Clarence Seedorf a living legend (Part 1)
Throughout history we have seen many a great name grace the sport of football. Every year young players come in and light up the pitch and entertain the masses. In football, legends aren’t just good players or managers. Legends aren’t even great players or managers. Legends are in a class by themselves. They represent the very best of the sport. They’re the ones that you hold up as examples of what kind of player or manager that you want to be. In many cases, they’re the ones that fill you up with feelings of national pride and patriotism. Great players and managers are a dime a dozen, but legends are few and far between.
Clarence Seedorf, without a doubt, is a living legend. Born on 1st April 1976 in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, the Dutch player grew up in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Seedorf represented Netherland and is currently playing for the Italian Seria A giants, A.C Milan. Seedorf is the “only” player in the world who has won the Champions League with three different international clubs. He won his first ever Champions League with Ajax. He won his second Champions League title with Real Madrid. And he won his third and fourth Champions League with Italian side Milan. Only Samuel Eto’o has won the Champions league with two different clubs.
Seedorf plays as an attacking midfielder in Milan. Ex-Dutch midfielder is considered to be one of the best midfielders of the era. Due to his extraordinary control and exceptional skills, he has always managed to make his place in the starting eleven in his twenty year career.
Seedorf started his illustrious career as a right midfielder for the Dutch club Ajax. The legendary midfielder made his professional debut on 29th November 1992 against Groningen at the age of only 16 years and 242 days, making him the youngest debutant for Ajax ever. Seedorf’s career started with a record to his name. In his early career, the dynamic midfielder played a role in Ajax's Eredivisie winning years of 1994 and 1995. He was also the key member of Ajax’s UEFA Champions League winning campaign. The legendary playmaker made eighty-one appearances, and managed to score eleven times during his three year campaign at Ajax. After making his name at Ajax, Seedorf joined the Italian club Sampordia for one season. He netted three times in that short period of time at Sampordia but turned out that he didn’t really settle with the defensive tactics of the club.
In 1996 the Dutch midfielder moved to the Spanish Giants, Real Madrid. Seedorf was an important player of the Real Madrid squad. Although, Real Madrid’s squad was full of superstars, Seedorf was able to make his place in the starting eleven of Galacticos for at least three years. In his first season, Seedorf helped Los Blancos (The Whites) to regain their La liga title. In his second season with Real Madrid, he played a major role in Real Madrid’s Champions League winning campaign. Seedorf assisted the goal in that Champions League final, which Real Madrid won by one goal against the Italian Giants Juventus.
Thus, Seedorf became the first ever player in football to win the Champions league with two different clubs. Seedorf most notable moment at Real Madrid was his goal from 45 meters away, against their bitterest rivals Atlético Madrid. Seedorf was a great success at the club. He made 157 appearances for the Whites and found the net 20 times. Seedorf’s spell in Real Madrid became less prominent. His four years glorious career at Real Madrid came to an end due to short term Dutch Manager Guus Hiddink.
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