Top 10 Dutch Soccer Players of All-Time
Hendrik Johannes "Johan" Cruijff (25 April 1947 – 24 March 2016) was a Dutch professional football player and coach. As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Cruyff was a proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football explored by Rinus Michels, and is... read more He saw things other players could only dream of: passing, scoring, dribbling, close ball control - unbelievable. He also played at a time when a defender's job was, if you can't stop a man legally, kick the living daylights out of him. Cruyff just evaded them most of the time.
You never saw any theatrical rolling about like you see in the modern game today. It seems sometimes that strikers only have to feel the breath of a defender on their back, and they'll go down. Results have become so important, with billions of pounds riding on winning the European Champions League. Who wouldn't take a dive?
Amazing dribbling skills, second-best dribbler in the world right after Messi. Has the best foot I have ever seen (his left). Insane speed and stamina. Great playmaker, creating tons of chances - 151 chances created in 18.6 Bundesliga matches in 2014/2015. His threat level pulls defenders like bees to him.
I think he is, after Cruyff, the best player, maybe tied with van Basten. He suffers from injuries on a severe level just like van Basten. If he were never injured, I have no doubt he would be the best in the world, which now is Messi.
Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp is a Dutch former professional footballer, who is the assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax. Simon Kuper of the Financial Times wrote in 2006: "One night last year, some legends of Dutch football gathered for dinner in an Amsterdam house. Around midnight, the conversation turned to an old question: who was the best Dutch footballer ever? Dutchmen have been voted European Footballer of the Year seven times, more than any other nationality except Germans. Yet Jan Mulder, a great center-forward turned writer, chose a player who had never even threatened to win the award nor, at the time, a Champions League: 'Bergkamp.' He had the finest technique, said Mulder. Guus Hiddink, the great Dutch manager, nodded, and so the matter was settled."
Marcel "Marco" van Basten is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played for Ajax and Milan, as well as the Netherlands national team, in the 1980s and early '90s as a forward. Pure killer. When looking purely at scoring goals and nothing else, he might be the greatest in history - not just in the Netherlands but in the world. The only reason he isn't number one is because football also has other aspects next to scoring. But he mastered the most important one for a striker: scoring, making him top 3 in this list.
The second-best player for this team on my list. He was a volleyer, winning the Ballon d'Or three times. His performance in the 1988 Euro was great. A hat trick against England, a last-minute slide goal against West Germany, and the best volley ever against the Soviet Union.
Robin van Persie is a Dutch coach and former professional footballer who played as a striker. Regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, he is the all-time top scorer for the Netherlands men's national team. He is currently an assistant manager at boyhood club Feyenoord in his first managerial... read more Most all-around complete player in Dutch football history, in my opinion, with an amazing knack for scoring goals and great footwork. He could honestly play as a striker, winger, center mid/attacking mid, or defensive mid and excel at any of them. Also, he has the most goals scored in Dutch national team history.
Robin van Persie is a wonderful footballer, and he is able to score very classy goals. Easily the best player in the national team.
Van Persie is my favorite player, but he was better with Arsenal and Manchester United. His volleying is almost as good as Marco van Basten's.
He just had the ability to score from numerous positions. He had such a calm head in big games. One of the greatest goal scorers of all time. Unfortunately, he is massively underrated by everyone, but he shouldn't be.
Of course! The best Dutch goal-scorer of all time. His sense is superb. Unfortunately, he is very underrated, though it's obvious to the wise fans that Ruud is the best scoring machine of the Dutchmen.
Thanks to whoever wrote this page for including Ruud van Nistelrooy as the 1st. On a FIFA game, you should check out Holland or Be a Pro. Play with Ruud. He's awesome!
Ruud Gullit is a Dutch football manager and former footballer who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s as a midfielder or forward. I always loved Ruud's distinctive look. Of course, being a powerful player with versatility and strength in the air as well as classy skills made him certainly a top-five player in Dutch football history. Most other similar lists rate him from 3rd to 5th best.
Cruyff, van Basten, and possibly Bergkamp were better players than the 1988 European Championship-winning captain. As noted before, he also won European Footballer of the Year and dedicated the 1987 award to Nelson Mandela while Mandela was still in prison. A class act as a footballer.
