Danny Blind

Danny Blind
Personal information
Full nameDirk Franciscus Blind
Date of birth1 August 1961
Place of birthOost-Souburg, Netherlands
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing positionDefender
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1979–1986Sparta Rotterdam165(18)
1986–1999Ajax372(27)
Total537(45)
National team
1986–1996Netherlands42(1)
Teams managed
2005–2006Ajax
2007–2008Sparta Rotterdam (Director of Football)
2008–2011Ajax (assistant coach)
2012–Netherlands (assistant coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Dirk Franciscus "Danny" Blind (Dutch pronunciation: [dɪrk frɑnˈsɪskəz ˈdɛni blɪnt];[2] born 1 August 1961) is a former Dutch international football player and current coach. He played as a defender for Sparta Rotterdam, AFC Ajax and the Dutch national team. He currently works as assistant coach of his native country, Netherlands.

Blind was born in Oost-Souburg, Netherlands. He is the only Dutch player to have won all international club competitions recognised by UEFA and FIFA.

Playing career

Blind made his professional football debut on 29 August 1979 with Sparta. He stayed under contract with Sparta for seven seasons. In July 1986 he transferred to Ajax, attracted there by manager Johan Cruijff. However, Blind's signing was much to the chagrin of Ajax superstar Marco van Basten, who was upset that his manager had brought in a relatively unknown, defensive player from a fairly small club like Sparta, instead of splashing out on a big-money, big-name transfer.[3] With Ajax he amassed an amazing trophy list, winning all three European trophies (UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1987, the UEFA Cup in 1992 and the UEFA Champions League in 1995). He secured the Intercontinental Cup, in 1995 against Brazil's Grêmio, by scoring the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out.

He was again a penalty hero when he converted twice against Real Zaragoza in the European Super Cup Final of 1995, which Ajax won 5–1 over the two legs. The two penalties Blind converted were in the 65th and 69th minutes of the second leg effectively putting the title out of reach for Real Zaragoza.

Domestically, with Ajax, he won five Dutch Eredivisie Championships and four national cups. He retired on 16 May 1999.

Blind was known for being a solid, dependable defender and a leader on the field. However, he was also a technically gifted and cultured player who could pass and strike the ball well for a non-attacking player. Whilst famous for being a centre back, Blind started his career as a left full-back.

Management career

Blind was head coach at Ajax from 14 March 2005 (appointed as successor to Ronald Koeman) until 10 May 2006, after only 422 days in charge. He led Ajax to victory in the Gatorade Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield.

In 2007–08, he became football director at his old club, Sparta. On 15 May 2008 he returned to Ajax, to become the new football director in Amsterdam but switched roles when Martin Jol joined the club to assistant-trainer. Moving to the position of technical director for Ajax at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, on 9 February 2012, it was announced that Blind would retire from his duties as Technical Director at Ajax, concluding a heated dispute surrounding the club's board of directors.[4]

Personal life

Blind is the father of professional footballer Daley Blind, who plays for Manchester United.[5]

Career statistics

[6] [7]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Netherlands League KNVB Cup League Cup Europe Total
1979–80Sparta RotterdamEredivisie130
1980–81100
1981–82102
1982–8334360
1983–84345
1984–85303
1985–8634540
1986–87Ajax2945070414
1987–883101081401
1988–8930230332
1989–9034040380
1990–9134230372
1991–9230231121454
1992–932845080414
1993–943014360404
1994–9534530100495
1995–963131080403
1996–971600050210
1997–982614170372
1998–991932030243
Total Netherlands 53745385842
Career total 53745842

Honours

AFC Ajax

As player[8]
As manager[8]

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Danny Blind". IMDb.com.
  2. ↑ Franciscus in isolation: [frɑnˈsɪskəs].
  3. ↑ Danny Blind returns to Ajax World Cup Blog, 7 May 2008
  4. ↑ Ajax board including Johan Cruyff and Edgar Davids step down en masse The Guardian, 9 February 2012
  5. ↑ "Ajax sign Daly Blind". Ajax.nl. AFC Ajax. 29 March 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  6. ↑ Danny Blind Level-K
  7. ↑ Dirk Franciscus Blind "Danny Blind" World-Soccer.org
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Danny Blind - Career Honours". Soccerway.
  9. ↑ "Blind wint Gouden Schoen". Ajax Life.
  10. ↑ "Toyota Cup - Most Valuable Player of the Match Award". Retrieved 2014-08-30.
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External links


Awards
Preceded by
Ed de Goey		 Dutch Golden Shoe Winner
1995–1996 		Succeeded by
Jaap Stam