Clarence Seedorf

Personal information
Full name	Clarence Clyde Seedorf
Date of birth	1 April 1976 (1976-04-01) (age 33)
Place of birth	Paramaribo, Suriname
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Milan
Number	10
Youth career
	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps (Gls)†
1992–1995	Ajax	0064 00(11)
1995–1996	Sampdoria	0032 000(3)
1996–1999	Real Madrid	0121 00(15)
1999–2002	Internazionale	0064 000(8)
2002–	Milan	0236 00(39)
National team
1994–2008	Netherlands	0087 00(11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 5, 2009. † Appearances (Goals).

Clarence Clyde Seedorf (born 1 April 1976 in Paramaribo) is a Dutch footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Italian Serie A club A.C. Milan . He is the only player to win the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs - (Ajax, Real Madrid and Milan twice). He is the older brother of Chedric Seedorf.^[1] As of 18 June 2009, Clarence Seedorf and former team mate Giuseppe Bergomi are co-owners of Lega Pro Prima Divisione, formally Serie C, side AC Monza Brianza 1912

[edit] Club career

[edit] Early career

Seedorf started his career as a right midfielder for AFC Ajax during the early 1990s. He made his professional debut on 29 November 1992 against FC Groningen at the age of 16 years and 242 days, making him the youngest debutant for Ajax ever.^[2] In his early career, he played a role in Ajax's Eredivisie winning years of 1994 and 1995. He was also a key member during Ajax's 1995 UEFA Champions League winning campaign. His performances during the season saw him move to U.C. Sampdoria in a €5 million transfer in the summer of 1995, although he only spent one season there, scoring three goals.

[edit] Real Madrid

Seedorf moved to Real Madrid for €8 million in 1996^[3], helping that team regain the La Liga title in his first season. In his second season, 1997-1998, he played a major role in the team's Champions League success as Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Juventus in the final, in his second Champions League title of his career. While playing for Real Madrid, Seedorf scored a notable goal against Atlético Madrid, a shot from around 45 meters away. Seedorf's spell at Real Madrid ended when he was transferred back to Italy during the 1999-2000 season - this time to Internazionale for €24.5 million.^[4]

[edit] Internazionale

Despite helping the team to the Coppa Italia final in 2000, a game that was eventually lost, Seedorf could not help bring any major silverware to the club. However, he will be remembered by many Inter fans for his two goals against Juventus in a 2-2 draw on the 9 March 2002, both of which were superb long-range efforts.

[edit] Milan

Seedorf with Milan.

After two years with Internazionale, Seedorf moved to city rivals A.C. Milan in 2002. He won the Coppa Italia with Milan in 2003, which was the first time they had won the competition in twenty-six years. In the same season, Seedorf gained his third Champions League medal with a third different team, after an all Italian final in which Milan beat Juventus on penalties after a 0-0 draw, despite Seedorf failing to convert his own penalty. As a result, Seedorf became the only player to have won Champions' League trophies for three different clubs. The following season, 2003–2004, Seedorf played a role in the Milan side that won Serie A. It was also Seedorf's fourth national league title win of his career, after his two Dutch title wins with Ajax and his one Spanish win with Real Madrid.

Seedorf played a major role as Milan reached the Champions League final again in 2005. He started the Istanbul tie against Liverpool in which Milan contrived to lose a 3-0 lead, eventually losing on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Seedorf did not take any of those spot-kicks. Milan also finished runners-up in the Scudetto to Juventus in 2005.

A match-fixing scandal tarnished Serie A and Milan were weakened by the scandal but were allowed to continue in Europe the following season, which led to their best players staying at the club. Seedorf's role as foil to Kaká became increasingly impressive as the pair combined in style to score and supply the goals which drove Milan past Bayern Munich and Manchester United to another Champions League final, again against Liverpool, beating them 2-1 in Athens, with Seedorf collecting his fourth UEFA Champions League medal. In that same year, Seedorf was a part of a Milan squad which won the FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first European player to win the trophy with two different clubs (Real Madrid in 1998). He ended up winning the Silver Ball for the competition.