Wesley Sneijder is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Turkish club Galatasaray and the Netherlands national team. He pretty much single-handedly took Holland to the World Cup final. Also, he made an amazing pass against Spain to set up Robben, who then screwed up an absolute sitter of a chance by kicking it into Casillas' foot.
Most involved playmaker in Dutch football of all time, in my opinion. Maybe not quite as quick or skilled as Cruyff, but he is a better passer and is a free-kick ace.
His performance in the 2010 World Cup made me his fan. I have nothing to say about him. Just awesome.
He has made some of the best saves that I have ever seen!
Now, this is something: he even scored goals as a goalie!
The best Dutch goalie... attacking-minded.
The working class, best kind of player. Never stopped giving everything at Liverpool. Wish he'd stuck around.
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Ronaldus "Ronald" de Boer is a retired Dutch football midfielder who played for the Dutch national team as well as a host of professional clubs in Europe.One of the finest in the business and a cheerful and talented striker.
Are you serious? Patrick is not even top 5? This is craziness. He reached the 40-goal mark while playing fewer games than Van Persie. He was also the all-time goal scorer of the national team at a younger age. He was naturally gifted, a better scorer, he could pass, and his one-touch play was amazing.
He was way more technical than Van Nistelrooy. I like Van Nistelrooy, but Kluivert was way better. Without injury, Kluivert would have been one of the all-time top scorers in football history.
Are you serious? How could you omit Patrick Kluivert? Your list has to be redone. I am American, and I know Dutch soccer well. Patrick Kluivert was one of the finest Dutch strikers. In my opinion, he was better than Van Nistelrooy, who is just a goal poacher. Kluivert was an all-around striker, and he is the top Dutch striker with 40 goals before he even reached 30.
The unique player to have won the UEFA Champions League with 3 different clubs: Ajax, Real Madrid, and AC Milan (twice)!
Outstanding midfielder. So much class and one of the most complete of his time.
Don't know why The Hunter is not utilized as much as Sneijder, Robben, and Van Persie. He is just 10 goals short of breaking Van Persie's record and 5 goals short of being the second-highest Dutch goal scorer. He gets very rare chances to compete, but if given a chance, there is always an 80% chance of Hunter scoring, whether it's a league game or a national game.
Best Holland striker available but rarely gets the chance.
He has a better match-to-goals ratio for his country. Even better than Van Persie.
People are voting without seeing the games and without knowing soccer history. He is the best creative player the Dutch have ever produced.
Probably the second-best player in the Dutch team of '74. Should be higher up the list.
Should be second (after Cruijff). I would have Ruud Krol at number 3 and Rensenbrink at 4. These players personified that orange team of total football.
Freekick ability like David Beckham and a teammate of Wesley Sneijder at the 2014 World Cup, who was responsible for set pieces and freekicks. I hope Memphis Depay can work hard for Holland in Euro 2020 qualification for positive results.
Good dribbling 86%, sprint speed 88%, long shots distance 85%, amazing freekick ability 94%. Supersub attack winger in Euro 2020 and FIFA World Cup 2022.
One of the most elegant players ever, especially for a player who made his name in defense and midfield. One of the best of the game ever. Also, a class act, as he returned to Ajax at the end of his career to finish it there.
This attacker has been going around, scoring goals, making caps, and helping his team. I think that you should redo this list and put Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 8th on the list!
Jimmy's goal scoring was magic. He seemed never to rush when he scored and was in a league of his own.
I know he is a very good goalkeeper. He is like the Mexican goalkeeper in the Brazil 2014 World Cup. If the ball gets shot at him, he will save it.
He was an amazing footballer with lots of talent and beloved work.
One percent is a bloody shame!
Best midfield player Holland ever had!
Underrated! Know your Dutch football!
He made a brilliant pass to Dennis Bergkamp that went right over the field. Then Bergkamp flicked it over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net!
Most scoring defender in all of history. Should be higher on this list. The only reason he doesn't get my vote is because I can only vote once, and that vote goes to the Dutch master, Cruyff.
Yes, underrated but easily as skillful as Cruijff. He never had the same overall dominance and influence on the game as Cruijff, but in terms of pure skill, he was as good as Cruijff. Unfortunately, he will always be remembered for hitting the post in the final of the 1978 World Cup.
Most underrated player of all time. Equally lethal as a winger and as a playmaker.