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Mon 08 February 2021 | 8:30

Frank Rijkaard Biography

You will read the full account of Frank Rijkaard biography along with Frank Rijkaard life story and professional career in this part.

Our Frank Rijkaard Life Narrative and Untold History Details provide you with a detailed account of important incidents from 

Frank Rijkaard childhood

 to date. His family history, life story before fame, rise to fame story, relationship, and personal life are involved in the study. Yes, everybody knows his work rate and one on one defending is effective. Just a handful, though, consider the biography of Frank Rijkaard, which is very fascinating. Now, let's start without further ado.

Everything you need to know about Frank Rijkaard Biography

Born on September 30, 1962, Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard is a retired Dutch footballer and former manager who played as a midfielder or defender. Rijkaard played 73 times with Ajax, Real Zaragoza, and Milan and represented the Dutch national team, scoring 10 goals. He was at the helm of the national team of the Netherlands, Sparta Rotterdam, Barcelona, Galatasaray, and the national team of Saudi Arabia throughout his management career.

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Frank Rijkaard information

Frank Rijkaard bio

  • Full Name

    : Frank Edmundo Rijkaard

  • Nickname

    : Frank Rijkaard

Frank Rijkaard personal information

  • Frank Rijkaard Date of Birth

    : 30 sep 1962

  • Frank Rijkaard place of birth

    : Amsterdam, Netherlands

  • Frank Rijkaard Age in 2021

    : 58

  • Frank Rijkaard Religion

    : Christian

  • Frank Rijkaard Nationality

    : Dutch

  • Frank Rijkaard Zodiac Sign

    : cancer

Physical Stats

  • Foot

    : right

  • Hand

    : right

  • Height

    :190 cm

  • Weight

    : 86 kg

Family information

  • Father’s Name

    : Herman Rijkaard

  • Mother’s Name

    : Neel Van Der Meulen

  • Children

    : Ceejay, Lindsay, Mitchel, Santi Rijkaard

Football Information

  • Position

    : Midfielder / defender

  • Teams

    : Ajax. Real Zaragoza. Milan

  • Net worth

    : €50 Million

Frank Rijkaard Favorites

  • Favorite food

    : English foods recipes, Fast foods

  • Favorite drinks

    : Orange Juice, Mango juice

  • Favorite Superhero

    : Superman, Spiderman

  • Favorite sports

    : Soccer, football, American Football

  • Favorite Musician/Music

    : ModernTalking

  • Favorite Footballers

    : Ronaldinho, Leo Messi

  • Favorite color

    : blue

  • Favorite Pet

    : Cat, Dog

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Frank Rijkaard biography.

Frank Rijkaard early life

Frank Edmundo Rijkaard, best known as Frank Rijkaard, was born to Dutch Surinamese immigrant Herman Rijkaard and his Dutch wife in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 30 September 1962. His father was a professional footballer who played for the SV Robinhood Surinamese club and the FC Bauw-Wit Dutch first division side.

There is no information available about his early childhood or school. It is still unclear if he played street football like many famous footballers, but as most footballers of his age began with street football, it is widely accepted that he did.

Early on, Ajax manager Leo Beenhakker noticed his potential as a defensive midfielder and he was recruited into the senior team at the age of 17. In the first game of the season, he debuted for Ajax on 23 August 1980 and scored on his debut as Ajax claimed the 4-2 match against Go Ahead Eagles.

In his very first season, he will go on to become a regular in the starting eleven.

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Frank Rijkaard profile

Frank Rijkaard is a former Dutch footballer who is often known to have played the game as one of the best defensive midfielders ever. He became a successful manager following his successful playing career as well. Frank began displaying interest from an early age in the game. He first played for the biggest club in the

Netherlands

,

Ajax

Amsterdam, and made his national team debut at the age of just 17, but within a small time, he became a regular in the team.

After a brief loan spell at Real Zaragoza in Spain, he helped the team win several trophies before going off to AC Milan and it was in Milan that he became the world-beater with his commanding style of play that set the standard for today's modern defensive midfielders.

