Patrick Kluivert

Patrick Kluivert
Personal information
Full name Patrick Stephan Kluivert
Date of birth 1 July 1976 (1976-07-01) (age 35)
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club FC Twente (Youth team coach)
Youth career
1983–1994 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Ajax 70 (39)
1997–1998 Milan 27 (6)
1998–2004 Barcelona 182 (90)
2004–2005 Newcastle United 25 (6)
2005–2006 Valencia 10 (1)
2006–2007 PSV Eindhoven 16 (3)
2007–2008 Lille 13 (4)
Total 343 (149)
National team
1994–2004 Netherlands 79 (40)
Teams managed
2010–2011 N.E.C. (Striker coach)
2011– FC Twente (Youth team coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Patrick Stephan Kluivert (; born 1 July 1976) is a former Dutch footballer, currently head coach of the youth side of FC Twente.[1] He played as a striker for AFC Ajax, A.C. Milan, FC Barcelona, Newcastle United, Valencia CF, PSV Eindhoven, and Lille OSC. Kluivert played for the Dutch national team from 1994 to 2004. He is their all-time leading goalscorer with 40 goals. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers chosen by Pelé as part of FIFA's centenary observances.

Contents

Early life

Patrick Stephan Kluivert was born on 1 July 1976 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His father, a professional football player, was born in Calcutta, Suriname and his mother in Curaçao.[2] Kluivert learned to play football on the street. After he played for football club Schellingwoude one year, he joined the AFC Ajax youth academy at the age of seven.

During his younger years, he played several different positions, even as a defender. He was strong in technique, football intelligence, and speed, but his personality was considered too impulsive.[3] Kluivert played for the Dutch national teams under-15, under-16 and under-17.[3]

Playing style

For such a tall player, Kluivert possessed a remarkably impressive 'first touch' and quick feet. Similar to footballer Ronaldo, he often used the Cruijff Turn to great effect to go past defenders. Kluivert also utilised his height and physique to dominate aerial balls and was considered to possess one of the best headers in the contemporary game.

Club career

Ajax

Kluivert was part of Ajax's Golden Generation of the 1990s. He made his debut in the senior team of Ajax on 21 August 1994 at the age of 18 in the Dutch Supercup win against the old arch rival Feyenoord, in which he scored his first goal. The 1994-95 season saw Kluivert make his mark - along with a host of youngsters from the Ajax youth academy, including Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, and Edwin van der Sar - on the European stage with a triumph in the UEFA Champions League. Kluivert came off the bench to score an 85th minute winner in the 1994-95 Champions League Final against A.C. Milan in Vienna, Austria. He soon became Ajax's "Golden Boy" of the mid-90s, leading the Ajax front-line as the side claimed several pieces of silverware during that period. He declined a new contract to leave for Milan on a Bosman transfer in 1997, by which time he had scored 39 goals from 70 games in the Dutch league over three seasons.

Milan

His career at A.C. Milan started well when he scored a sensational goal against Juventus in a friendly match. After scoring only six goals in the Serie A, he left for FC Barcelona of the Spanish La Liga.

Barcelona

On 28 August 1998, an hour before the transfer deadline, Kluivert signed a four-year contract with FC Barcelona for a fee of £8.75 million.[4] Kluivert was reunited with Louis van Gaal, a mentor from his days at Ajax. Kluivert formed a successful partnership with Rivaldo, which enabled Barça to defend the Spanish La Liga in 1998-99. The following season was also a successful one for Kluivert. Although Barcelona failed to win a third consecutive league title, Kluivert finished the season as the club's top scorer with 15 league goals.[5] He was released from Barcelona in the summer of 2004. He scored 90 league goals in his time with the club, leaving him as the 6th (sixth) all time top-scorer for the Club in La Liga.

Newcastle United

Kluivert joined Newcastle United on 21 July 2004 to team up with Alan Shearer. He stated that his reason for joining was due to the overwhelming reaction he received whilst playing for Barcelona against Newcastle during a Champions League Group match. However, Newcastle decided not to take up the second year on his contract. Kluivert scored some classy and crucial goals namely both winning strikes against Chelsea[6] and Tottenham Hotspur[7] in the FA Cup, both games ending 1-0. Despite scoring 13 goals in his debut season, Newcastle finished the league in the bottom half which triggered a clause in his contract saying either party could decide not to extend his contract a further year. Both Kluivert and the club agreed that he would leave.

Valencia

Kluivert decided to return to Spain to play for Valencia CF. Reportedly, the club included a special clause in his contract that allowed for Kluivert to be sacked if he lacked discipline "off the pitch." Kluivert was given permission to look for a new club in July 2006 after just one season and 202 minutes played, as he spent most of the season injured.

PSV

Despite widespread rumours that Kluivert was to return home to AFC Ajax, Kluivert's return to the Eredivisie was to be with PSV, with whom he signed a one-year deal in 2006. Just as with his debut for Ajax, Kluivert made his PSV debut against Feyenoord in a 2-1 win, coming on as a substitute. After that, he had two injuries during the first half of the season, which limited his playing time. In a game against Ajax at the Philips Stadion, Kluivert refused to celebrate after scoring a goal against his former club. He was eventually released in July 2007.

