Ruud Krol

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Krol began his career at Ajax under Rinus Michels. In his first season (1968–69), he played only one match. After left-back Theo van Duivenbode left for Feyenoord in summer 1969, Krol became a regular. He did not play in the 1971 European Cup final due to a broken leg, but played in the 1972 and 1973 finals. He was captain from October 1974 after Piet Keizer's departure, and stayed at Ajax until June 1980. He then played for Vancouver Whitecaps, Napoli (where he earned nicknames Grande Rudy and Il Tulipano Azzurro), and Cannes in Ligue 2, retiring in 1986. Internationally, he debuted in 1969 against England, retired in 1983, and captained the Netherlands 45 times in his 83 caps.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the De Meer pitch, yet Ruud Krol moved with a calmness that defied the chaos of the moment. As an opposing striker lunged, Krol didn't merely tackle; he read the play before the ball left his opponent's boot, intercepting with precision. With a single, sweeping motion, he launched a pass that sliced through three layers of defense, finding Cruyff in space or creating goals like the one against Brazil in the 1974 World Cup. On the pitch, Krol was the anchor, capable of playing as a sweeper or left-back with equal mastery. Even when he missed the 1971 European Cup final due to injury, his return in 1972 and 1973 saw him captaining a side that seemed invincible. His leadership held firm through transitions, proving that Ajax's philosophy survived even after Cruyff's departure, as Krol orchestrated attacks from the back with an elegance that defined an era.

Reader's Guide

Krol was a versatile defender who could play in any position along the back four or midfield. In the 1974 World Cup, he primarily played left-back, created Cruyff's goal against Brazil, and scored against Argentina. By 1978, he played as sweeper and captained the team. He was part of the Dutch squad at Euro 1976 (third place) and captained them at Euro 1980. He also played in qualifying for the 1982 World Cup and 1984 European Championship. As a coach, he managed K.V. Mechelen, Egypt, Zamalek (winning Afro-Asian Club Championship 1997 and Egypt Cup 2008), Orlando Pirates (winning MTN8, Nedbank Cup, and league in 2011), CS Sfaxien (winning CAF Confederation Cup and Tunisian league in 2013), ES Tunis, and others. He was also assistant manager of the Netherlands and Ajax, and interim manager of Ajax in February 2005.

Did You Know?

• Krol opened a snack bar on Reguliersbreestraat in Amsterdam on 26 September 1974 with teammate Arie Haan.
• His father Rudolf Josef Krol participated in the Dutch resistance during WWII and helped hide George Horn, brother of referee Leo Horn.
• Krol was the most capped Dutch player when he quit, with 83 caps, until Aron Winter surpassed him during Euro 2000.
• He scored an own goal in the 1974 World Cup match against Bulgaria.