The Netherlands is a small European country with fewer than 20 million people, yet it has produced some of the greatest footballers of all time. Football players from the Netherlands are well-known for their physical prowess, technical proficiency, and “total football”—the ability to play any position. Before joining larger clubs on the continent, a number of the following football players were members of the “Big Three” Dutch teams: Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord. The Champions League European Cup was won by Ajax in 1971–1973, PSV Eindhoven in 1988, and Feyenoord in 1970. See which players from the Netherlands are in the all-time top ten. Find our list of The Top 10 Netherlands Players of All Time below.
The Top 10 Netherlands Players of All Time
Arjen Robben
Perhaps the greatest Dutch player from the 2010–2014 timeframe is Arjen Robben. He scored twice at the 2010 World Cup, helping the Netherlands finish as runners-up. Robben was a member of the All-Star team and scored three goals. He won the Bronze Ball as the third-best player in the 2014 World Cup. Robben was a fast-moving, skillful dribbler who could get infield and score with his left foot. He was an inverted right winger. His career started with two seasons each with PSV Eindhoven and Groningen, where he won a league championship.
After relocating to Chelsea in 2004, Robben played three seasons there, where he won two league titles and three domestic cups. After that, he spent ten years with Bayern Munich, where he won eight league titles, five domestic cups, and the 2013 Champions League. He also won a league title in two seasons with Real Madrid. He starts off our list of The Top 10 Netherlands Players of All Time.
Edwin van der Sar
Among the all-time great goalkeepers is Edwin van der Sar. He is the second most capped player in the Netherlands’ history, behind Wesley Sneijder. He led them to three semi-final appearances between 1998 and 2004. Van der Sar was renowned for his poise, superb footwork, and height of 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in). He once set a world record by going 1,311 minutes without giving up a goal.
Van der Sar’s professional career started at Ajax, where he won the 1995 Champions League, three domestic cups, and four league championships. He played for Juventus for two years and Fulham for four before joining Manchester United for six fruitful years during which he won four league titles, two domestic cups, and the 2008 Champions League.
Johan Neeskens
As “Johan the Second” (Cruyff being the first), Johan Neeskens was a “total footballer.” When Ajax won the European Cup in 1971, he was a right-back; however, in the triumphs of 1972 and 1973, he was a midfielder. While with Ajax, he also won two domestic cups and two league titles. Neeskens played five seasons with Barcelona after following Cruyff there, when he won the 1979 European Cup Winners Cup in addition to a local cup. In his later career, he spent three seasons in Switzerland and five in America.
Neeskens was a standout performer in the international circuit, finishing second in both the 1974 and 1978 World Cups. He won the Silver Boot as the second-best player and being named to the All-Star team in 1974. One of the first box-to-box midfielders, he had amazing speed, skill, and a knack for scoring goals.
Clarence Seedorf
And the winner was Clarence Seedorf. He is the first player to have won the Champions League with three separate teams, Seedorf won them with Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998), and Milan (2003 and 2007). He has won the Champions League four times. Before leading these teams to a state championship in Brazil with Botafogo, he also won two domestic cups and five league crowns with them.
Seedorf participated in three major event semi-finals between 1998 and 2004, the Netherlands period. He was a versatile midfield player who excelled both as a box-to-box player and as a playmaker. He was a complete midfielder because of his physical strength, endurance, tackling, dribbling, shooting, inventiveness, and ability to pass with either foot.
Ronald Koeman
The all-time leading scorer among defenders is Ronald Koeman. In fact, as a runner-up with Barcelona in the 1994 European Cup (Champions League), he scored the most goals. But Ronald Koeman, who won eight league titles and four domestic cups during his career, was usually the victor. In 1988, he was named to the “team of the tournament,” won the Euro, and led PSV Eindhoven to their only European Cup. He earned a second European Cup with Barcelona after joining them in 1989. Among the most underappreciated football players is Koeman. Because of his strength, intelligence, and passing range, he was able to play anywhere in midfield or defense.
