Seedorf is considered one of the most successful players inUEFA Champions League history, as he is the only player to have won the UEFA Champions League with three clubs — once withAjax in1995, once withReal Madrid in1998, and twice withAC Milan in2003 and2007.[8][9]
In 2004, he was chosen byPelé as part of theFIFA 100. Seedorf is one of the most decorated Dutch players ever, and has won domestic and continental titles while playing.[10]
Seedorf began his career at the age of six in the youth ranks of his local amateur sides VV AS '80 and Real Almere,[12] before being discovered and recruited to the ranks of nearby Dutch giantsAjax by Urgent Scoutingteam, the talent agency set up byJohan Cruyff, and which was responsible for recruiting the likes ofFrank andRonald de Boer,Edgar Davids,Rob Witschge andPatrick Kluivert to the club as well.[13]
Following in their brother's footsteps, under the guidance of their father and talent agent, Seedorf's siblings, as well as cousinStefano, would later also join the ranks of Ajax.
A product of the famedAjax Youth Academy, Seedorf started his career as a right midfielder for Ajax during the early 1990s. He made his professional debut on 29 November 1992 againstGroningen at the age of 16 years and 242 days, making him the youngest-ever debutant for Ajax, at the time.[14] He quickly established himself as the first choice on his position under managerLouis van Gaal, and in the1993–94 season, his second with the club, he helped theAmsterdam-based side win thetreble, securing theEredivisie title, theKNVB Cup and theDutch Super Cup in the same year.[15] Among his teammates wasFrank Rijkaard, the player he used to idolise in his younger days.[16]
The following season, Seedorf helped his team secure consecutive Super Cup and Eredivisie titles, as well as their fourthEuropean Cup trophy, winning the1994–95 UEFA Champions League after defeatingAC Milan in thefinal.[17] He played a key role in the final before being replaced in the 53rd minute by strikerNwankwo Kanu.[18]Patrick Kluivert scored a late goal to lift Ajax to a 1–0 victory over the Italian giants,[19] whom Seedorf would later go on to represent for a decade.[20] While at Ajax, he was part of a trio known as "De kabel", composed of Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert and himself. Later,Winston Bogarde andMichael Reiziger would be added to the group to make it a quintet; what had started as a friendship was then taken over during theUEFA Euro 1996 to describe the group.[21]
Opting not to extend his contract with Ajax following their European success and theBosman ruling, Seedorf signed a one-year contract with ItalianSerie A sideSampdoria instead.[22] While not able to obtain any silverware in his first season at his new club, Seedorf appeared in 32 matches, scoring three goals helping his side to an eighth-place finish in the league table, all the while maintaining the form he had demonstrated at Ajax in the past. Seedorf was then able to secure a transfer toReal Madrid, moving to Spain'sLa Liga by the end of the season.[23]
Seedorf moved to Real Madrid in 1996,[24] where he was virtually ever present forLos Blancos in his first three seasons.[22] In hisfirst season, he helped the team regain the La Liga title, while in his second season,1997–98, he played a major role in the team'sChampions League success, as Madrid secured a 1–0 victory overJuventus in thefinal,[25] earning his second Champions League title of his career. While playing for Real Madrid, Seedorf scored a notable long-range goal againstAtlético Madrid in 1997.[26] At the end of the1998–99 season, Madrid and Juventus wanted to swap Seedorf forZinedine Zidane, but the deal did not go through and the French playmaker waited two more years before joining Real Madrid. Starting from the summer of 1999, Seedorf's role at Real Madrid became less prominent during the tenure of Dutch managerGuus Hiddink at the club. He was eventually transferred back to Italy during the1999–2000 season, this time toInter Milan, for a fee about 44 billionItalian lira (approximately €23 million).[27]
On 24 December 1999, Seedorf moved to Inter Milan in a $24.35 million deal after cementing his place in the Real Madrid midfield for over three years.[28] Despite helping the team to theCoppa Italia final later that season – a 2–1 aggregate loss toLazio where Seedorf scored Inter's only goal[29] – Seedorf could not help bring any major silverware to the club. Nonetheless, he is remembered by many Inter fans for his two goals against Juventus in a 2–2 draw on 9 March 2002, both of which were superb long-range efforts.[30]
After two years with Inter, Seedorf moved to their rivalsAC Milan in 2002, in an exchange withFrancesco Coco.[31] Seedorf won theCoppa Italia with Milan in 2003, the first time they had won the competition in 26 years. In the same season, Seedorf gained his third Champions League medal, becoming the first player to win the Champions League with three clubs.[22] The all-Italianfinal saw Milan beat Juventus on penalties after a 0–0 draw, despite Seedorf failing to convert his own penalty. During the game, he also had to switch roles three times; having started the first half on the left in midfield, in the second he was moved into the center, and eventually onto the right side. The following season,2003–04, Seedorf played a role in the Milan side that won theSerie A title. It was Seedorf's fourth national league title of his career, following his two Dutch title wins with Ajax and his one Spanish win with Real Madrid.
