The Best Of Frank Rijkaard

Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard (born 30 September 1962, in Amsterdam) 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 and Galatasaray. His mother is Dutch and his father is Surinamese.

Ajax (1980--1987)Rijkaard was just 17 when Ajax coach Leo Beenhakker gave him his senior squad debut 23 August 1980. He made an immediate impact, scoring for his team 0--3 in the 2--4 away victory over Go Ahead Eagles, the first league match in the 1980--81 season. He would play another 23 games for Ajax in his first season, netting a total of 4 goals. In 1981--82 he won his first Dutch Eredivisie championship with Ajax, and went on to successfully defend that title in the following 1982--83 season. Rijkaard stayed at Ajax for seven and a half seasons, as a central defender (1981--82, 1982--83, 1984--85), a right midfielder and a central midfielder (1985--86). During this period he won the Dutch league championship three times (1981--82, 1982--83, 1984--85) and the Dutch Cup (KNVB-Cup) 3 times (1982--83, 1985--86, 1986--87). In the 1986--87 season he won the European Cup II (Cup Winners' Cup) with Ajax (Final: Ajax 1--0 Lokomotiv Leipzig). In September 1987, what would have been Rijkaard's third season (1987--88) under Dutch football legend Johan Cruijff as head coach, Rijkaard stormed off the training field and vowed never to play under him again. He was signed by the Portuguese club Sporting CP, but he signed too late to be eligible to play in any competition. He was immediately loaned out to Spanish team Real Zaragoza, but upon completing his first season at Zaragoza, was signed by Italian side Milan.

Milan (1988--1993)His five seasons at Milan made him a legend. It was coach Arrigo Sacchi who saw Rijkaard as playing a pivotal role at Milan and transformed the central defender into a world class holding midfielder, where the Dutchman's aggressive and firm style would go on to influence the likes of Patrick Vieira to replicate in future years. Playing alongside fellow country-men Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, Rijkaard won the European Cup twice (in 1989 against Steaua Bucureşti and 1990, against Benfica) and the domestic Serie A championship twice. In the 1990 European Cup Final he scored the only goal to win the cup for Milan.

Ajax return (1993--1995)After five seasons in Italy, Rijkaard returned to Ajax in 1993. With Louis van Gaal at the helm, Rijkaard and Danny Blind formed the experienced defensive core of the Ajax team that won the first two of three consecutive Dutch Championships. Ajax were the unbeaten champions of the Netherlands in 1994--95 season and carried that success into Europe. In his final game, Rijkaard won the European Cup (which had been renamed as the Champions League) again, with a 1--0 victory over Milan in the 1995 final at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna. He was named in the FIFA 100, Pele's list of the 125 World's Greatest Footballers.

International career (1981--1994)On the international stage, Rijkaard made his debut for the Netherlands in 1981. He was part of the Dutch side that won Euro 1988 with a 2--0 win in the final over the Soviet Union, playing at center-back alongside Ronald Koeman. He won a total of 73 caps and scored 10 goals. Rijkaard also played for the Netherlands during the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups and at Euro 1992.

Rijkaard was involved in an unsavoury incident with Rudi Völler when West Germany played the Netherlands in the 1990 World Cup. Rijkaard was booked for a bad tackle on Völler, as Rijkaard took up position for the free kick he spat in Völler's hair. Völler complained to the referee and was booked as well. From the resulting free kick, Völler then dived, according to himself to avoid a collision with Dutch keeper Hans van Breukelen, while others, notably Rijkaard and van Breukelen, saw it as a dive in hopes for a penalty. Van Breukelen was angry at this but Rijkaard again confronted Völler by twisting his ear and stamping on his foot. Both Völler and Rijkaard were sent off but Rijkaard again spat in Völler's hair as they left the pitch. The German press nicknamed him "Llama" for his spitting.

At Euro 1992, Rijkaard scored a late equalizer for the Netherlands in a 2--2 draw with Denmark at the semi final stage but the Dutch went out on penalties. He made his final appearance for the Netherlands in the 3--2 defeat against eventual winners Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

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[sandrop69]

Legend! Thanks for the upload! If you have anymore SBS goal tribute videos please keep uploading them! So many people grew up watching these! Thanks again!

[barbosar1960]

O melho é aquele contra o Benfica.

[DadoReal]

Awesome skill from Ruud Gullit from 1.28-1.32 !!!

[casualdespair]

good compilation, although a defense-based one would be more fitting

[TheeGeorgian]

Genia

[TheeGeorgian]

Geni !

[Ilan112]

Rijkaard, Gullit Van Basten = the terrible trio!

[Ilan112]

I grew up in England in late 80's 90's but my hero was and always will be the legendary Frank Rijkaard. What elegance ont the ball, what timing he had to become the third man running. What a reader of the game...none of these attributes could be found in the English game at the time which was mainly hustle and bustle. Frank we salute you, forget the Voller incident you are my true hero.

[noctumbro555]

Me encantaban esos cracks de la vieja escuela que hacian los lujos cuando era necesario . llegaban y le pegaban y asian los meos goles con una simplesa admirable

[ocaradanoite77]

Um volante da mesma classe de Falcão e Redondo.

[maxpaynetico]

What is the name os this song?

[imrig1]

the best DM