Frank Rijkaard

Dutch midfield legend and Euro 1988 winner

Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard (born 30 September 1962) is a Dutch former football manager and player who primarily played as a defensive midfielder. He is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time.

Quick Facts

Full name: Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard
Born: 30 September 1962
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height: 1.90 m / 6 ft 3 in
Position: Defensive midfielder
Total caps: 414
Total goals: 75

Lore & Background

Rijkaard played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza and AC Milan. With Ajax, he won five Eredivisie titles and the 1994–1995 Champions League. With AC Milan, he won Serie A titles, as well as the 1988–89 and 1989–90 European Cup titles. He earned 73 caps for the Netherlands national team, winning UEFA Euro 1988 and finishing third at Euro 1992. He also played in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups. In his managerial career, he is best known for his five-year tenure at Barcelona, winning La Liga in 2004–05 and 2005–06, and the 2005–06 Champions League. He also managed the Netherlands national team, Sparta Rotterdam, Galatasaray and the Saudi Arabia national team.

Reader's Guide

Rijkaard debuted for Ajax in 1980 and won three Eredivisie titles and three KNVB Cups with the club, plus the 1986–87 Cup Winners' Cup. After a brief spell at Sporting CP and a loan at Real Zaragoza, he joined AC Milan, winning two European Cups and two Serie A titles. He returned to Ajax in 1993, winning two more Dutch titles and the 1994–95 Champions League. Internationally, he debuted in 1981 and was part of the Euro 1988 winning side, playing at centre-back alongside Ronald Koeman in the final.

At Euro 1992, he set up Dennis Bergkamp's goal in the opening victory against Scotland, scored against Germany, and scored a late equalizer in the semi-final against Denmark, though the Netherlands lost on penalties. His final international appearance was in the 1994 World Cup quarter-final against Brazil. As a manager, he led the Netherlands to the Euro 2000 semi-finals, then managed Sparta Rotterdam, Barcelona (winning two La Liga titles and the Champions League), Galatasaray, and the Saudi Arabia national team.

Did You Know?

Rijkaard was part of the Dutch side that won UEFA Euro 1988 with a 2–0 victory in the final against the Soviet Union, playing at centre-back alongside Ronald Koeman.
In the semi-final against Denmark at Euro 1992, Rijkaard scored a late equalizer for the Netherlands in a 2–2 draw, but the Dutch went out on penalties.
Rijkaard was involved in a spitting incident with Rudi Völler during the 1990 World Cup, for which he later apologized.