Seedorf played a major role as Milan reached the Champions League final again in2005, scoring the only goal of the game in their opening group match againstShakhtar Donetsk on 14 September 2004 and appearing in all 13 competition matches.[32] He started the match againstLiverpool inIstanbul in which Milan lost a 3–0 lead, eventually losing on penalties after a 3–3 draw; Seedorf did not take a penalty-kick.[33] Milan also finished runners-up in theSerie A, seven points behind champions Juventus, although Juventus were stripped of the title and Milan docked points for match-fixing.[34]
Amatch-fixing scandal tarnished Serie A and Milan were weakened by the scandal but were allowed to continue in Europe the following season, which led to their top players remaining with the club. In that season,2005–06, he scored a goal after just 25 seconds in a 2–2 draw againstSchalke.[35]
Seedorf's role as foil to midfielderKaká became increasingly impressive as the pair combined in style to score and supply the goals which drove Milan pastBayern Munich andManchester United to anotherChampions League final, again against Liverpool. This time, however, they defeated them 2–1 inAthens, with Seedorf collecting his fourth Champions League medal. In that same year, Seedorf was a part of the Milan squad that won the2007 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first European player to win the trophy with three clubs (Ajax in 1995 and Real Madrid in 1998). He ended up winning the Silver Ball for the competition for his performances, notably scoring the winner againstUrawa Red Diamonds in the semi-final to send his club to the final.[36]
Seedorf playing against former club Real Madrid. On the left isMesut Özil.
At the end of the2006–07 season, Seedorf was voted best midfielder of the Champions League. He played his 100th game in the Champions League on 4 December againstCeltic.
With Milan, Seedorf formed a formidable midfield partnership withGennaro Gattuso andAndrea Pirlo, which began since the2002–03 season. This midfield trio was still used in the starting line-up until the2011–12 season (Pirlo left theRossoneri in the summer of 2011), although their form had been declining. Under the guidance of coachCarlo Ancelotti, their role was to support an attacking midfielder, whether it beRivaldo,Rui Costa, Kaká orRonaldinho.
