44 Facts About Clarence Seedorf

Clarence Clyde Seedorf is a Dutch professional football manager and former player.

Clarence Seedorf is regarded by many to be one of the best midfielders of his generation.

Clarence Seedorf is one of the most decorated Dutch players ever, and has won domestic and continental titles while playing for clubs in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Brazil.

Clarence Seedorf grew up in a footballing family, with both his younger brothers Jurgen and Chedric Seedorf, and his father, former player and talent agent Johann Seedorf.

Clarence Seedorf began his career at the age of six in the youth ranks of his local amateur sides VV AS '80 and Real Almere, before being discovered and recruited to the ranks of nearby Dutch giants Ajax by Urgent Scoutingteam, the talent agency set up by Johan Cruyff, and which was responsible for recruiting the likes of Frank and Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Robert Witschge and Patrick Kluivert to the club as well.

Clarence Seedorf made his professional debut on 29 November 1992 against Groningen at the age of 16 years and 242 days, making him the youngest-ever debutant for Ajax, at the time.

Clarence Seedorf played a key role in the final before being replaced in the 53rd minute by striker Nwankwo Kanu.

Clarence Seedorf was then able to secure a transfer to Real Madrid, moving to the Spanish La Liga by the end of the season.

Clarence Seedorf moved to Real Madrid in 1996, where he was virtually ever present for Los Blancos in his first three seasons.

Clarence Seedorf won the Coppa Italia with Milan in 2003, the first time they had won the competition in 26 years.

Clarence Seedorf played a major role as Milan reached the Champions League final again in 2005, scoring the only goal of the game in their opening group match against Shakhtar Donetsk on 14 September 2004 and appearing in all 13 competition matches.

In that same year, Clarence Seedorf was a part of the Milan squad that won the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first European player to win the trophy with three clubs.

Clarence Seedorf ended up winning the Silver Ball for the competition for his performances, notably scoring the winner against Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-final to send his club to the final.

Clarence Seedorf became the foreigner with the most appearances for Milan following a game against his former club, Sampdoria, which he scored in.

Clarence 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.

Clarence Seedorf confirmed that he would continue to play football for another club.

On 30 June 2012, Clarence Seedorf signed a two-year contract with Brazilian club Botafogo.

On 3 February 2013, for the first time on his career, Clarence Seedorf scored a hat-trick against Macae, his first game as a starter that year.

On 10 March 2013, Clarence Seedorf won his first title with Botafogo: the 2013 Taca Guanabara, the first round of 2013 Campeonato Carioca.

On 14 January 2014, Clarence Seedorf announced his retirement from professional football.

Clarence Seedorf announced that he is ending his playing career to take up the manager position at Milan following the sacking of Massimiliano Allegri.

Clarence Seedorf received his first callup on 14 December 1994 at the age of 18 against Luxembourg.

Clarence Seedorf was in the Dutch squad for the UEFA European Championships in 1996, where his penalty miss proved decisive in the quarter-final shootout defeat to France.

Clarence Seedorf appeared for the Netherlands at Euro 2000 and 2004, as well as the 1998 FIFA World Cup, reaching the semi-finals in all three of these tournaments.

On 12 November 2006, Clarence Seedorf was recalled for the first time since June 2004 as a replacement for the injured Wesley Sneijder.

Clarence Seedorf won the last of his 87 caps for the Netherlands in 2007.

On 13 May 2008, Clarence Seedorf announced that he would not take part in UEFA Euro 2008 due to his ongoing personal conflict with van Basten.

Clarence Seedorf was capable of scoring goals due to his powerful, accurate striking ability from distance with either foot; furthermore, he was an effective free kick taker.

Clarence 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.

Clarence Seedorf was appointed manager of China League One team Shenzhen FC in July 2016, but was replaced five months later by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Clarence Seedorf led the team to just two wins in sixteen matches, Deportivo were relegated from La Liga, and at the end of the season he left the club.

Clarence Seedorf was joined by former teammate Patrick Kluivert as his assistant manager.

Clarence Seedorf speaks six languages fluently: Dutch, English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Sranan Tongo.

Clarence Seedorf was often seen as a spiritual, intelligent and articulate figure in football, and in a 2011 interview, Seedorf stated that he was studying to obtain a master's degree in business at the prestigious Bocconi University in Milan; because of this, he earned the nickname "il professore" during his time playing at Milan.

Clarence Seedorf is married to a Brazilian woman, Luviana Clarence Seedorf, with whom he owns a restaurant called Finger's in Milan.

In 2009, he worked with The New York Times to run a column entitled "Clarence Seedorf responds", where once a month he would answer peoples' questions regarding football.

Clarence Seedorf joined the BBC's team covering the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, working as a television pundit.

Clarence Seedorf presented a number of features for the BBC coverage, including one about Robben Island.

Clarence Seedorf joined the BBC for their Match of the Day Live coverage of UEFA Euro 2012.

Clarence Seedorf has made appearances on Match of the Day 2 during the English football league season.

Clarence Seedorf built his own "Clarence Seedorf Stadium" in the district of Para in Suriname.

On 5 June 2009, Clarence Seedorf announced at a press conference after a meeting with Nelson Mandela that he had become the Nelson Mandela Foundation's latest Legacy Champion.

In 2012 and 2014, Clarence Seedorf took part in Soccer Aid, a charity match at Old Trafford with former professional players and celebrities.

Clarence Seedorf played for "The Rest of the World" team against England.