Patrick Kluivert

Patrick Kluivert

Personal information
Full name	Patrick Stephan Kluivert
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	FC Twente (Youth team coach)
Youth career
1983–1994	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1997	Ajax	70	(39)
1997–1998	Milan	27	(6)
1998–2004	Barcelona	182	(90)
2004–2005	Newcastle United	25	(6)
2005–2006	Valencia	10	(1)
2006–2007	PSV Eindhoven	16	(3)
2007–2008	Lille	13	(4)
Total		343	(149)
International career
1994–2004	Netherlands	79	(40)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Patrick Stephan Kluivert ([ˈpɛtrɪˈklœy̆vərt] ; born 1 July 1976) is a Dutch former footballer, currently head coach of the youth side of FC Twente. He played as a striker for AFC Ajax, A.C. Milan, FC Barcelona, Newcastle United, Valencia CF, PSV Eindhoven, and Lille OSC. Kluivert played for the Dutch national team from 1994 to 2004. He is their all-time leading goalscorer with 40 goals. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers chosen by Pelé as part of FIFA's centenary observances.

Early life

Patrick Stephan Kluivert was born on 1 July 1976 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His father, a professional football player, was born in Calcutta, Suriname and his mother in Curaçao. Kluivert learned to play football on the street. After he played for football club Schellingwoude one year, he joined the AFC Ajax youth academy at the age of seven.

During his younger years, he played several different positions, even as a defender. He was strong in technique, football intelligence, and speed, but his personality was considered too impulsive. Kluivert played for the Dutch national teams under-15, under-16 and under-17.

Playing style

For such a tall player, Kluivert possessed a remarkably impressive 'first touch' and quick feet. Similar to footballer Ronaldo, he often used the Cruijff Turn to great effect to go past defenders. Kluivert also utilised his height and physique to dominate aerial balls and was considered to possess one of the best headers in the contemporary game.

Club career

Ajax

Kluivert was part of Ajax's Golden Generation of the 1990s. He made his debut in the senior team of Ajax on 21 August 1994 at the age of 18 in the Dutch Super Cup win against the old arch rival Feyenoord, in which he scored his first goal. The 1994–95 season saw Kluivert make his mark – along with a host of youngsters from the Ajax youth academy, including Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, and Edwin van der Sar – on the European stage with a triumph in the UEFA Champions League. Kluivert came off the bench to score an 85th minute winner in the 1995 Champions League Final against A.C. Milan in Vienna, Austria. He soon became Ajax's "Golden Boy" of the mid-90s, leading the Ajax front-line as the side claimed several pieces of silverware during that period. He declined a new contract to leave for Milan on a Bosman transfer in 1997, by which time he had scored 39 goals from 70 games in the Dutch league over three seasons.

Milan

His career at A.C. Milan started well, when he scored a sensational goal against Juventus in a friendly match. After scoring only six goals in the Serie A, he left for FC Barcelona of the Spanish La Liga.

Barcelona

On 28 August 1998, an hour before the transfer deadline, Kluivert signed a four-year contract with FC Barcelona for a fee of £8.75 million. Kluivert was reunited with Louis van Gaal, a mentor from his days at Ajax. Kluivert formed a successful partnership with Rivaldo, which enabled Barça to defend the Spanish La Liga in 1998–99. The following season was also a successful one for Kluivert. Although Barcelona failed to win a third consecutive league title, Kluivert finished the season as the club's top scorer with 15 league goals. He was released from Barcelona in the summer of 2004. He scored 90 league goals in his time with the club, leaving him as the 6th (sixth) all time top-scorer for the club in La Liga.

Newcastle United

Kluivert joined Newcastle United on 21 July 2004 to team up with Alan Shearer. He stated that his reason for joining was due to the overwhelming reaction he received whilst playing for Barcelona against Newcastle during a pre season friendly. However, Newcastle decided not to take up the second year on his contract. Kluivert scored some classy and crucial goals namely both winning strikes against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup, both games ending 1–0. Despite scoring 13 goals in his debut season, Newcastle finished the league in the bottom half which triggered a clause in his contract saying either party could decide not to extend his contract a further year. Both Kluivert and the club agreed that he would leave.

Valencia

Kluivert decided to return to Spain to play for Valencia CF. Reportedly, the club included a special clause in his contract that allowed for Kluivert to be sacked if he lacked discipline "off the pitch." Kluivert was given permission to look for a new club in July 2006 after just one season and 202 minutes played, as he spent most of the season injured.

PSV

Kluivert training with PSV

Despite widespread rumours that Kluivert was to return home to AFC Ajax, Kluivert's return to the Eredivisie was to be with PSV, with whom he signed a one-year deal in 2006. Just as with his debut for Ajax, Kluivert made his PSV debut against Feyenoord in a 2–1 win, coming on as a substitute. After that, he had two injuries during the first half of the season, which limited his playing time. In a game against Ajax at the Philips Stadion, Kluivert refused to celebrate after scoring a goal against his former club. He was eventually released in July 2007.

Lille

On 25 July 2007, Kluivert turned down the offer of a trial at Sheffield Wednesday, and later joined French side Lille OSC. Kluivert had mixed experiences with the French club Lille, only starting 10 times, although in these appearances he contributed greatly with four goals and valuable assists. In May 2008, Patrick Kluivert told Lille manager Claude Puel that he would be looking for a new challenge for the next season.

Retirement and coaching career

On 29 April 2008, Dutch media reported that Kluivert would take part in the coaching course of the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to become a professional football coach. The KNVB requires that all coaching badge candidates complete this sort of apprenticeship. On 18 July 2008, it was reported on the football website Goal.com that Kluivert would be spending the 2008–09 season as a member of the backroom coaching staff of Eredivisie club AZ.