At the end of the 2006-07 season, Seedorf was voted best midfielder of the Champions League. He played his 100th game in the Champions League on 4 December against Celtic.

In Milan, Seedorf has formed a formidable midfield partnership with Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo, which began since the 2002-03 season. This midfield trio is still used until now in the starting line-up, although their form has declined over the last two years. Under the guidance of coach Carlo Ancelotti, their role was to support an attacking midfielder, whether it be Rivaldo, Manuel Rui Costa, Kaká, or Ronaldinho.

[edit] International career

Seedorf has played in Euro 96, (where his penalty miss proved decisive in the quarter final shootout defeat to France), the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000 and Euro 2004. However, many have suggested that his national career could have been even more impressive if he had not let an argumentative and rebellious streak get the better of him on several occasions. In addition, he has a long history of underperforming during critical moments while playing for the national team. This was one of the reasons why former national team coach Marco van Basten decided to ignore Seedorf when he was appointed coach after Euro 2004. Thus, Seedorf did not play in the World Cup 2006 qualifying series, as well as missing out on the FIFA World Cup itself.

On 12 November 2006, Seedorf was recalled for the first time since June 2004 as a replacement for the injured Wesley Sneijder. He started and played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 friendly draw against England. In Euro 2008 qualifiers against Romania (0-0 at home) and Slovenia (1-0 away win), Seedorf played 4 and 6 minutes. There were doubts on his position within the national team, as Marco van Basten favoured players such as Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie. On 13 May 2008, Seedorf announced that he would not take part in Euro 2008, due to his ongoing conflict with van Basten.^[5]

[edit] Personal life

Seedorf is from a football family. His brothers Chedric, Rhamlee and Jurgen, his cousin Stefano and his nephew Regilio are all professional football players. His father, Johan, is a player agent.^[6] Seedorf is married to Luviana, a Brazilian. He has four children and lives in Milan. In an interview with Nick Webster on Fox Soccer Channel's Center Circle program, Seedorf mentioned studying for the UEFA coaching designation. Although he is in his thirties, there have been no reports of imminent retirement and coaching.

He has been seen dating Elisabetta Canalis, the girlfriend of George Clooney.

[edit] Career statistics

As of 27 April 2009.

[edit] Club Playing Honours

AFC Ajax

• Eredivisie: 1993-94, 1994-95
• KNVB Cup: 1993
• Johan Cruijff-schaal: 1993, 1994
• UEFA Champions League: 1995

Real Madrid F.C.

• La Liga: 1996-97
• Supercopa de España: 1997
• UEFA Champions League: 1998, 2000
• Intercontinental Cup: 1998

Associazione Calcio Milan

• Serie A: 2003-04
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
• UEFA Champions League: 2003, 2007
• UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

[edit] Individual Playing Honours

• Dutch Talent of the Year: 1993, 1994
• FIFA 100
• UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder: 2006-07
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 2007
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2007
• Real Madrid Team of the Century: 2008

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Clarence Seedorf official website
• Clarence Seedorf profile and stats at Wereld van Oranje (Dutch)
• Seedorf Racing

