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. It takes something extraordinary to get famous in the world of football.
Every year there are many players around the world who are tipped for the best but in the end, only one player, the stand-out performer, ‘the Legend’ gets the award for living up to the moniker. Great footballers are a dime a dozen, but legends are few and
far between.
Clarence Seedorf, without a doubt, is a living legend. Born on the 1st April, 1976 in Paramaribo, the Capital of Suriname, the Dutch player grew up in Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Seedorf represented The Netherlands
and is currently playing for the Italian Serie 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 won his third and fourth Champions League with Italian side A.C Milan. The only other player to come close to such a record is Samuel Eto’o, who has won the Champions league with two different clubs.
Seedorf plays as an attacking midfielder in Milan. The 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 first appearance at the age of only 16 years and 242 days, making him the youngest debutant for the Amsterdammers
ever. Seedorf’s career started with a record to his name. In his early career, the dynamic midfielder helped the Amsterdam outfit to win the National League Cup for two years in a row. 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 stint 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
but didn’t really settle well 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’s 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 scored 20 times. His four years glorious career at Real Madrid came to an end due to short term Dutch Manager Guus Hiddink.
To be continued in Part 2
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