
| 2008–09 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 41 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 37 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 40 | 4 | ||
| 2011–12 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 23 | 3 | ||
| Total | 297 | 47 | 24 | 5 | 98 | 9 | 419 | 61 | ||
| Total | 579 | 84 | 53 | 11 | 156 | 15 | 768 | 110 | ||
| Netherlands national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1994 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | 7 | 3 |
| 1996 | 11 | 2 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 12 | 1 |
| 1999 | 7 | 0 |
| 2000 | 10 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 |
| 2004 | 9 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 87 | 11 |
[edit] Honours
[edit] Club
- Eredivisie (2): 1993–94, 1994–95
- KNVB Cup (1): 1993
- Johan Cruijff-schaal (2): 1993, 1994
- UEFA Champions League (1): 1995
- La Liga (1): 1996–97
- Supercopa de España (1): 1997
- UEFA Champions League (1): 1998
- Intercontinental Cup (1): 1998
- Serie A (2): 2003–04, 2010–11
- Coppa Italia (1): 2002–03
- Supercoppa Italiana (2): 2004, 2011
- UEFA Champions League (2): 2003, 2007
- UEFA Super Cup (2): 2003, 2007
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2007
[edit] Individual
- Dutch Talent of the Year (2): 1993, 1994
- FIFA 100
- UEFA Best Midfielder Award: 2006–07
- FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball (1): 2007
- UEFA Team of the Year (2): 2002, 2007
- Real Madrid Team of the Century: 2008
- Commander of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star of Suriname: 2007[13]
- Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau of the Netherlands: 2011[13]
- L'Equipe's all-time European Cup dream team
- Nelson Mandela Leagacy Champion
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Clarence Seedorf - A.C. Milan squad 2011/2012". A.C. Milan. http://www.acmilan.com/en/teams/roster_player/57. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ "Wijnaldum jongste Feyenoord-debutant" (in Dutch). NOS.nl. http://www.nos.nl/nosstudiosport/artikelen/2007/4/8/08041716wijnaldumjongstefeyenoorddebutant.html. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
- ^ a b c d Paul Madden (2010-04-01). "Spanish Cumpleanos: Javier Irureta". Goal.com. http://www.goal.com/en/news/2669/birthdays/2010/04/01/1858499/spanish-cumpleanos-javier-irureta. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ SEEDORF - against atletico madrid 1997. 2011-08-30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRFnsRPOQu8. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
- ^ "Oriali a Madrid per Seedorf Ed e' nata l' idea Benarrivo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 1999-08-09. http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1999/agosto/09/Oriali_Madrid_per_Seedorf_nata_ga_0_9908092250.shtml. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
- ^ "Agreement reached between inter and ac milan for seedorf-coco swap". inter.it. 2002-05-30. http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?L=en&N=2938. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
- ^ "AIC bid to kick out racism". Sky Sports. 29 March 2010. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/6061583/. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ "Klinsmann and Seedorf join BBC's World Cup team". BBC Sport. 22 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8637613.stm. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ "World Cup 2010: Clarence Seedorf goes to Robben Island". BBC Sport. 7 July 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8799052.stm. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ Williamson, Laura (8 July 2010). "Clarence Seedorf has the class to admit that Dutch are lucky". The Daily Mail (London). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1292904/WORLD-CUP-2010-Clarence-Seedorf-class-admit-Dutch-lucky.html. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ :: National Football Teams ::.. Player - Clarence Seedorf
- ^ Clarence Seedorf - International Appearances
- ^ a b Lintje voor Clarence Seedorf - website shownu.nl
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Clarence Seedorf |
- Clarence Seedorf official website
- Clarence Seedorf profile and stats at Wereld van Oranje (Dutch)
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- 1976 births
- Living people
- Black Dutch people
- People from Paramaribo
- Surinamese people of Dutch descent
- Surinamese emigrants to the Netherlands
- Dutch people of Surinamese descent
- Dutch expatriate footballers
- Dutch footballers
- Netherlands international footballers
- AFC Ajax players
- U.C. Sampdoria players
- Real Madrid C.F. players
- F.C. Internazionale Milano players
- A.C. Milan players
- La Liga footballers
- UEFA Euro 1996 players
- 1998 FIFA World Cup players
- UEFA Euro 2000 players
- UEFA Euro 2004 players
- Association football midfielders
- FIFA 100
- Eredivisie players
- Serie A footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Dutch expatriates in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in Italy
- Dutch expatriates in Italy