As he helped the club win the UEFA Champions League in his last professional season, Rijkaard went back to Ajax and played as a central defender. He was also part of the victorious Dutch team in the European Championship. In his first full-fledged job as a player, he coached the Dutch national team and then moved on to run

Barcelona

, who also enjoyed tremendous success under him.

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Frank Rijkaard biography.

Style of play

Rijkaard was considered one of the greatest players in his position, a fast, strong, complete, and tenacious defensive midfielder who was praised by experts throughout his career for his physical and athletic characteristics, work rate, positioning, acute tactical intelligence, and decision-making, as well as his excellent consistency and ability to read the game.

He was also capable of playing as a central or box-to-box midfielder because of his aggression and mobility, and also in a defensive position, generally in the center.

Although Rijkaard was known as a strong tackler, he was surprisingly elegant for a player of his size, and also had good technique, passing ability, link-up play, and vision, which made him adept at starting attacking plays as a deep-lying playmaker once he regained possession; he was also able to play in more advanced roles, as a deep-lying playmaker, because of his technical skills and creative abilities.

He excelled in the air because of his height and physical strength, and also had a powerful shot; besides, by making late runs into the penalty area, he was able to get forward and contribute to his team's attacking plays with goals.

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Frank Rijkaard life story.

Reception

The annual Sports Gala also reflected extensively on the death of football legend Johan Cruijff, as expected. Jan Mulder spoke and Freek de Jonge gave a short speech as well, but Frank Rijkaard's anecdote was the most impressive part.

At the start of his football career, Rijkaard played at Ajax together with Cruijff. He tells us in his speech how impressive the training sessions with the legendary football player were. He said he liked the overview of Cruijff, ball handling, functional technique, management, and acceleration.

But he got to know Cruijff very differently during his weekly fitness training in Amsterdam Bos. A run around the Bosbaan was always the end of the training. But it was said how easy it was to get out of it from Ajax player to Ajax player: cut off, or 'peck'.

The tactic was, according to Rijkaard, to walk behind and then suddenly escape from the trainer's eye. While the midfielder with a 'shoelace trick' crawls back, he sees that Cruijff is trying to stay behind as well.

He suddenly dived into the bushes, to my horror, exactly where I wanted to do it at the time, "To my horror, he suddenly dived into the bushes, exactly where I wanted to do that at the time,"I can't get behind the big Johan like a chick, can I?"I can't get behind the big Johan like a chick, can I?

But I accidentally step on a thick branch, which scares Johan enormously, while we wait in the bushes until we can crawl back to the back, I will never forget the moment he looked back, "But while we wait in the bushes until we can crawl back to the back, I accidentally step on a thick branch, which scares Johan enormously.

I will never forget the moment he looked back," "So I stole together with Johan Cruijff."

His manner makes sure that he keeps a close eye on him when Cruijff becomes Rijkaard's trainer later. Then he would shout, "He would then shout: Rijkaard, you run ahead and faster. Don't think that you can fool me. You can't take a thief."

Goal celebration

Az, since in the old days he was a player, doesn't have a particular goal of happiness. He just ran a little and got together and rejoiced with his teammates, then raised his hand to God in thanksgiving. One of the most obvious ways for players to score goals seems to be this.

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Frank Rijkaard outside football

Here is a man who has scaled both playing and coaching heights, winning the Champions League twice with AC Milan as a player and once with Ajax (both sublime teams) and Barcelona as a coach in 2006.

Only Miguel Munoz, Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Cruyff, and Carlo Ancelotti had accomplished that at the time; Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane have added their names to that list since then, and that is an illustrious company to maintain.

Rijkaard knew by then that the end would come at Barca and had accepted his fate. It was not quite the end of his career as a coach. He had been with Galatasaray for 16 months and had a short spell with Saudi Arabia.

But you're more likely to find him hanging out in Amsterdam with his wife, Stefanie, and their kids these days. The enormous fall-out in Holland when he split from his former wife Monique in 2009 to move in with Stefanie, who had been the family nanny, maybe part of his desire not to engage in public life. The backlash was substantial.

Wise investments in the Amsterdam property market mean that the Dutch city has enjoyed a rental boom in recent years because it is financially secure. Those close to him say the offers are still rolling in periodically, especially when, a few years ago, Chinese clubs came to call for the great and good of European football. But Agent Rijkaard doesn't even bother asking.

