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Explore the captivating life story of Frank Rijkaard, the legendary midfielder
Ciku Njuguna
updated at February 5, 2024 at 5:12 AM
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Frank Rijkaard is one of the most accomplished football players, winning almost two dozen titles, including two Dutch Super Cups, five Dutch Championships, and three Dutch Cups. Despite his global fame, the defensive midfielder seemingly disappeared from the public eye at the end of his career. Dig in to find out why.
Source: Getty Images
How good was Rijkaard? In his prime, the midfielder-turned-coach scaled the heights of success, winning back-to-back titles. This article gives a detailed snapshot of Rijkaad's personal and professional profile.
Frank Rijkaard's profile summary
Full name | Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard |
Nickname | The Black Swan, Llama, Frank |
Date of birth | 30 September 1962 |
Age | 61 years old as of February 2023 |
Place of birth | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Nationality | Dutch-Surinamese |
Height | 190 centimetres (6'2") |
Weight | 80 kilograms (176.3 lbs) |
Parents | Herman Rijkaard and Neel van der Meulen |
Siblings | 1 |
Relationship status | Married |
Spouse | Stefanie Rucker |
Children | 4 |
Positions | Defensive midfielder, centre-back, central midfielder |
Playing debut | 1973 |
Years active as a player | 1973 - 1995 |
Managing debut | January 1998 |
Years active as a manager | 1998 - 2013 |
Net worth | $84 million |
What is Frank Rijkaard's age?
Born on the 30th of September in 1962, the midfielder-turned-head coach is 61 years old as of February 2023. His zodiac sign is Libra.
Source: Getty Images
Frank Rijkaard's brief biography
The former Barcelona coach was born in Jacob van Lennepkade 132, Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Herman Rijkaard and Neel van der Meulen. He has one brother, Herman Harry Rijkaard Jr.
His father, Herman Rijkaard, is a retired Surinamese football player who arrived in Amsterdam on a boat with George Gullit, the father of Ruud Gullit, a former Dutch footballer and manager. He played for I.J.V.V. Stormvogels and Blauw-Wit before permanently settling in social work.
Frank Rijkaard's family
Frank Rijkaard's wife is Stefanie Rucker. The couple who got married in 2020 have one child, Santi.
He was previously married to Monique Olgers and Carmen Sanders. He married Sanders in 1985, with whom he had one child. Four years later, he tied the knot with his ex-wife, Monique Olgers, with whom he has two children.
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Education
Rijkaard attended primary school at Ingenieur Sweelinck School Community. His journey with football began at the age of seven. His father signed him up at SC Buitenveldert, where he started professional training and playing.
Source: Getty Images
Career
According to various sources, his youth career began at the SCA, Buitenveldert, and Blauw-Wit before Gullit later influenced him to join DWS Amsterdam Youth. Several parallels exist between Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, including being inexhaustible street footballers. Born a month apart, the two played separately for a while before reuniting at the AFC DWS. Scroll down for a comprehensive deep dive into Frank Rijkaard's player and manager profiles.
What clubs did Rijkaard play for?
Like many Dutch football legends, Frank trained in the Ajax youth systems between 1979 and 1980. On September 1, 1981, he received his first call-up to the Netherlands national football team under head coach Kees Rijvers.
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He transferred to Liga Portugal and played for Sporting CP between January and June 1988. He also played for La Liga and Serie A teams, AC Milan and Real Zaragoza, before returning to his boyhood team in 1993. In 1995, the multitalented midfielder retired from active play and became a coach.
Frank Rijkaard's stats as a player
Was Frank Rijkaard a good player? History has marked the Dutch-Surinamese footballer as one of the best midfielders of all time.
Source: Getty Images
On June 1, 1994, he scored two goals, marking one of his biggest career wins for the Netherlands national football team during an International friendly against Hungary. Here is a summary of the two-time Italian Super Cup winners' club and international career stats.
