Michael Reiziger

Michael John Reiziger (born 3 May 1973) is a Dutch former professional footballer who primarily played as a right back. He is now the manager of the Netherlands under-21 team.

Reiziger first gained recognition at Ajax, where he won the Champions League. Over his career, he played for four clubs in four different countries, most notably Barcelona, where he made 249 official appearances over seven years. He also had spells at A.C. Milan, Middlesbrough, and PSV Eindhoven. For a full decade, he represented the Netherlands national team, appearing at three European Championships and the 1998 World Cup, where the Dutch finished fourth.

Born in Amstelveen, North Holland, to Surinamese parents, Reiziger began at Ajax and made his first-team debut at 17. He then had two loan spells, first at Volendam and then at Groningen. During the 1993–94 season with Groningen, he scored a career-high six goals while also playing in midfield. Back at Ajax, he became a key defender, helping the club win the 1994–95 UEFA Champions League, among other trophies. In 1996, he joined A.C. Milan, but after an injury-hit season, he moved to Barcelona, where he spent the next seven years. He arrived at the same time as his former Ajax coach Louis van Gaal. Though not always a guaranteed starter, he played over 200 games for the Catalan side and helped them win back-to-back La Liga titles.

In 2004, Reiziger moved to Middlesbrough on a free transfer. He scored once in the league for them, against Aston Villa in December 2004. After another season troubled by injuries, he left and returned to the Netherlands to finish his career at PSV Eindhoven. In his second year there, he won the Eredivisie and was reunited with former Ajax, Barcelona, and national teammate Patrick Kluivert, though the two rarely played together.

Reiziger made his international debut for the Netherlands on 12 October 1994 against Norway. He played at Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000, and Euro 2004, retiring from international football after the latter. Shortly after signing for PSV, he said he would consider playing for the Netherlands again if asked, but he was never recalled. He finished with 72 caps over ten years.

After retiring, Reiziger settled in Barcelona. He later coached at youth level for Sparta Rotterdam and then served as assistant to Gert Kruys and Alex Pastoor. On 20 June 2017, he returned to Ajax to manage the reserve team in the Eerste Divisie, replacing Marcel Keizer. In his first season, his team won the league title but were not eligible for promotion. He also acted as interim head coach for the first team for one match after Keizer was dismissed, winning 3–1 at home against Willem II. From 2019 to 2023, he was an assistant coach for Ajax’s first team. Since 2023, he has been the manager of the Netherlands under-21 team.

Reiziger’s son, Gabriël (born 2005), also came through the Ajax youth system. As of 2026, he plays for PEC Zwolle, with his contract running until June 2028.