In Holland, no club would attempt to tempt him out of retirement. They know that he's finished with the game.

Videos

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Frank Rijkaard biography.

Frank Rijkaard personal life

Frank Rijkaard was a strong and strong defensive midfielder who could play as a center back in the backline as well. He was part of the infamous Dutch team that was full of stars, but on the international stage, he didn't win much. While he did not make much as a player from endorsements or wages, he had a successful managerial career.

Coaching has to be at the top of the list for FC Barcelona. A sumptuous amount he earned from being the man at the helm. We think it's worth around Euros 50 million, net.

Family, children, and relationships

Rijkaard comes from a family that plays football. He is the son of Herman Rijkaard, a former footballer who played in the Surinamese Hoofdklasse for SV Robinhood, before emigrating to the Netherlands, where he played for FC Blauw-Wit in the Dutch Eredivisie.

His older brother, Herman Rijkaard, is a FIFA certified players' representative who is internationally represented by different players. Divorced twice, he is married to Stephanie at the moment and has four children.

In 1985, Frank Rijkaard married Carmen Sanders and the couple had a daughter, Lindsay. The wedding resulted in divorce. With his second wife, Monique Olgers, he had a son, Mitchel. His second marriage resulted in divorce as well.

Rijkaard also has two twins, Santi and Ceejay, with Stefanie Rucker, his new wife, and former nanny.

Philanthropy

Frank Rijkaard, who likes to make time for the launch of a Cruyff field, was not interested in a position as national coach. "I didn't have to think for a moment."

He doesn't look like a guy who prefers to anonymously travel through life. He's Frank Rijkaard, but that's not possible. He looks like a perfect ambassador casually in black gold boots, relaxed shorts, and a recognizable orange Cruyff Base sweater beneath his gray forest with curls. He doesn't like to get attention anymore. But it's this year.

The wonderful soccer of yesteryear and recent national nominee coach opens a brand new Cruyff Court in The Hague.

He came into the picture as a replacement after the departure of Ronald Koeman from Orange. Like Frank de Boer and Peter Bosz, he also got a phone call from Zeist. Rijkaard refused because of the honor. In The Hague, he finally tries to learn more about it. "Seven years ago, I took a deliberate decision not to be a teacher anymore. It's done."

He was surprised that his name was mentioned. "I haven't wanted to worry about the national team for a moment. I don't want to yell on the phone like an old guy.

The European Champion of 1988 likes to live a peaceful home life, away from the hectic world of football.

The 58-year-old Amsterdammer exempts the Cruyff Foundation. Especially because during my playing career and afterward, Johan Cruijff was extremely significant. I want to continue his proposals through my involvement as an envoy. ”

Cruijff started his foundation more than twenty years ago. Its mission is to get as many particularly young children to exercise as possible. Cruyff Courts, football and basketball courts that are being built in the Netherlands and overseas are part of this. This year, Rijkaard opened a new location in the district of Morgenstond in South The Hague. 

In secondary special education, the parking lots and garbage dump at two schools had to make room, but in exchange, the area got a football and basketball court open to all students. Rijkaard loves the effect on kids that the modern sector has.

What could make a human happier than the happy faces of children? Says the man who, along with Ruud Gullit, laid the foundation for his childhood career at Balboaplein in Amsterdam-West.

In children who are indeed always content playing games, Rijkaard will wander around reasonably anonymously.

The adults who wish to pose with their childhood hero are predominantly present. The director of high school would point out Rijkaard's roll of honor to his peers, the Champions Leagues he won with AC Milan and Ajax as players and with Barcelona as coach. The children leave him alone, save for a few videos.

Mateo Linschoten-Meijer is an exception. Dressed in an Ajax tracksuit, the student from high school confidently poses for a selfie with Rijkaard. 'Sympathetic guy,' says Mateo a little later.

Sadly, Mateo can't exercise today, and he's sick. Luckily, he's in shape to chat and plan. Rijkaard thinks it's good to pass on my passion for sports to the other kids."Rijkaard thinks it's good that I pass on my passion for sports to the other children." Children in wheelchairs will still play games on the new field. I make sure everyone keeps the ball low if they take part. ”

It is crucial that kids with a disability can walk a lot, Rijkaard believes. "It fits Johan's feelings.

