from world star to misunderstood phenomenon in the Netherlands

In the section Grandstand sounds Voetbalzone turns the tables and gives the reader the opportunity to publish an opinion piece, column or other interesting article about football on our website. In this edition of Grandstand sounds is the word of Abdelilah Amraoui, who dedicates his latest column to Clarence Seedorf.

By Abdelilah Amraoui (The Artistic Ninja)

As someone who grew up in Rotterdam, I have always had a soft spot for football, and so did Clarence Seedorf. He was one of the rare players who made an impressive mark at both Ajax and AC Milan. While I was a Dutch Moroccan making his way in a country still struggling with its own identity, Seedorf was an exceptionally talented footballer who built an international career that could only be imagined in your wildest dreams.

Seedorf started his career at Ajax, where he stood out as a young talent and won the Eredivisie and Champions League. His move to Real Madrid marked a new chapter in his career, during which he won LaLiga and the Champions League. Seedorf later moved to Inter and then to AC Milan, where he won two more Champions League titles. His versatility and success made him one of the few players to win the Champions League with three different clubs.

Although Seedorf was a football giant, his relationship with the Dutch national team remained complex. He was only selected 87 times, despite his exceptional performances at club level. This raises the question why a player of his caliber was not used more often for the Dutch team. It reminds me of my own experiences, in which, as a self-taught late bloomer, I had to fight for recognition and opportunities in a world that was not always open to people with a name like mine.

I was born in Morocco in 1972, but my journey to the Netherlands started in 1973, when as a one-year-old I ended up on the Oranjeboomstraat in the Feijenoord district. Although I loved Feyenoord, I was not a born Feyenoorder. I had to make my own way, just like Seedorf did in international football.

Growing up, I was confronted with terms like “NAFFER,” which were used by police to refer to people like me. ‘NAFFER’ stands for ‘North African’, in a negative context. It is a word that for me evokes echoes from a painful past of exclusion and discrimination. Similar to how Seedorf was approached on Wilfred Genee’s program, where he was asked questions that focused more on controversy than an honest discussion about his career and achievements.

Instead of focusing on Seedorf’s triumphant career, his many trophies and his worldwide status as a living legend, Wilfred Genee seemed mainly interested in the negative aspects of Seedorf’s career. He continued to ask about the tensions with trainers such as Marco van Basten and Bert van Marwijk, thus ignoring the impressive performances that Seedorf has achieved during his career. It was as if Genee passed up the opportunity to honor one of the greatest footballers of all time, instead choosing to focus on controversy.

But just as every athlete’s life is full of highs and lows, Seedorf’s story is also peppered with triumphs and disappointments. Yes, Clarence Seedorf missed an important penalty during the European Championship (European Championship). This happened during the quarter-final of the 1996 European Championship between the Netherlands and France. Seedorf missed his penalty, which contributed to the Netherlands’ elimination in that match.

This event illustrates the human side of Seedorf’s career, where even the biggest stars have moments of failure. It’s a reminder that success is not always synonymous with perfection, but rather a journey of challenges and triumphs.

After the 1996 European Championship, Seedorf continued his career and continued to enjoy success at the highest level. His resilience and determination were hallmarks of his character, and he showed that adversity would not deter him from continuing to strive for his goals.

Missing that penalty at the European Championship was just one moment in an otherwise glorious career that Seedorf has had. His on-field achievements and off-field efforts to bring about positive change define his legacy as one of the greatest in football history.

It is important to recognize that even the most talented and successful individuals can experience setbacks. It’s about how one responds to those setbacks and continues to strive for personal growth and success. In that respect, Clarence Seedorf is an inspiration to many, not only as a footballer, but also as an example of resilience and perseverance.

Let us take Clarence Seedorf’s lessons to heart and continue to strive for a fairer and equal society, both on and off the field.

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