Team | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
Ajax Amsterdam | 337 | 71 | 29 |
AC Milan | 201 | 26 | 25 |
Real Zaragoza | 7 | - | - |
Netherlands national football team | 73 | 10 | 4 |
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What teams did Rijkaard manage?
January 16, 2013, marked the end of an era for the Dutch legend as he retired from football. His coaching career began with a five-month stint as an assistant coach for the Netherlands national football team under Guus Hiddink. Between 1998 and 2013, he led six teams in 420 matches.
Frank Rijkaard's stats as a manager
The start of Rijkaard's career as an assistant manager for the Netherlands national football team was uneventful. At the end of his career in 2013, he had managed 411 matches for five teams with 214 wins, 106 draws, and 91 losses.
Source: Getty Images
Frank Rijkaard's awards
He is one of the best football players of all time with no Ballon d'Or. In 1987, the Dutch legend lost to his childhood friend and teammate, Ruud Gullit. A year later, he was bested by Marco van Basten, who took the crown in 1988 and 1989. Have a look at all the accolades he received throughout his career.
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- 2020 France Football's Ballon d'Or Dream Team XI - silver team
- 1994/95, 1993/94, 1984/85, 1982/83, 1981/82 Dutch Champion
- 1994/95 Champions League Winner
- 1994/95, 1993/94 Dutch Super Cup Winner
- 1992/93, 1991/92 Italian Champion
- 1992/93, 1988/89 Italian Super Cup Winner
- 1990/91, 1989/90 Intercontinental Cup Winner
- 1990/91, 1989/90 Uefa Supercup Winner
- 1989/90, 1988/89 European Champion Clubs' Cup Winner
- 1986/87, 1985/86, 1982/83 Dutch Cup Winner
- 1987/88 European Champion
- 1986/87 Europapokal der Pokalsieger Sieger
Frank Rijkaard's trophies as manager
- 2006/07, 2005/06 Spanish Super Cup winner
- 2005/06 LaLiga World's Best Club Coach
- 2005/06 UEFA Champions League winner
- 2005/06, 2004/05 Spanish champion
Source: Getty Images
Frequently asked questions
Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard are among the legendary Dutch masters who shaped the game as it is. Have a look at some interesting facts about the retired defensive midfielder.
1. Where is Frank Rijkaard now?
Details of the football legend's current career remain unclear. However, recent developments at Barcelona suggest he might be selected to replace Xavi Hernández, the team's outgoing manager.
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2. Why has Frank Rijkaard disappeared from football?
According to various sources, Frank has opted to live in the shadows, escaping the harsh reality of life in the limelight. Some attribute his absence from football to his somewhat dispirited performance as a coach. Other sources cite the backlash in Holland that followed his second divorce from Olgers and his subsequent marriage to the family's former nanny.
3. What jersey numbers did Frank Rijkaard play in?
At the time of writing, the living legend's signed jerseys cost between $442 and $253. Among other numbers, he often donned number 8 for AC Milan, 5 for Ajax Amsterdam, and 3, 8, and 7 while playing internationally.
4. What happened between Rudi Völler and Frank Rijkaard?
Holland and Germany's historic feud played out appallingly when Rijkaard spat on Rudi Völler during a 1990 FIFA World Cup match. An escalation in the spat (pun intended) led to both players being sent off the match. Speaking to Four-Four-Two, Völler said,
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"What he did was not nice, but the match should have continued for me. I do not understand why the ref sent me off. There are always problems between Germany and Holland. Frank apologised a few months later."
Source: Getty Images
Final word
For over four decades, Frank Rijkaard was an active participant in the world of football. His contribution to football as a coach
READ ALSO: Who is Louis Van Gaal, the Dutch head coach heading into this World Cup?
Sports Brief published an article about the , Netherlands' national football coach, Louis Van Gaal. The retired midfielder once played for top-flight clubs such as Ajax Amsterdam, Sparta Rotterdam and the Royal Antwerp FC.
His successful tenure as a player has been followed by over three decades at the helm of FC Barcelona, Manchester United, and the Netherlands' national football teams. Click on the link above for details of Ajax Amsterdam's advisor.
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