That is to say, every child should be able to take part. These types of locations, however, compel me to face the truth. I have a strong idea of how people work with children with disabilities. ”

A work as a national coach may not be feasible, but Rijkaard is making his contribution to Dutch sport through his ambassadorship. "Allowing children to exercise, play and meet each other, that's very important to me."

Legal issues 

Although some footballers have gotten into legal trouble at various stages, Frank Rijkaard has not had any legal disputes in his life.

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Frank Rijkaard Career statistics

Frank Rijkaard has been in many famous teams throughout his career, both as a player and as a mentor, which we want to speak about in this article.

Club

In 1980, Frank Rijkaard played his first league game for Ajax, lining up and scoring a goal against the Go Ahead Eagles. As they finished second in the Eredivisie, Rijkaard played twenty-three of Ajax's thirty-four games that season. Rijkaard got his first international call-up for Switzerland against the Netherlands in 1981.

Rijkaard featured twenty-seven times the following year and scored five goals as he led Ajax to win the league title. Rijkaard achieved much greater success with Ajax the next year.

The club won doubles in the league and cup, and Rijkaard made 33 appearances in which he scored four goals. The season of 1983-84 was unsuccessful as Ajax struggled to retain any of their national titles and crashed out in the European Cup's first round.

However, Rijkaard enjoyed one of his most fruitful seasons as he scored ten goals in twenty-seven appearances. Ajax regained the Dutch league the following year, and Rijkaard played 41 times in all competitions. The next year, Ajax and Dutch legend Johan Cruyff took over as the club's chairman.

Despite the introduction of complete football and the fantastic attacking style by Cruyff, during his three years in charge, his Ajax team struggled to win the title. However, he did win two Dutch cups.

In 1987, the crowning triumph came when the Ajax squad won the European Cup Winners' Cup. For the winning side, which also included the free-scoring Marco van Basten and a young Dennis Bergkamp, Rijkaard played center-half.

During the 1987-88 season, Rijkaard had a training ground disagreement with Cruyff and relocated to Sporting Club de Portugal. His visit, though, was short-lived as he did not register to play in Portugal and was loaned out to Real Zaragoza in Spain instead. He will never line up for his parent club in Portugal, when he was sold to A.C. In 1988, Milan.

The most fruitful part of Rijkaard's career was what followed. He joined his fellow Dutch players, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, in Milan. The three were part of the Dutch squad that won the 1988 European Championships before playing together at A.C. The highest scorer in the competition was Van Basten.

In the middle half, Rijkaard collaborated with Ronald Koeman. In the group stages, the Dutch team beat the Republic of Ireland and England before dispatching West Germany in the semi-finals. As the Netherlands beat the Soviet Union to win their first major international title, Gullit and van Basten scored the goals in the final.

In his first season there, Rijkaard played 47 times for Milan, leading them to victory in the European Cup.

The club kept the championship the next year, but as they finished runners-up in both the Italian league and cup, they were frustrated in the hunt for a treble. The 1990-91 season saw Milan unable to win a single big trophy and for unsporting behavior, they were disqualified from European competitions. As Milan lifted the league cup, Rijkaard won his first Serie A championship in 1992.

In 1993, Rijkaard and the club won the championship again, but in five years they missed out on a third European Cup/Champions League when they lost to Marseilles in the final. Rijkaard returned to Ajax in 1993 and, with Danny Blind, formed a defensive relationship.

He saw Rijkaard win a fourth Dutch league title in his first year back. Rijkaard has scored eleven goals for the club in forty-one appearances. Rijkaard helped Ajax go undefeated in the domestic league season the following year, clinching the title and winning the 1995 Champions League.

The final marked the last game for Rijkaard as a player as he retired. During his career, he played five hundred and forty club games, scoring ninety-eight goals. At seventy-three appearances and ten goals, his international record stands.

