Ajax
Amsterdam (Holland), AC Milan (Italy), FC Barcelona (Spain),
Newcastle United (England), Valencia CF (Spain)
Honours
1995
Champions League winner (Ajax)
1999 Primera League Champions (FC Barcelona)
Biography
Patrick Kluivert (born July 1, 1976 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch
international football striker who currently plays for Valencia
in the Spanish First Division.
FC Ajax
Kluivert joined the renowned Ajax youth academy after he was
spotted playing for Schellingwoude, he went on to make his debut
in the senior team on August 21, 1994 at the age of 17 in the
Dutch Supercup against win arch rivals Feyenoord in which he
scored his first goal. He went on to make his mark in Europe
scoring an 83rd minute winner in the Champions League Final of
1994/95 against AC Milan in Vienna. He also helped Ajax to win
several pieces of silverware (see below)before leaving for AC
Milan on a Bosman transfer in 1997.
AC Milan
His career at Milan started well when he scored a sensational
goal against Juventus in a friendly match. However at this time
Kluivert's personal life began to cause problems, he was charged
with manslaughter after running an art critic over in his new
sports car, to which he received community service and a driving
ban. He was also charged with rape on a separate occasion but he
was to be later acquitted.
FC Barcelona
After scoring only six goals in Italy he left for FC Barcelona
where he was reunited with Louis Van Gaal, a mentor from his
days at Ajax. Kluivert formed a strong partnership with Rivaldo
which enabled Barça to win the Spanish La Liga in 1998/99. He
was released from Barça in the summer of 2004 along with fellow
Dutch national teammates Michael Reiziger and Marc Overmars.
Newcastle United
He joined Newcastle United on 21 July 2004 to team up with Alan
Shearer. However, after only one season on Tyneside Kluivert was
given a free transfer, and playing poorly that season, (even
though he scored the winning goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
He decided to return to Spain to play for Valencia. Reportedly,
the club included a clause in his contract that allowed for
Kluivert to be sacked if he is lacking in discipline off the
pitch.
Dutch National Team
Kluivert's international career has perhaps not gone as well as
he would have liked; he missed most of Euro 96 with a knee
injury but he did manage to score a brilliant goal against
England. At the 1998 World Cup he was sent off against Belgium
by referee Pierluigi Collina after elbowing an opponent,
although he made amends when selected to play against Argentina
in the quarter-finals of the same tournament where he scored the
opening goal. He also impressed in later matches, although the
Dutch national team did not win the tournament which they were
predicted to do so. At Euro 2000, after scoring a hat trick in
the quarterfinals, Kluivert missed a penalty in the semi-final
loss to Italy.
Kluivert is currently the all-time leading goalscorer for the
Dutch national team with 40 (as of 2005). In 2004, he was named
to the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers
chosen by Pelé as part of FIFA's centenary observances.
Interestingly, he was born on the same day as fellow countryman
and FIFA 100 member Ruud van Nistelrooy. During Euro 2004,
Kluivert didn't play a single minute, while his team reached the
semi-finals again.