Seedorf became the foreigner with the most appearances for Milan following a game against his former club, Sampdoria, which he scored in. At 395 appearances, he passedNils Liedholm for this historic milestone. During the Sampdoria game, he also became the ninth-highest scoring foreigner for Milan, with 58 goals.On 29 March 2010, Seedorf was the target of racist chants from Lazio fans in a 1–1 draw, which led to the Rome-based club being given a €15,000 fine by theItalian Football Federation (FIGC). This led the Italy's players' union want racism stamped out in Serie A.[37]
Seedorf won his secondScudetto with Milan in the2010–11 Serie A season, where he once again played a vital role. He scored four goals and made 36 appearances in the 2010–11 season.Seedorf added yet another medal to his trophy cabinet in the first official game of the 2011–12 season, where he played the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 comeback win over rivals Inter Milan in theSupercoppa Italiana.[38] He scored the winning goal of Milan's first win of the 2011–12 Serie A campaign, a 1–0 defeat ofCesena on 24 September.[39]
Seedorf was ranked seventh of the 20 best players of the Champions League, a list which was compiled in 2012 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the competition. The ranking was done byChampions, the official magazine of UEFA.[citation needed] On 14 May, he said that he was playing his last match with Milan against Novara that day. He also confirmed that he would continue to play football for another club. On 21 June, Seedorf held a press conference announcing his departure from Milan, stating, "I am leaving after 10 wonderful years... I leave a family" after playing for theRossoneri for a decade and winning two Champions League, twoScudettos and a Coppa Italia.[40][41] Club CEOAdriano Galliani spoke of Seedorf following the player's departure in the highest regard, stating, "When Milan played well, which happened often, each and every time it occurred Seedorf played an amazing match. He is a world class player."[42]
On 30 June 2012, Seedorf signed a two-year contract with Brazilian clubBotafogo.[43] The veteran midfielder made his debut with the club on 22 July againstGrêmio.[44][45] On 5 August, Seedorf scored his first goal for Botafogo, curling in afree kick againstAtlético Goianiense. On 5 September, Seedorf scored two goals and made an assist againstCruzeiro, helping Botafogo to a 3–1 victory.[46] On 3 February 2013, for the first time on his career, Seedorf scored a hat-trick againstMacaé, his first game as a starter that year. Before that game, Seedorf played the second half againstFluminense and made an assist toBolívar, who scored the match's equalizer.[citation needed]
On 10 March 2013, Seedorf won his first title with Botafogo: the 2013Taça Guanabara, the first round of 2013Campeonato Carioca. On 5 May, he won the second round of 2013 Campeonato Carioca – 2013 Taça Rio – against Fluminense. That is also the day of his first official title for Botafogo, the 2013 Campeonato Carioca, as the team won both rounds and no final match was needed. On 6 June, Seedorf scored his 100th goal in domestic league play: 11 with Ajax, 3 with Sampdoria, 15 with Real Madrid, 8 with Inter, 47 with Milan and 16 with Botafogo. On 14 January 2014, Seedorf announced his retirement from professional football. He announced that he is ending his playing career to take up the manager position at Milan following the sacking ofMassimiliano Allegri.
Seedorf was in the Dutch squad for theUEFA European Championships in1996, where his penalty miss proved decisive in the quarter-final shootout defeat toFrance.[49] He also appeared for the Netherlands atEuro 2000 and2004, as well as the1998 FIFA World Cup, reaching the semi-finals in all three of these tournaments.
On 12 November 2006, Seedorf was recalled for the first time since June 2004 as a replacement for the injuredWesley Sneijder. He started and played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 friendly draw againstEngland. Seedorf won the last of his 87 caps for the Netherlands in 2007.[22] In the Euro 2008 qualifiers againstRomania (0–0 at home) andSlovenia (1–0 away win), Seedorf played four and six minutes respectively. There were doubts on his position within the national team, asMarco van Basten favoured younger players such asRafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder andRobin van Persie. On 13 May 2008, Seedorf announced that he would not take part inUEFA Euro 2008 due to his ongoing personal conflict with van Basten.[50]
Seedorf's number 10 Milan jersey in theSan Siro museum
Nicknamed "Il Professore" and "Willy Wonka", Seedorf was a well-rounded, hardworking and versatile player, who was gifted with strength, pace, stamina and notable physical attributes, which allowed him to play anywhere inmidfield and contribute both offensively and defensively, due to his significant tactical intelligence; although he primarily served as aplaymaker in thecentre, throughout his career he was also deployed as anattacking midfielder, on thewing, as amezzala, or in aholding orbox-to-box role.[51][52][53][54][55][56]