Dennis Bergkamp
Watch the Dennis Bergkamp video if you only watch one from this article. Despite not winning a Champions League, his incredible technique, passing, vision, and control elevated football to an art form. His best years, during which he won three league titles and four domestic cups, were enjoyed by Arsenal.
During his first seven seasons with Ajax, Bergkamp won two domestic cups, the 1987 European Cup Winners Cup, the 1992 UEFA Cup (Europa League), and the league championship. He had already won the 1994 UEFA Cup with Inter Milan, before Arsenal. Bergkamp played throughout two prosperous periods on the international scene. He was a member of the All-Star team for the first two of the World Cups, the 1998 European Championship, and the European 2000 semifinals.
Frank Rijkaard
As the Dutch equivalent of Beckenbauer, Frank Rijkaard possessed the ability and poise to manage a match on his own. In addition, he enjoyed playing one-twos, scoring goals, and moving forward. Having won Euro 1988, he was named to the “team of the tournament.” During his eight seasons at Ajax at the start of his career, Rijkaard won three league titles, three domestic cups, and the 1987 European Cup Winners Cup. Following that, he spent five incredible years with AC Milan, where he won two league titles and two European Cups (1989 and 1990).
After making a comeback to Ajax, Rijkaard won two more league titles as well as the 1995 Champions League (European Cup). In the latter, which was his final match, he triumphed over his former team, Milan, and helped pave the way for the following wave of talented players, including Seedorf and van der Sar.
Ruud Gullit
For his exquisite football style and intricately braided hair, Ruud Gullit was known as “The Black Tulip”. “The Machine” ought to have won since he was unplayable at every position due to his strength, speed, and talent. He was the complete football player, albeit the attacking third was where he was most useful. Before leading the Netherlands to victory in Euro 1988 and the semi-finals of Euro 1992, Gullit was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1987. He was a member of both tournament teams.
Gullit played for Haarlem, Feyenoord, and PSV Eindhoven for eight seasons in the Netherlands, He won three league championships and a domestic cup. Before concluding his career with Chelsea, he won two European Cups (1989 and 1990), three league crowns, and a domestic cup with AC Milan.
Marco van Basten
Whether it was an incredible overhead kick or “that volley” that we all remember Marco van Basten was a master of the spectacular. His ability to score goals, coupled with his technical prowess and strategic play, earned him the Ballon d’Or in 1988, 1989, and 1992. Van Basten enjoyed his finest years at AC Milan and shared the 1988 Euro victory with Rijkaard and Gullit. He scored in the final and led the team in goals (5 goals) during the Euro victory. He was named to the “team of the tournament” (again in 1992).
During his five seasons as an Ajax player, Van Basten won three league titles, three domestic cups, and the 1987 European Cup Winners Cup. Later, he spent six seasons at AC Milan. He took home two European Cups and three league crowns (1989 and 1990). Due to injuries, van Basten had to leave the game early; he played his last game in 1993 at the age of 28.
Johan Cruyff
One of the all-time great football players was Johan Cruyff. He has the same unique talent as Messi and Maradona to move past multiple players and score. He shared the same three Ballon d’Or victories as van Basten (1971, 1973, and 1974). During his ten seasons at Ajax at the beginning of his career, Cruyff won three European Cups, four domestic cups, and six league titles (1971–1973). With Barcelona, he later won a domestic cup and the league championship. After returning to the Netherlands, Cruyff helped Ajax and Feyenoord win two domestic cups and three more league crowns.
With three goals and three assists, Cruyff finished second in the 1974 World Cup on the international scene. Cruyff left the international game in 1977 following his third-place finish at the 1976 Euro. He abstained from the 1978 World Cup in Argentina due to his fear of kidnapping. Cruyff not only scored goals but also contributed more than 250 assists during his career. He tops our list of The Top 10 Netherlands Players of All Time.
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