Ruud Krol

Rudolf Jozef "Ruud" (or "Rudi") Krol (; born 24 March 1949) is a Dutch former professional footballer who was capped 83 times for the Netherlands national team. Regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Krol mainly played as a sweeper or left-back, though he could play anywhere across the back line, or in midfield as a defensive midfielder, due to his range of passing with both feet, temperament, tactical intelligence, and his ability to start attacking plays after winning back the ball.

Playing career

Club

He began his career at Ajax under manager Rinus Michels. In his first season at the club (1968–69), he only played one match. After the departure of left-back Theo van Duivenbode to Feyenoord in the summer of 1969, Krol became a regular player. When Ajax reached the UEFA European Cup in 1971, and won, Krol did not play because of a broken leg. Krol did play in the European Cup finals of 1972 and 1973. While others, such as Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens, left for new pastures, Krol, captain since the departure of Piet Keizer in October 1974, stayed at Ajax until June 1980.

He moved to the North American Soccer League to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps for four months. where he played for the next four seasons and earned him the nicknames Grande Rudy (meaning Big Rudy) and Il Tulipano Azzurro (meaning the blue tulip).

International

Internationally, Krol made his debut for the Netherlands in 1969 against England, retiring from international football in 1983. He was a crucial component in the Total Football side of the 1970s. A versatile defender, he could play in any position along the back four or midfield. In the 1974 FIFA World Cup, in which the Netherlands reached the final, Krol primarily played at left-back. He created Cruyff's goal against Brazil and scored a 25-yard screamer against Argentina.

Krol was part of the Dutch squad that participated in the 1976 European Championship; the team finished in third place.

By the time the 1978 FIFA World Cup came about, Krol had switched to playing as a sweeper and had earned the captain's armband after the retirement of Cruyff. The Dutch team lost the World Cup final for a second time in a row.

Krol played for the Netherlands as captain at the 1980 European Championship, where the team didn't overcome the first round. He played for part of the qualifying for 1982 FIFA World Cup and for 1984 European Championship, and played his last match as international in 1983. In the 83 matches for the Netherlands, Krol captained the Dutch team 45 times, third most behind Virgil van Dijk and Frank de Boer.

Managerial career

Krol started his career as manager with K.V. Mechelen in July 1989, but he was sacked in January 1990. In his managerial career, he has been head coach of Egypt, and Louis van Gaal ) and Ajax (under Ronald Koeman ). He became the interim manager of Ajax after the resignation of Koeman in February 2005. He was manager of Ajaccio in France Ligue 2 from 2006 to 2007.

Krol managed Zamalek from 1997 to 1999, winning the Afro-Asian Club Championship in 1997. He returned as manager of Zamalek in August 2007. He then signed a three-year contract with the South African giants Orlando Pirates. In his three years with the Orlando Pirates, he won two South African cups (the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup) and the national league, all in his last year in charge of the team. Despite that success his contract was not renewed.

After his stint in South Africa, he was contacted to lead the Tunisia national team in the play-off qualifying round for the 2014 World Cup against Cameroon. He accepted that role and simultaneously became manager of CS Sfaxien and Tunisia in September 2013. In 2013, Krol won the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup and the Tunisian championship with Sfaxien, after a fierce battle with the other three of the Tunisian big four. He quit as the national team interim coach following Tunisia's loss in the World Cup play-off and he resigned from his duties as Sfaxien coach after the second leg of the final against TP Mazembe on 30 November 2013.

In January 2014, he was appointed new head coach of Tunisian side ES Tunis.

Personal life On 6 July 1972, Krol married Yvonne van Ingen. The couple has a daughter. On 26 September 1974, together with teammate Arie Haan, he opened a snack bar on Reguliersbreestraat in Amsterdam. His father Rudolf Josef (nicknamed Kuki) Krol (1922–2003) participated in the Dutch resistance during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Thanks to Kuki Krol, a brother of referee Leo Horn, George Horn, was able to go into hiding and hence survived the war.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Krol goal. + List of international goals scored by Ruud Krol

Honours Player Ajax Eredivisie: 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80 KNVB Cup: 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1978–79 European Cup: 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73 UEFA Super Cup: 1972, 1973 Intercontinental Cup: 1972

Netherlands FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1974, 1978 UEFA Euro third place: 1976 Tournoi de Paris: 1978

Individual FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1974, 1978 UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1976 Sport Ideal European XI: 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980 World Soccer World XI: 1977, 1978 Onze de Onze: 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 World XI: 1979 Ballon d'Or – third place: 1979 Serie A Team of The Year: 1982 Golden Foot award - Legend of Football: 2024 Bondsridder of KNVB: 22 May 1979 Full-back/wing-back in Johan Cruyff's favourite World XI

Coach Ajaccio Ligue 2: third place 2007

Ajax (as assistant to manager Ronald Koeman) Eredivisie: 2001-02, 2003-04 KNVB Cup: 2001-02

Zamalek Afro-Asian Club Championship: 1997 Egyptian Premier League: runner-up 1997-98, 2007-08 Egypt Cup: 2008

Orlando Pirates Premier Soccer League: 2011; runner-up 2009 Nedbank Cup: 2011; runner-up 2010 Telkom charity cup: 2010, 2011 MTN 8: 2010

Sfaxien Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1: 2013 CAF Confederation Cup: 2013 Tunisian Cup: runner-up 2012

Esperance Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1: 2014

Raja Casablanca UNAF Club Cup: 2015

Kuwait Kuwait Premier League: 2019–20

Egyptian Olympic Team (U23) All African Games gold medal: 1995

Egypt 1996 African Cup of Nations: second round

Netherlands (as assistant to manager Frank Rijkaard) UEFA Euro 2000: semi-final

Individual PSL Coach of the Season: 2010–11