Lionheart was a British FTX military maneuver in the southern Lower Saxony, which took place in the fall of 1984 and participated in the 131,000 NATO soldiers.
When looking back on his glittering career, Clarence Seedorf must sometimes be astonished. Sometimes I read the statements through and think: young, boy, were the grenades, said the Dutchman 2016 in the interview with the Seedorf. The list of his former teammates in fact sounds like a Hall of Fame of world football. Frank Rijkaard, Edgar David and Patrick Kluivert. Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro and Raul. Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo and Kaka. But among all these giants and legends, Seedorf stands out because he reached unique. The only player he won the Champions League with three different clubs. 1995 with Ajax Amsterdam, 1998 with Real Madrid, 2003 and 2007 with the AC Milan.
The royal class was a big stage for years of Seedorf
He gave proud 125 ideas in the competition of the best in Europe, which means 11 in the eternal ranking list. The Dutcher celebrated epic triumphs and suffered dramatic defeats like those in the final 2005 final when his Milan against Liverpool offered a half-time dream soccer, but then a 3-0 leadership playful and lost in penalty shooting. Painful experiences like these goods for the midfielder always an incentive to try again to get better. Two years later, Seedorf and Rossoneri stood again in the final, again against Liverpool – and made the revenge with a 2-1 victory. At that night from Athens, Seedorf stemmed the Henkelpott for the fourth time, which only exceeded by Cristiano Ronaldo with five titles. Seedorf also won the club World Cup with Milan 2007, in 1998 he was with Real World Cup winner. There are also seven national championships and trophies in the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
Over two decades, Seedorf held in the world top
His ball control and technical brilliance, dynamics and penetration, its running and bombeling strength, its shot violence and his refined standards made the midfielder to the exceptional council. Whether at a young age with black Rasta curls or later with bald shaved skull – always he was tireless drive and accomplished designer. His coaches of Louis van Gaal about Jupp Heynckes to Carlo Ancelotti knew Seedorf s overview and understanding of play as well as his versatility. Before the defense, behind the tips, on the wings – in the superstars-spiked ensembles Seedorf always found a place.
Billion people pursue the football, according to which he is in the duty to use his integrative power and not exclusively to squint results and business.
Clarence Seedorf
But there are far only the extraordinary skills on the lawn that make these people and footballers special. His commitment and work extend far beyond the field. Because he understands his sport as a remedy to combine people, convey values to spread messages and to change things: Billions of people pursue football, according to which he is in the duty to use his integrative power and not exclusively on results and Business to squint, is his maxim.
Seedorf s view of the world is characterized by the history of his family: he came as a two-year-old from Surinam to the Netherlands, his ancestors worked in the former colony in South America on a plantation, his grandfather was the son of a slave. Father Johann, who is only 17 years older than Clarence, emigrated with his family and promoted in the new home to the education and football silence of his eldest son as well as those of the younger siblings Chedric and Jürgen, all of which were trained in the young acidity of Ajax Amsterdam. At the age of 16 and 210 days, Seedorf celebrated its debut with the professionals in 1992 as the youngest AJAX player. At almost 37 years, in 2013 he finished his global player career at Botafogo Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
In the national team, Seedorf was controversial
So successful Seedorf with his clubs was, his relationship to the Dutch national team designed himself so complicated. First acted as successor of his youth idol Frank Rijkaard, Seedorf developed in the Elftal to the charm. At the European Championship 1996 he was in the center of a generation conflict, which is supposed to have been a dispute between white and dark-skinned players. There was never something there, said Seedorf years later. Sportily, the then 20-year-olds came to this tournament a tragic role: In the quarter-finals against France he was the only mistake at 4: 5 in penalties. Clarence has to repel the horns only. In three, four years he is world class, said the then Bondcoach Guus Hiddink. But Although Seedorf with Oranje at the 1998 World Cup and the EM tournaments reached the semi-finals in the 2000 and 2004, he remained controversial in the national team. He sued himself with the coaches Dick Advocaat and Marco Van Basten, was considered a player with pronounced self-confidence in Holland and as a disputable character. I like to ask and have always had my own opinion. This caused some people problems, said Seedorf years later.
Seedorf kids: My German was great until I stopped talking German
He can express his sometimes uncomfortable opinion in half a dozen languages: Seedorf speaks Dutch, English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and the Suriname Creole Sranantongo, even a little German he understands. He once learned that at school – and through the television series Derrick, which he looked as a child in German version with Dutch subtitles. My German was great until I stopped talking German, he kids.
Also read the big interview with Clarence Seedorf: I had to do more, despite my talent
Because Seedorf studied next to the career, he earned the nickname Il Professore in Milan. Club Patron Silvio Berlusconi greatly appreciated the world-facing, eloquent professional – and brought him back in 2014 as a coach. But to the Grandezza of his ten years on the grass, Seedorf could not build on the sideline. The commitment to Milan ended as the following in Shenzhen (China) and La Coruna (Spain) after a few months. Lastly, Seedorf exercised the national team of Cameruns from 2018 to 2019. Repracted several times a discrimination of People of Color in European football: The numbers speak for themselves, we do not have to comment. There is a lot of competent black coaches that do not get a chance. What we see in the place is reflected do not reflect on the leadership positions.
Fight against racism and social projects
The fight against racism in the stadiums and in society Seedorf has actively driven forward for years. Just like a series of social projects: In Surinam he built a stadium and training sites to move young people from the road to sports. He founded the Foundation Champions for Children with the aim of helping children in crisis regions in Kenya, Cambodia or Brazil by education and sport and supported other projects in Africa. The only way to a peaceful world is the education in particular the children, emphasizes Seedorf. In addition, he is committed as a member of the Strategic Committee of the Panel for the Amazon for sustainability, climate protection and the rights of the indigenous population in the Amazon. In order to emphasize the findings of science over the policy.
Nelson Mandela took Seedorf after a personal meeting in 2009 in the exquisite circle of Legacy Champions, which should preserve the inheritance of the South African Freedom Fighter and to carry into the world. An honor that was only five personalities from politics and business before the footballer, among them the former US President Bill Clinton. In 2014, the UEFA Seedorf appointed the global ambassador for diversity and change, in which FIFA he is a member of the jury for the Diversity Award. His life with stations in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia confirmed Sedorf in his conviction: The experience of different cultures means enormous enrichment. Immerseing in the everyday life of other realities is a resource, no threat – it helps you, prejudices and stereotypes too overcome. he wants to use the global passion for football to deliver messages to spread like this. It is a mission in the spirit of football pioneer and Seedorf-founding father Walther Bensemann to understand the sport as a medium for peace and international understanding.
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