Biography
Who is Frank Rijkaard?
Early life and background
Frank Rijkaard was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on September 30, 1962. His father, Herman Rijkaard, was a Surinamese footballer who moved to the Netherlands. Frank grew up in Amsterdam and began playing football as a young boy.
Ajax coach Leo Beenhakker gave Frank his senior squad debut at just seventeen years old on August 23, 1980. He made an immediate impact by scoring his first league goal in a victory over Go Ahead Eagles during the opening match of the season.
Playing career highlights
Frank Rijkaard played as a defensive midfielder and achieved great success during his club career. He played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza, and AC Milan. With Ajax, he won multiple Eredivisie titles and the European Cup. During his time at AC Milan, he won Serie A titles and consecutive European Cup titles.
Frank also had a distinguished international career with the Netherlands national association football team, earning seventy-three caps. He was part of the squad that won the European championship and played in multiple World Cups.
Managerial career
After finishing his playing career, Frank Rijkaard moved into coaching and management. He served as an assistant for the Netherlands national team before taking over as head manager. He led the team during a major tournament where they reached the semi-finals.
Frank is perhaps most well known for his tenure managing Barcelona. During his time at the club, he guided the team to domestic league titles and a major European championship victory before later managing other teams such as Galatasaray and the Saudi Arabia national team.
Height and personal details
Frank Rijkaard stands at a height of one hundred ninety centimeters. His physical attributes, tactical intelligence, and versatility on the pitch helped make him one of the most respected players in his position.
Over the course of his career, Frank earned widespread praise from pundits and experts for his consistent performances. He was later named by Pelé in the FIFA list of the world's greatest living football players.
Birthday and age
Frank Rijkaard was born on September 30, 1962, which makes Frank 64 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Frank shares the date with 30 other famous people.
Explore more
