Dutch record holder faces last hurrah

Dutch captain Frank de Boer takes aim to score the winning goal against Czech Republic with a late penalty kick during the Euro 2000 group D match between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic 11 June, 2000. (DIGITAL IMAGE) EPA PHOTO EPA/ANJA NIEDRINGHAUS

Frank de Boer has been a loyal and distinguished servant for Holland since making his international debut in 1990 and holds the national record for caps with over one hundred.

An outstanding defender armed with a deadly shot, De Boer has experienced such highs as winning the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, to equally disappointing lows when he missed a pair of penalties in Holland's Euro 2000 semi-final defeat to Italy.

Dutch soccer player Frank de Boer touches his head as he leaves the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, 26 July 2001. The Barcelona defender appeared before UEFA's Appeals Body in an attempt to overturn his one-year suspension from a UEFA Cup quarter-final game against Celta Vigo 15 March after he tested positive for the banned steroid nandralone. AFP PHOTO EPA/KEYSTONE/LAURENT GILLIERON

In amongst a glittering career littered with titles and Cups came a controversial ban for doping in 2001 when he tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone, an offence he still denies.

It all began for De Boer, whose twin brother Ronald was also an international, when he made his debut for Ajax as an 18-year-old in 1988.

The future captain of Holland would go on to play 12 seasons for the Amsterdam club, winning five Dutch titles, the Intercontinental and Super Cups, both in 1995, a year in which they pulled off a memorable quadruple victory as Ajax edged AC Milan in Vienna to lift the Champions League trophy.

Move to Istanbul

Dutch captain defender Frank de Boer (L) eyes the ball as he is chased by Brazilian forward Ronaldo during their 1998 Soccer World Cup semi-final match, 07 July at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO PATRICK HERTZOG

Born in Hoorn, De Boer has also played on the highest international stages, playing at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups where Holland reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively as well as three Euro campaigns.

A big money move to Barcelona in January, 1999 looked set to reap more rewards for the Dutchman but he initially found it tough to break into the Catalan side and when he finally did get his chance, he was hit with the ban.

"My good name has been tarnished for the rest of my career," he reflected.

Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo saves the penalty of Dutch captain Frank de Boer (C, rear) during the penalty shoot-out of the semi-final match between Italy and the Netherlands at the Euro-2000 soccer championships in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 29 June 2000. Italy beat the Netherlands 3-1 to advance to the final against France, 02 July in Rotterdam. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) EPA PHOTO/TOUSSAINT KLUITERS

He was back for the Euro 2000 campaign where Holland suffered a semi-final nightmare as De Boer first missed a penalty in regulation time, as did Patrick Kluivert, only for ten-man Italy to hold on and win a shootout when De Boer missed another spotkick.

Despite their wealth of talent, Holland failed to qualify from a group including Ireland and Portugal for the 2002 World Cup but they did squeeze into Euro 2004 as they eventually hammered Scotland 6-1 in the play-offs.

De Boer left Barcelona to join Turkish giants Galatasaray in 2003 but the move proved unfruitful and he re-joined his brother Ronald at Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers in January, 2004.

He now enters the twilight of his career but can still look forward to one last international tournament as Portugal provides the stage to end his playing career with a bang.

His real name is Franciscus.