Clarence Seedorf - Navigation boxes and awards v • d • e Netherlands squad – UEFA Euro 1996 1 Van der Sar • 2 Reiziger • 3 Blind • 4 Seedorf • 5 Stam • 6 R. de Boer • 7 Taument • 8 Davids • 9 Kluivert • 10 Bergkamp • 11 Hoekstra • 12 Winter • 13 Numan • 14 Richard Witschge • 15 Bogarde • 16 De Goey • 17 Cruyff • 18 De Kock • 19 Mulder • 20 Cocu • 21 Hesp • 22 Veldman • Coach: Hiddink v • d • e Netherlands squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place 1 van der Sar • 2 Reiziger • 3 Stam • 4 F. de Boer • 5 Numan • 6 Jonk • 7 R. de Boer • 8 Bergkamp • 9 Kluivert • 10 Seedorf • 11 Cocu • 12 Zenden • 13 Ooijer • 14 Overmars • 15 Bogarde • 16 Davids • 17 van Hooijdonk • 18 de Goey • 19 van Bronckhorst • 20 Winter • 21 Hasselbaink • 22 Hesp • Coach: Hiddink v • d • e Netherlands squad – UEFA Euro 2000 semi-finalists 1 Van der Sar • 2 Reiziger • 3 Stam • 4 F. de Boer • 5 Zenden • 6 Seedorf • 7 Cocu • 8 Davids • 9 Kluivert • 10 Bergkamp • 11 Overmars • 12 van Bronckhorst • 13 Konterman • 14 van Vossen • 15 Bosvelt • 16 R. de Boer • 17 van Hooijdonk • 18 de Goey • 19 Numan • 20 Winter • 21 Makaay • 22 Westerveld • Coach: Rijkaard v • d • e Netherlands squad – UEFA Euro 2004 1 van der Sar • 2 Reiziger • 3 Stam • 4 Bouma • 5 van Bronckhorst • 6 Cocu • 7 van der Meyde • 8 Davids • 9 Kluivert • 10 van Nistelrooy • 11 van der Vaart • 12 Makaay • 13 Westerveld • 14 Sneijder • 15 F. de Boer • 16 Overmars • 17 van Hooijdonk • 18 Heitinga • 19 Robben • 20 Seedorf • 21 Bosvelt • 22 Zenden • 23 Waterreus • Coach: Advocaat v • d • e FIFA 100 UEFA Baggio · Ballack · Banks · Baresi · Beckenbauer · Beckham · Bergkamp · Bergomi · Best · Boniek · Boniperti · Breitner · Buffon · Butragueño · Cantona · Ceulemans · Charlton · Cruyff · Dalglish · Dasayev · Davids · Del Piero · Desailly · Deschamps · Emre · Eusébio · Facchetti · Figo · Fontaine · Gullit · Hagi · Henry · Kahn · Keane · Keegan · Klinsmann · Kluivert · Kopa · B. Laudrup · M. Laudrup · Lineker · Luis Enrique · Maier · Maldini · Masopust · Matthäus · Müller · Nedvěd · Neeskens · Nesta · Owen · Papin · Pfaff · Pirès · Platini · Puskás · Raúl · Rensenbrink · Rijkaard · Rivera · Rossi · Rui Costa · Rummenigge · Rüştü · Schmeichel · Seedorf · Seeler · Shearer · Shevchenko · Stoichkov · Šuker · Thuram · Totti · Trésor · Trezeguet · van Basten · R. van de Kerkhof  · W. van de Kerkhof · Van der Elst · van Nistelrooy · Vieira · Vieri · Zidane · Zoff CONMEBOL Carlos Alberto · Batistuta · Cafu · Crespo · Cubillas · di Stéfano · Falcão · Figueroa · Francescoli · Júnior · Kempes · Maradona · Passarella · Pelé · Rivaldo · Rivelino · Roberto Carlos · Romário · Romerito · Ronaldinho · Ronaldo · Djalma Santos · Nílton Santos · Saviola · Sívori · Sócrates · Valderrama · Verón · Zamorano · Zanetti · Zico CAF Diouf · Milla · Okocha · Abédi Pelé · Weah CONCACAF Akers · Hamm · Sánchez AFC Hong · Nakata v • d • e Dutch Football Talent of the Year 1984: Been | 1985: van Rooy | 1986: Winter | 1987: Roy | 1988: Huistra | 1989: Witschge | 1990: Bergkamp | 1991: Taument | 1992: Overmars | 1993: Seedorf | 1994: Seedorf | 1995: Kluivert | 1996: Tomasson | 1997: Zenden | 1998–1999: van Bommel | 1999–2000: Bruggink | 2000–2001: van der Vaart | 2001–2002: van Persie | 2002–2003: Robben | 2003–2004: Heitinga | 2003: Robben | 2004: Sneijder | 2005: Kalou | 2006: Huntelaar | 2007: Afellay | 2008: Sulejmani | 2009: Elia