On 21 March 2009, while having an interview on Soccer AM, Kluivert said he is currently coaching the strikers at AZ. On 24 January 2010, Kluivert agreed to a two-week coaching stint with A-League side Brisbane Roar. On 19 May 2010, Kluivert told journalists he ruled out a comeback as a football player. From August 2010 on, he was an assistant-coach for N.E.C., coaching the strikers. In the 2011–12 season, he will be coaching the FC Twente youth team.

International career

Kluivert missed most of UEFA Euro 1996 with a knee injury. During the final group game and from a Dennis Bergkamp assist, he scored against England, which enabled the Netherlands to qualify for the knock-out round over Scotland on goal difference. There, they lost in a penalty shootout to France.

At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Kluivert was sent off against Belgium by referee Pierluigi Collina after elbowing Lorenzo Staelens. He made amends when selected to play against Argentina in the quarter-finals of the same tournament where he scored the opening goal. He also impressed in later matches, scoring a late equalising goal from a header to draw his team level with Brazil in the semi-final, although his team went on to lose the penalty shootout.

The UEFA Euro 2000 would represent Patrick Kluivert's finest hour as the spearhead of a star-studded Oranje side. Kluivert scored a hat-trick in the 6–1 quarter-final demolition of Yugoslavia. The semi-final against Italy would provide much heartache for Kluivert, as the Dutch yet again crashed out on penalties. Neither Kluivert nor his Dutch side could find the back of the net, despite twice having a chance from the penalty spot - Kluivert himself would miss one of those penalties during the game, but did score in the penalty shoot-out. Despite the Dutch falling short, Kluivert will be remembered for rising to the occasion in front of partisan home crowds, scoring five goals in as many games, jointly claiming the Golden Boot with Savo Milošević.

Kluivert would once again enter UEFA Euro 2004 wearing the famous #9 jersey for his country. But Dick Advocaat did not turn to Kluivert during the tournament - Kluivert would end up being the only member of the Dutch field squad not to get any playing time at Euro 2004.

As well as from being left out of the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad by coach Marco van Basten, Kluivert was not called up to play in any of the qualifying games leading up to the World Cup either. This was partly due to the fact that he suffered persistent injuries which prevented him from playing for his club during the 2005-06 season. As of 2012, Kluivert remains the all-time leading goalscorer for the Dutch national team with 40 goals.

Personal life

In 1997, Kluivert was charged with manslaughter following his involvement in a fatal car accident in which Marten Putman, a theatre director, was killed. He was found guilty and received community service and a driving ban. Kluivert supports Ajax and is a professional football coach for young kids ; he also supports the gay pride-parade.

On 24 September 2007, Kluivert's wife Rossana Lima gave birth to a baby boy, named Shane Patrick. He has three sons, Quincy, Justin and Ruben from his first marriage. He was born on exactly the same day as fellow Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

During his first season as a coach he guided the FC Twente reserve side to the championship in the reserve competition. He personally stated that he was dissapointed at the lack of interest his former club Ajax had shown when he started his training career. The club offered him the opportunity to become an assistent coach but at a low level (the 7 and 8 year olds) which he found rather insulting. Instead he worked his way up by working for A.Z. (football club), N.E.C. (football club) and Brisbane Roar F.C. and his first independent coaching job at FC Twente.

Career statistics

Club

(Source)

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ajax	1994–95	25	18	2	1	10	2	37	21
	1995–96	28	15	2	1	8	5	38	21
	1996–97	17	6	1	0	4	2	22	8
	Total	70	39	5	2	22	9	97	50
Milan	1997–98	27	6	6	3	–	–	33	9
	Total	27	6	6	3	–	–	33	9
Barcelona	1998–99	35	15	3	1	–	–	38	16
	1999–2000	26	15	2	1	14	7	42	23
	2000–01	31	18	5	2	12	5	48	25
	2001–02	33	18	0	0	17	7	50	25
	2002–03	36	16	0	0	15	5	51	21
	2003–04	21	8	2	0	3	2	26	10
	Total	182	90	12	4	61	26	255	120
Newcastle United	2004–05	25	6	6	2	6	5	37	13
	Total	25	6	6	2	6	5	37	13
Valencia	2005–06	10	1	1	0	–	–	11	1
	Total	10	1	1	0	–	–	11	1
PSV	2006–07	16	3	2	0	3	0	21	3
	Total	16	3	2	0	3	0	21	3
Lille	2007–08	13	4	1	0	–	–	14	4
	Total	13	4	1	0	–	–	14	4
Total		343	149	33	11	92	40	468	200

International

(Source) Template:Football player national team statistics |- |1994||1||0 |- |1995||5||3 |- |1996||5||1 |- |1997||5||2 |- |1998||11||7 |- |1999||8||4 |- |2000||14||12 |- |2001||9||4 |- |2002||6||3 |- |2003||11||4 |- |2004||4||0 |- !Total||79||40 |}

Honours

Club

Ajax

• Dutch Supercup (2): 1994, 1995
• Eredivisie (2): 1995, 1996
• UEFA Champions League: 1995
• European Super Cup: 1995
• Intercontinental Cup: 1995

Barcelona

• La Liga: 1999

PSV

• Eredivisie: 2007

International

Netherlands

• UEFAEuro 2000 - Joint top scorer
• All-time leading goal scorer (40 goals as of 1 May 2004)

External links

• Patrick Kluivert – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Patrick Kluivert.com
• FootballDatabase provides Patrick Kluivert's profile and stats
• Patrick Kluivert at PSV by Tvw
• Patrick Kluivert at Wereld van Oranje (archived) (in Dutch)