Biography
Who is Frank de Boer?
Early life and family background
Frank de Boer was born in Hoorn, Netherlands. He grew up in the town of Grootebroek. His father, Cees de Boer, served as his coach during his early days playing at the local club De Zouaven. Frank is a twin brother to Ronald de Boer, and the two often played on the same professional teams throughout their careers.
The brothers shared several professional milestones together. They were teammates at Ajax, Barcelona, Rangers, Al-Rayyan, and Al-Shamal. They also played together for the Netherlands national football team. Frank de Boer began his professional path at Ajax, where he started as a left-back before moving into the center-back position.
Playing career and international success
During his time with Ajax, Frank de Boer won numerous major honors. These include five Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups, and three Super Cups. He was also part of the squad that secured the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the UEFA Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. His defensive skills were marked by strong technical abilities, including long-range passing and set-piece taking.
He enjoyed a successful period at Barcelona after leaving Ajax, where he won the 1998–99 La Liga title. After his time in Spain, he had spells at Galatasaray, Rangers, Al-Rayyan, and Al-Shamal. Frank earned 112 caps for the Netherlands national team. He captained the Dutch squad to the semi-finals in both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament. He is remembered for his precise passing, including a well-known long-range assist to Dennis Bergkamp during the 1998 World Cup.
Transition to football management
After finishing his playing career, Frank de Boer moved into coaching. He started with the Ajax youth sector before becoming an assistant to Bert van Marwijk for the Netherlands national team. In December 2010, he became the manager of Ajax. He led the club to an Eredivisie title in his first season. He eventually secured four consecutive league titles while at the helm, a record for the club.
He later took on managerial roles abroad. He managed Inter Milan in the Italian Serie A during 2016. In 2017, he coached Crystal Palace in the English Premier League. He also spent time in the United States, managing Atlanta United in Major League Soccer from 2018 to 2020. Frank was appointed head coach of the Netherlands national team in September 2020, but he left the position in June 2021 after the Euro 2020 campaign.
Personal stats and awards
Frank de Boer stands 179 centimeters tall. Throughout his career, he received recognition for his contributions to the sport, including the Frans Banninck Cocq Penning award. He also received the Rinus Michels Award for manager of the year in the Netherlands in 2013. His career remains well-known for his longevity as both a player and a coach across several different countries and leagues.
Birthday and age
Frank de Boer was born on May 15, 1970, which makes Frank 56 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Frank shares the date with 26 other famous people.
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