Richard Witschge

Personal information
Full name	Richard P. Witschge
Date of birth	20 September 1969 (1969-09-20) (age 40)
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1986–1991	Ajax	87	(3)
1991–1993	FC Barcelona	40	(2)
1993–1996	Bordeaux	78	(9)
1995	→ Blackburn Rovers (loan)	1	(0)
1996–2003	Ajax	117	(11)
2001–2002	→ Alavés (loan)	26	(1)
2003–2004	Oita Trinita	9	(0)
National team
1990–2000	Netherlands	31	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Richard P. Witschge (born 20 September 1969 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland) is a former Dutch footballer, who played as a midfielder.

He could either appear on the left or as a holding midfielder. His older brother, Rob, was also a footballer.

[edit] Club career

A product of Ajax Amsterdam's prolific youth ranks, Witschge first appeared in the first division on 26 October 1986, at only 17, and scored his first league goal fairly a year after. His older brother Rob was already playing there.

After being established in the first team, Witschge joined Johan Cruijff's FC Barcelona, being fairly used as the Catalonians won back-to-back national leagues.

Subsequently, he represented FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Blackburn Rovers (on loan in March 1995, playing once against West Ham United, as Blackburn won the league title), Ajax (who loaned him to Deportivo Alavés in 2001-02) and Oita Trinita, retiring in 2004.

[edit] International career

Witschge earned 31 caps for the Netherlands national football team, in which he scored one goal. He made his debut on 21 February 1990, in a friendly against Italy (0-0), and was picked for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, under manager Leo Beenhakker.

However, an injury playing for Barcelona ruled him out of UEFA Euro 1992 and he did not make another major tournament until Euro 1996, held in England. During this time his place in the national team was taken by his older brother.

[edit] Honours

• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1986-87
• Dutch League: 1995-96, 1997-98
• Dutch Cup: 1985-86, 1986-87
• Spanish League: 1991-92, 1992-93

[edit] External links

• Beijen profile (Dutch)
• Richard Witschge profile and stats at Wereld van Oranje (Dutch)
• BDFutbol profile
• Richard Witschge career stats at Soccerbase
• NationalFootballTeams data

v • d • e Netherlands squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup 1 Van Breukelen • 2 Van Aerle • 3 Rijkaard • 4 R. Koeman • 5 Van Tiggelen • 6 Wouters • 7 E. Koeman • 8 Vanenburg • 9 Van Basten • 10 Gullit • 11 Richard Witschge • 12 Kieft • 13 Rutjes • 14 Van 't Schip • 15 Roy • 16 Hiele • 17 Gillhaus • 18 Fräser • 19 Van Loen • 20 Winter • 21 Blind • 22 Menzo • Coach: Beenhakker

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

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