Edgar Davids

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

After beginning his career with Ajax, winning several domestic and international titles, he subsequently played in Italy for AC Milan, and later enjoyed a successful spell with Juventus, before being loaned out to Barcelona in 2004. He went on to play for Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur before returning to Ajax. Having struggled with injuries for two years, Davids returned to competitive football during a brief spell with Crystal Palace before retiring at the age of 37. In 2012, he was appointed player-manager at the English League Two club Barnet. He resigned by mutual agreement as manager in January 2014. He was capped 74 times by the Netherlands at international level, scoring six goals, and represented his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship (three times: 1996, 2000, and 2004).

In Their Own Story

The 1997 transfer was a turning point; after being labeled the "rotten apple" of AC Milan's dressing room by teammate Alessandro Costacurta, Davids found redemption in Turin. He broke into the side just in time to win the 1998 Serie A title. His performances were often inspirational in Europe, particularly during the 2002–03 Champions League run where he played 15 times as Juventus reached the final against his former club AC Milan. Despite the penalty shootout loss, his contribution was immense. The team also secured the 2002 Coppa Italia Final and a semi-final finish in the 1998–99 season. By the time he left for Barcelona in early 2004, he had cemented his status as a key figure who helped Juventus win the league after five years without a title.

Reader's Guide

Davids started his career at age 12 with Ajax, making his first-team debut on 6 September 1991. He helped Ajax to three Eredivisie titles, the 1992 UEFA Cup, and the 1995 UEFA Champions League. In the 1996 UEFA Champions League final, he missed Ajax's first penalty in the shoot-out, which they lost to Juventus. He moved to AC Milan on a free transfer for the 1996–97 season. At Milan, he broke his leg in a 1–0 defeat at Perugia on 23 February 1997. After failing to recover his place, he joined Juventus in December 1997 for a reduced fee. At Juventus, he became a permanent first-team member, playing initially on the left flank or later as a defensive midfielder, forming a partnership with Zinedine Zidane. He helped Juventus to Serie A titles in 1998, 2002, and 2003, as well as two Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Intertoto Cup. He played in the 1998 Champions League final (lost to Real Madrid, according to the source's correction) and the 2002–03 Champions League final (lost to Milan on penalties). In January 2004, he joined Barcelona on loan, helping them finish second in La Liga. He then moved to Inter Milan in summer 2004, then to Tottenham Hotspur in August 2005. He returned to Ajax on 28 January 2007, winning the KNVB Cup. He later played for Crystal Palace on a pay-as-you-play deal in 2010. Internationally, he debuted on 20 April 1994, scored the winning goal against FR Yugoslavia at the 1998 World Cup, and was named to the FIFA Team of the Tournament in 1998 and the Euro 2000 Team of the Tournament. He was suspended by FIFA in 2001 after testing positive for nandrolone.

Did You Know?

• Davids was nicknamed 'The Pitbull' by Ajax manager Louis van Gaal due to his fierce style of play.
• He began wearing protective goggles after surgery for glaucoma in his right eye, first wearing them on 4 September 1999 in a friendly against Belgium.
• In 2004, Pelé chose Davids for the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living footballers.
• Davids is of Afro-Surinamese descent with Jewish heritage from his mother.
• His cousin Lorenzo is also a footballer.