A world class midfielder, in addition to his fitness and athletic characteristics, as well as his ability to break down opposing plays and win back possession,[51][52] he was an elegant, creative player and an excellentdribbler, possessing outstanding technique, ball skills and vision, which enabled him to retain possession when under pressure and subsequently lay the ball off to an on-rushing teammate;[57] he was also an accurate passer andcrosser of the ball.[51][53][58][59] Seedorf was also capable of scoring goals due to his powerful, accurate striking ability from distance with either foot;[51][52][60][61] furthermore, he was an effective free kick taker.[62] Despite his physical, energetic, and tenacious style of play, Seedorf was regarded as a player with good behavior, and was sent off only two times in his entire career. In addition to his success and footballing skills, Seedorf has also been praised for his longevity as a footballer.[51]
Seedorf was appointed the new head coach of Milan on 16 January 2014, terminating his contract with Botafogo early in order to take on the managerial role, with Milan languishing in 11th in the Serie A table. On 19 January, he won his first managerial match, played againstHellas Verona, withMario Balotelli scoring the lone goal of the game.[63]
Despite overseeing the club's first five-match winning run since 2011, and first Serie A victory in theMilan derby against Inter since 2011, Seedorf was dismissed by Milan on 9 June 2014 after just four months on the job, withFilippo Inzaghi being named as his successor.[64] During the Dutchman's time at the helm of the club, Milan gained a total of 35 out of a possible 57 points - the fourth-most out of all Serie A sides (one less than Napoli's corresponding total and six less than Roma's).
Seedorf was appointed manager ofChina League One teamShenzhen FC in July 2016,[65] but was replaced five months later bySven-Göran Eriksson.[66] A year later Seedorf joined Brazilian clubAtlético Paranaense as both a coach and a sporting director.[67][68][69] Within a month the deal was cancelled after both parties failed to reach an agreement.[citation needed] In February 2018, Seedorf was appointed as manager of Spanish clubDeportivo La Coruña for the remainder of the2017–18 season.[70] Seedorf led the team to just two wins in sixteen matches, Deportivo were relegated fromLa Liga, and at the end of the season he left the club.[71]
Seedorf speaks six languages fluently:[52][74][75] Dutch, English,[76] Italian, Portuguese, Spanish andSranan Tongo. He was often seen as a spiritual, intelligent and articulate figure in football,[16] and in a 2011 interview, Seedorf stated that he was studying to obtain a master's degree in business at the prestigiousBocconi University inMilan;[77] because of this, he earned the nickname "il professore" ("the professor") during his time playing at Milan.[52] Seedorf married a Brazilian woman, Luviana Seedorf, with whom he owns a restaurant calledFinger's in Milan. They have four children.[78] After separating from his wife, he began a relationship with Canadian-Iranian Sophia Makramati, and converted to her faith ofIslam in a March 2022 ceremony inDubai.[79][80]
Seedorf has dabbled in media-related work during recent years. In 2009, he worked withThe New York Times to run a column entitled "Seedorf responds", where once a month he would answer peoples' questions regarding football.[81] He joined theBBC's team covering the2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, working as atelevision pundit.[82] He also presented a number of features for the BBC coverage, including one aboutRobben Island.[83] He joined the BBC for theirMatch of the Day Live coverage ofUEFA Euro 2012. He has also made appearances onMatch of the Day 2 during the English football league season.
Because of his strong connection with the country Suriname, where he was born, he is involved in many social development projects there. He built his ownClarence Seedorf Stadium in thedistrict of Para in Suriname. In this stadium, the Para Juniors League of Suriname is being held and the teams of the Suri Profs &SV The Brothers play there regularly. With his Champions for Children Foundation, he supports projects for good causes in Suriname.[84] For this, Suriname has honoured him to Commander of the High-Order of the Yellow Star, and in 2011 he was invested as a Knight of theOrder of Orange-Nassau (OON).
In 2012 and 2014, Seedorf took part inSoccer Aid, a charity match atOld Trafford with former professional players and celebrities. He played for "The Rest of the World" team against England. In 2014, he scored a hat-trick, where The Rest of the World won 4–2; they raised over £4 million in total.[85]
Clarence's nephew,Collin Seedorf, is also a professional footballer, and currently plays for Bosnian clubŽeljezničar.[86]
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