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| Career | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Clubs: | Ajax (1980-1987), Real Zaragoza (1988), AC Milan (1988-1993), Ajax (1993-1995) |
| International appearances: | 73 |
| International goals: | 10 |
| International debut: | 01/09/1981, Switzerland-Holland (2-1) |
| Last international appearance: | 09/07/1994, Holland-Brazil (2-3) |
| First international goal: | 17/12/1983, Holland-Malta (5-0 - scored twice) |
| Last international goal: | 12/06/1994, Canada-Holland (0-3) |
Appearances: 1 (1990), 4 matches
Second round
Winner (1988), semi-finalist (1992)
Winner (1989, 1990, 1995)
Winner (1987)
Winner (1989)
Winner (1989, 1990)
Winner (1982, 1983, 1985, 1994, 1995)
Winner (1983, 1986, 1987)
Winner (1992, 1993)
22 matches, 8 wins, 12 draws, 2 defeats
Sparta Rotterdam (2001-2002), Barcelona (Spain/since June 2003)
Semi-finals (2000)
Biography
Illustrious former AC Milan midfielder Frank Rijkaard was charged with leading co-hosts Holland through the Euro 2000 competition back in July 1998 despite his lack of managerial experience.
Early signs - four wins from 17 preparation games - suggested Rijkaard was out of his depth and many considered his attitude as cold, superior, almost arrogant.
Rijkaard's prolific record as a player with Ajax and AC Milan, the fact he was no stanger to the international scene with his 73 caps, and being part of the side that won the 1988 European Championships expain why he was appointed.
But to some, he had a lot to learn and one disgruntled member of the Dutch football union even labelled him a "bungler".
At Ajax, he won three league titles and 3 Cups, registering the double with the legendary Amsterdam club in 1983.
His golden period came at AC Milan, where he won two of his three European Cups. He went back home to Ajax in 1993, playing a further two seasons and helping the youthful side romp to Champions League success in 1995, beating AC Milan 1-0 in the final.
After retiring he set up an underwear business, but quickly left his fashion aspirations behind for a post as assistant to then national team coach, Guus Hiddink.
He replaced Hiddink as coach after Holland's failure at the semi-final stage of the 1998 World Cup in France.
The Dutch federation compensated for Rijkaard's tactical expertise by appointing two other former internationals as his assistants. Ruud Krol - an ex-captain of the Orange and an 83 cap record-holder for his country - was appointed and joined Johan Neeskens at Rijkaard's side.
On paper, Holland had the right ingredients to win the tournament.
After a tiring series of draws, Holland finally looked on course for European glory when they beat Romania 2-1 before their campaign burst into life in the quarter-finals with a 6-1 pasting of Yugoslavia.
The semi-final against Italy was a series of heartbreaks.
Dominating the match against a team reduced to ten men, Holland managed to miss two penalties during normal time, failed to score during 120 minutes of non-stop attack, and then had to suffer the indignation of losing a penalty shoot-out as Italy went onto the final leaving the Dutch nation to mourn.
It was the end of the road as national coach as Rijkaard surprisingly resigned following the defeat and was replaced by Barcelona boss, Louis Van Gaal.