45 Facts About Edgar Davids

Edgar Steven Davids is a Dutch former professional footballer and current coach.

Edgar Davids went on to play for Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur before returning to Ajax.

Edgar Davids resigned by mutual agreement as manager in January 2014.

Edgar Davids was capped 74 times by the Netherlands at international level, scoring six goals, and represented his country at the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.

One of the greatest and most recognisable players of his generation, Edgar Davids often stood out on the football field due to his dreadlocked hair and the protective goggles he wore due to glaucoma.

Edgar Davids was born in Suriname and is of Afro-Surinamese and Jewish from his mother.

The family moved to the Netherlands when Edgar Davids was an infant.

Edgar Davids helped the Amsterdam club to three domestic Eredivisie titles, as well as continental success with the 1992 UEFA Cup and the 1995 UEFA Champions League.

Six successful years in Turin followed, with Edgar Davids helping the side to the Serie A title in 1998,2002 and 2003, as well as two Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Edgar Davids joined Barcelona on loan in January 2004 from Juventus.

Edgar Davids had a successful stay at Tottenham and instantly became a fan favourite.

Edgar Davids signed once more for Ajax on 28 January 2007 and played his first match against club rivals Feyenoord on 4 February.

Edgar Davids was one of the key midfielders in the run for the Dutch championship that was lost on one single goal to PSV on the final day of the league.

Edgar Davids played a major role in Ajax's cup campaign.

Edgar Davids secured the KNVB Cup for Ajax by scoring the final penalty in a thrilling penalty shoot-out against AZ.

In May 2008, Edgar Davids said he would leave Ajax when his contract expired on 30 June.

Edgar Davids played against the LA Galaxy on 6 December 2008 in an exhibition match held at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, as part of an Oceania XI All-Star team, despite the fact he is not from Oceania and has never played for an Oceanic club or national team.

Edgar Davids was in contract negotiations with English Championship club Leicester City from 22 October 2009, however he failed to make a decision for over a week and the club withdrew their offer on 30 October.

On 20 August 2010, Edgar Davids agreed a pay-as-you-play deal with English Championship club Crystal Palace.

Edgar Davids made his debut on 24 August 2010 at left-back in the Second Round of the League Cup against Portsmouth.

Edgar Davids quickly became an integral part of the squad for the next decade, though he failed to win any major tournaments for the Oranje.

Nonetheless, Edgar Davids remained appreciated by Hiddink, who included him in the Dutch squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Edgar Davids scored the winning goal in the last minute of the game and ensured that the Dutch team went through to the next round to meet Argentina.

The Netherlands eventually finished fourth overall and Edgar Davids was named to the official FIFA "Team of the Tournament".

In 1999, Edgar Davids began wearing protective glasses following surgery in his right eye caused by glaucoma, which developed in 1995 following eye injuries.

Edgar Davids first wore them on 4 September 1999 in a friendly match against Belgium.

On 17 May 2001, Edgar Davids was suspended by FIFA when he tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid, nandrolone.

Edgar Davids played in Euro 2000, where the Netherlands reached the semi-finals before losing to Italy via penalty shootout.

Edgar Davids was again named as part of the "Team of the Tournament".

However, lack of first team football at his club Inter meant Edgar Davids lost his place in the national team in October 2004, thus losing the captain's armband in the process, which was later handed to goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

In October 2005, during the latter stages of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, Edgar Davids was recalled to the national team, though not as captain.

Edgar Davids fell out of the picture again shortly after, thereby missing out on the Dutch squad for the World Cup.

Edgar Davids was renowned for his dynamic and combative style of play, tight marking of opponents, and ability to break down opposition plays as a defensive midfielder.

Edgar Davids was a powerful striker of the ball, as well as being an accurate passer and crosser with his excellent left foot, which enabled him to create chances for teammates after winning back possession.

Edgar Davids has appeared in commercials for the American sportswear company Nike.

Edgar Davids sued, and Dutch courts ruled that Riot Games must compensate Edgar Davids a percentage of their earnings from the skin.

In June 2011, Edgar Davids was elected to the new supervisory board at Ajax alongside Johan Cruyff.

Since 2010, Edgar Davids had been living in North London with his partner and had been participating in street football as well as managing Sunday league amateur side Brixton United.

On 11 October 2012, Edgar Davids joined League Two side Barnet in a player-manager role, alongside Mark Robson.

In March 2013, on the return journey from a defeat at Accrington Stanley, Edgar Davids sent the Barnet team coach back to pick up 36 supporters whose coach had broken down on the motorway and take them to the next service station.

Edgar Davids was booked in each of the first eight league games he played, and sent off in three of them.

Edgar Davids resigned from his post as manager on 18 January 2014.

In 2020, Edgar Davids was appointed assistant coach of Dutch Eerste Divisie club Telstar.

In 1999, Edgar Davids started his own Street Soccer brand called Monta Street.

Edgar Davids won a lawsuit filed in a Dutch court against League of Legends developer Riot Games for using his likeness in an in-game association football-themed skin for the champion Lucian without his permission.