International

Rijkaard made his debut for the Netherlands in 1981 on the international stage. He was part of the Dutch side that won UEFA Euro 1988 with a 2-0 victory over the Soviet Union in the final, featuring alongside Ronald Koeman at the center-back. He earned 73 caps in total and netted 10 goals.

During the FIFA World Cups in 1990 and 1994 and at Euro 1992, Rijkaard also played for the Netherlands.

At Euro 1992, in a 2-2 draw with Denmark in the semi-final round, Rijkaard scored a late equalizer for the Netherlands, but the Dutch went out on penalties. In the 3-2 loss against eventual winners Brazil in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, he made his last appearance for the Netherlands.

Managerial

During his time with the Dutch national team, Frank Rijkaard went into coaching and worked as an assistant to Guus Hiddink. The Dutch management job was offered to Rijkaard in 1998. Rijkaard led his side to four Euro 2000 victories, overcoming France's eventual champions in the group stages.

They were disqualified, however, by Italy in the semi-finals on penalties. Rijkaard resigned after his defeat. With Sparta Rotterdam, Rijkaard's first club leadership position was and proved to be a failure. In Rijkaard's first season, the club was relegated, and he was sacked.

Rijkaard landed the role that made his name as a director in 2003. The club's supporters have not received his takeover of Barcelona warmly. Real Madrid, the clubs' arch-rivals, had built a superstar squad and under Rijkaard, Barcelona had a bad start. Despite this, he steadied the ship and ended his first season as a runner-up in the league.

Rijkaard set out to build his squad around Ronaldinho, adding Deco and Eto'o to the team as well as bringing Iniesta as an academy exclusive. In 2004-05, when they won La Liga, Barcelona won their first major trophy in six years. They did much better the following year, maintaining La Liga and winning the Champions League.

Rijkaard turned the game with three second-half substitutions in the Champions League final, putting on Iniesta, Belletti, and Larsson.

At the end of the 2007-08 season, Rijkaard struggled to win another big trophy with the club and resigned. When they defeated the star-studded Real Madrid squad and won their second Champions League, Rijkaard's reign signaled a turn in Barcelona's history.

Rijkaard also oversaw the introduction to the squad over a decade of the youth items that form the basis for the Barcelona team. Never again will Rijkaard enjoy success in administration. In 2009, he went to the Turkish club Galatasaray, but after just over a year in charge, he was sacked.

In 2011, Rijkaard started to oversee the Saudi Arabian national team, but struggled to qualify for a major tournament and was denied in 2013.

Frank Rijkaard honors

Player

Ajax

  • Eredivisie

    : 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1993–94, 1994–95

  • KNVB Cup

    : 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87

  • Super Cup

    : 1993, 1994

  • UEFA Champions League

    : 1994–95

  • European Cup Winners' Cup

    : 1986–87

Milan

  • Serie A

    : 1991–92, 1992–93

  • Supercoppa Italiana

    : 1988, 1992

  • European Cup

    : 1988–89, 1989–90

  • European Super Cup

    : 1989, 1990

  • Intercontinental Cup

    : 1989, 1990

Netherlands

  • UEFA European Championship

    : 1988

Individual

  • Dutch Golden Shoe

    : 1985, 1987

  • UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament

    : 1988

  • Ballon d'Or – Third place

    : 1988, 1989

  • Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player of the Match Award

    : 1990

  • Serie A Best foreign player

    : 1992

  • Serie A Footballer of the Year

    : 1992

  • ESM Team of the Year

    : 1994–95

  • UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll

    : under 21

  • UEFA President's Award

    : 2005

  • World Soccer

    : The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time

  • Ballon d'Or Dream Team (Silver)

    : 2020

Manager

Barcelona

  • La Liga

    : 2004–05, 2005–06

  • Supercopa de España

    : 2005, 2006

  • UEFA Champions League

    : 2005–06

Individual

  • Don Balón Coach of the Year

    : 2004–05, 2005–06

  • UEFA Manager of the Year

    : 2005–06

  • UEFA Team of the Year for Best Coach of the Year

    : 2006

  • IFFHS World's Best Club Coach

    : 2006

  • European Coach of the Year—Alf Ramsey Award

    : 2006

  • Onze d'Or Coach of the Year

    : 2006

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source: SportMob



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