Lille

On 25 July 2007, Kluivert turned down the offer of a trial at Sheffield Wednesday,[8] and later joined French side Lille OSC.[9] Kluivert had mixed experiences with the French club Lille, only starting 10 times, although in these appearances he contributed greatly with four goals and valuable assists. In May 2008, Patrick Kluivert told Lille manager Claude Puel that he would be looking for a new challenge for the next season.

Retirement and coaching career

On 29 April 2008, Dutch media reported that Kluivert will take part in the coaching course of the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to become a professional football coach.[10] The KNVB requires that all coaching badge candidates complete this sort of apprenticeship. On 18 July 2008, it was reported on the football website Goal.com that Kluivert would be spending the 2008-09 season as a member of the backroom coaching staff of Eredivisie club AZ.

On 21 March 2009, while having an interview on Soccer AM, Kluivert said he is currently coaching the strikers at AZ. On 24 January 2010, Kluivert agreed to a two-week coaching stint with A-League side Brisbane Roar.[11] On 19 May 2010, Kluivert told journalists he ruled out a comeback as a football player.[12] From August 2010 on, he was an assistant-coach for N.E.C., coaching the strikers. In the 2011-2012 season, he will be coaching the FC Twente youth team.

International career

Kluivert missed most of UEFA Euro 1996 with a knee injury. During the final group game and from a Dennis Bergkamp assist, he scored against England, which enabled the Netherlands to qualify for the knock-out round over Scotland on goal difference. There, they lost in a penalty shootout to France.

At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Kluivert was sent off against Belgium by referee Pierluigi Collina after elbowing Lorenzo Staelens. He made amends when selected to play against Argentina in the quarter-finals of the same tournament where he scored the opening goal. He also impressed in later matches, scoring a late equalising goal from a header to draw his team level with Brazil in the semi-final, although his team went on to lose the penalty shootout.

The UEFA Euro 2000 would represent Patrick Kluivert's finest hour as the spearhead of a star-studded Oranje side. Kluivert scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 quarterfinal demolition of Yugoslavia. The semi-final against Italy would provide much heartache for Kluivert, as the Dutch yet again crashed out on penalties. Neither Kluivert nor his Dutch side could find the back of the net, despite twice having a chance from the penalty spot - Kluivert himself would miss one of those penalties during the game, but did score in the penalty shoot-out. Despite the Dutch falling short, Kluivert will be remembered for rising to the occasion in front of partisan home crowds, scoring five goals in as many games, jointly claiming the Golden Boot with Savo Milošević.

Kluivert would once again enter UEFA Euro 2004 wearing the famous #9 jersey for his country. But it would be a tournament to forget, as a stubborn Dick Advocaat did not turn to Kluivert even once in the tournament - Kluivert would end up being the only member of the Dutch field squad not to get even a single minute at the Euro 2004.

As well as from being left out of the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad by coach Marco van Basten, Kluivert was not called up to play in any of the qualifying games leading up to the World Cup either. This was partly due to the fact that he suffered persistent injuries which prevented him from playing for his club during the 2005-06 season. As of 2011, Kluivert remains the all-time leading goalscorer for the Dutch national team with 40 goals.

Personal life

In 1997, Kluivert was charged with manslaughter following his involvement in a fatal car accident in which Marten Putman, a theatre director, was killed. He was found guilty and received community service and a driving ban. On 24 September 2007, Kluivert's wife Rossana Lima gave birth to a baby boy, named Shane Patrick. He has three sons, Quincy, Justin and Ruben from his first marriage. He was born on exactly the same day as fellow Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.[13]

Career statistics

Club

(Source)[14]

Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ajax 1994/95 25 18 2 1 10 2 37 21
1995/96 28 15 2 1 8 5 38 21
1996/97 17 6 1 0 4 2 22 8
Total 70 39 5 2 22 9 97 50
Milan 1997/98 27 6 6 3 - - 33 9
Total 27 6 6 3 - - 33 9
Barcelona 1998/99 35 15 3 1 - - 38 16
1999/00 26 15 2 1 14 7 42 23
2000/01 31 18 5 2 12 5 48 25
2001/02 33 18 0 0 17 7 50 25
2002/03 36 16 0 0 15 5 51 21
2003/04 21 8 2 0 3 2 26 10
Total 182 90 12 4 61 26 255 120
Newcastle United 2004/05 25 6 6 2 6 5 37 13
Total 25 6 6 2 6 5 37 13
Valencia 2005/06 10 1 1 0 - - 11 1
Total 10 1 1 0 - - 11 1
PSV 2006/07 16 3 2 0 3 0 21 3
Total 16 3 2 0 3 0 21 3
Lille 2007/08 13 4 1 0 - - 14 4
Total 13 4 1 0 - - 14 4
Total 343 149 33 11 92 40 468 200

International

(Source)[15]

Netherlands national team
Year Apps Goals
1994 1 0
1995 5 3
1996 5 1
1997 5 2
1998 11 7
1999 8 4
2000 14 12
2001 9 4
2002 6 3
2003 11 4
2004 4 0
Total 79 40

Honours

Club

International

 Netherlands

References

External links