Frank Rijkaard

Frank Rijkaard is a former professional football player and team manager. He is best known for playing for Ajax and AC Milan. He also played for the Netherlands and helped the National Team win the 1988 UEFA European Championship. As a manager, he was named the Don Balón Coach of the Year twice.

Player Profile, Personal Life, and Youth Career

Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard was born on September 30, 1962, in Amsterdam in Netherlands. He stands 190 cm tall. His father is Herman Rijkaard, who played for SV Robinhood. His brother Herman Rijkaard, Jr. is a player’s agent. Rijkaard has been married three times and has four kids.

He started his youth career playing for SC Buitenveldert. Later, he played for Blauw-Wit Amsterdam from 1973 to 1976. Later, he joined DWS. He joined Ajax from 1979 to 1980.

Professional Career

He turned professional in 1980, playing for Ajax. His career with the team spanned from 1980 to 1987, playing a total of 205 games and scoring 47 goals. For a short while in the 1987-1988 season, he signed with Sporting CP but he didn’t play a game for the team, instead, he was loaned to Real Zaragoza.

In 1988, he started playing for AC Milan. He played with them through to 1993 for a total of 142 appearances, making 17 goals. In 1993, he returned to Ajax and stayed with them through his retirement in 1995.

In 1998, he started as an assistant coach for the Netherlands National Team. From 1998 to 2000, he took on the role of the main coach. He also coached Sparta Rotterdam, Barcelona, Galatasaray, and Saudi Arabia. While coaching Barcelona, he was named the Don Balón Coach of the Year twice.

Career Highlights:

Ajax

• 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1993–94,

1994–95 - Eredivisie

• 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87 - KNVB Cup
• 1993, 1994 - Super Cup
• 1994–95 - UEFA Champions League
• 1986–87 - European Cup Winners' Cup

AC Milan

• 1991–92, 1992–93 - Serie A
• 1988, 1992 - Supercoppa Italiana
• 1988–89, 1989–90 - European Cup
• 1989, 1990 - European Super Cup
• 1989, 1990 - Intercontinental Cup

Netherlands

• 1988 - UEFA European Championship

Individual

• 1985, 1987 - Dutch Golden Shoe
• 1988 - UEFA European Championship

Team of the Tournament

• 1988, 1989 - Ballon d'Or – Third

place

• 1990 - Intercontinental Cup Most

Valuable Player of the Match Award

• 1992 - Serie A Best foreign player
• 1992 - Serie A Footballer of the

Year

• 1994–95 - ESM Team of the Year
• 2004 - FIFA 100
• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll
• 2005 - UEFA President's Award
• AC Milan Hall of Fame
• World Soccer: The 100 Greatest

Footballers of All Time

• 2020 - Ballon d'Or Dream Team

(Silver)

Manager

Barcelona

• 2004–05, 2005–06 - La Liga
• 2005, 2006 - Supercopa de España
• 2005–06 - UEFA Champions League

Individual

• 2004–05, 2005–06 - Don Balón Coach

of the Year

• 2005–06 - UEFA Manager of the Year
• 2006 - 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

Team History:

National Team

• 1981–1994 - Netherlands

Teams Managed

• 1998 - Netherlands
• 1998–2000 - Netherlands
• 2001–2002 - Sparta Rotterdam
• 2003–2008 - Barcelona
• 2009–2010 - Galatasaray
• 2011–2013 - Saudi Arabia