Former Kanu Nwankwo and Geroge Finidi’s Ajax teammate Clarence Seedorf has an incredible UEFA Champions League record to his name during his playing days.
The 46th year Dutch legend began his lovely footballing career from the current defending Eredivisie holders after featuring in the league when he made his debut in 1992 at age 16 and 242 days, making him the youngest-ever debutant for Ajax, at the time.
Seedorf quickly established himself as the first-choice attacking midfielder under the tutelage of former Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal despite the presence of some great talent in the squad the likes of Edwin van der Sar, Frank Rijkaard, Ronald de Boer Frank de Boer, Marc Overmars, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert, Danny Blind and Winston Bogarde and Michael Reiziger.
The legendary star played a vital role in the Champions League final in Vienna after Ajax beat European powerhouse AC Milan 1-0 courtesy of Patrick Kluivert’s strike but Seedorf featured for 53rd minutes in the encounter as he was replaced by Super Eagles legend Kanu.
Seedorf won his first Champions League in the Austrian capital before he departed for Serie A side Sampdoria in the summer for free. The Dutchman spent one single season in Italy after his club finished eighth in the log table without any silverware.
However, the following campaign in the 1996-97 season, the Suriname-born star moved to Real Madrid where he helped Los Blancos to regain the La Liga title before playing a key role as the Spanish club beat Serie A giants Juventus 1-0 in the final, securing the second Champions League title of his career.
Seedorf’s European football journey continued after three good years at the Santiago Bernabeu he switch Spain for Italy again this time to Inter Milan for $24.35 million deal but the Dutch legend could not help bring any major silverware to the Nerrazurri despite wining only Coppa Italia during his time there, however his displays attracted city rivals AC Milan, who swooped for his services in 2002 in an exchange with Francesco Coco.
Former Cameroon head coach spend a decade with Rosennerri, leading them to numerous titles including two Champions League crowns with the third European trophy coming in 2002 as they beat Juventus 3-2 on penalties, even though he missed his spot-kick.
Seedorf form a good midfield partnership with Brazillian star Kaká after beating Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Liverpool to lift the Champions League again with 2-1 win over the Rafa Benitez side in Athens, avenging their 2005 loss to the Premier League outfit.
Dutch legend, the first and currently the only player to have won the UEFA Champions League Trophy with three different clubs,
Seedorf will be joining the legendary UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour in Nigeria on 12-13 April, courtesy of Heineken alongside former Super Eagles stars, Austin JJ Okocha and Daniel Amokachi.
