All-time Netherlands best XI – Netherlands national team is one of strongest national football team in Europe. Despite never won a World Cup yet, Netherlands always consistently produce some of the greatest football player that ever exist. And they also won a Euro in 1988, their only major title to date.
The 1988 Euro still become the highest peak for Dutch football. Der Oranje unlucky to not win the World Cup yet. They reach 3 World Cup finals (1974, 1978, 2010), but always end up as runner-up. That’s why they often regarded as the best country to never win the World Cup.
Netherlands national team first breakthrough in international scene is in 70s. They known by Total Football style, invented by coach Rinus Michels. Johan Cruyff is the star in this team. He also regarded as one of the best player of all-time. Netherlands reach 2 World Cup finals in this era (1970, 1974) but lose in both finals.
This team finally won their first major trophy in 1988. Netherlands win the Euro after beat Soviet Union in finals. The trio Dutch player who play in AC Milan at the time, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, are the key players for Netherlands success in 1988 Euro.
Between 90s to early 2000s, Netherlands have collection of world-class players such as Dennis Bergkamp, Edgar Davids, Frank de Boer, Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf, Edwin van der Sar, Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy. But their only biggest achievement in this era are reaching semifinals in 1998 World Cup and 2004 Euro.
Netherlands reach another World Cup final in 2010, but once again they lose in final. Players like Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart and Robin van Persie are carried Netherlands to final.
All-Time Netherlands Best XI
Of course it’s hard to select 11 of best Netherlands players of all time in each position. Below is our selection of all-time Netherlands national team best XI.
GOALKEEPER
1. Edwin van der Sar
Date of birth : 29 October 1970
Position : Goalkeeper
Caps / goals : 130 caps / 0 goal
Club career :
- 1990-1999 – Ajax (Netherlands)
- 1999-2001 – Juventus (Italy)
- 2001-2005 – Fulham (England)
- 2005-2011 – Manchester United (England)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1994, 1998, 2006
- UEFA Euro 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008
Substitutes :
- Hans van Breukelen (1980-1992), 73 caps
- Jan van Beveren (1967-1977), 32 caps
- Maarten Stekelenburg (2004-2021), 63 caps
- Jasper Cillessen (2013-sekarang), 65 caps
DEFENDER
2. Ronald Koeman
Date of birth : 21 March 1963
Position : Center-back, sweeper
Caps / goals : 78 caps / 14 goals
Club career :
- 1980-1983 – Groningen (Netherlands)
- 1983-1986 – Ajax (Netherlands)
- 1986-1989 – PSV Eindhovden (Netherlands)
- 1989-1995 – Barcelona (Spain)
- 1995-1997 – Feyenoord (Netherlands)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1990, 1994
- UEFA Euro 1988, 1992
3. Jaap Stam
Date of birth : 17 July 1972
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 67 caps / 3 goals
Club career :
- 1992-1993 – PEC Zwolle (Netherlands)
- 1993-1995 – SC Cambuur (Netherlands)
- 1995-1996 – Willem Il (Netherlands)
- 1996-1998 – PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
- 1998-2001 – Manchester United (England)
- 2001-2004 – Lazio (Italy)
- 2004-2006 – AC Milan (Italy)
- 2006-2007 – Ajax (Netherlands)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1998
- UEFA Euro 1996, 2000, 2004
4. Wim Suurbier
Date of birth : 16 January 1945
Position : Right-back
Caps / goals : 60 caps / 3 goal
Club career :
- 1964-1977 – Ajax (Netherlands)
- 1977-1978 – Schalke (Germany)
- 1978-1979 – Metz (France)
- 1979-1981 – Los Angeles Aztecs (United States)
- 1980-1981 – Sparta Rotterdam (Netherlands) (loan)
- 1982 – San Jose Earthquakes (Netherlands)
- 1982 – Tung Sing (Hong Kong)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1974, 1978
- UEFA Euro 1976
5. Ruud Krol
Date of birth : 24 March 1949
Position : Left-back, sweeper
Caps / goals : 83 caps / 4 goal
Club career :
- 1968-1980 – Ajax (Netherlands)
- 1980 – Vancouver Whitecaps (United States)
- 1980-1984 – Napoli (Italy)
- 1984-1986 – Cannes (France)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1974, 1978
- UEFA Euro 1976, 1980
Substitutes :
- Frank de Boer (1990-2004), 112 caps, 13 goals
- Virgil van Dijk (2015-current), 58 caps, 6 goals
- Rinus Israel (1964-1974), 47 caps, 3 goals
- Cor Van de Hart (1955-1961), 44 caps, 2 goals
- Danny Blind (1986-1996), 42 caps, 1 goal
- John Heitinga (2004-2013), 87 caps, 7 goals
- Michael Reiziger (1994-2004), 72 caps, 1 goal
- Giovanni van Bronckhorst (1996-2010), 106 caps, 6 goals
MIDFIELDER
6. Frank Rijkaard
Date of birth : 30 September 1962
Position : Defensive midfielder, center-back
Caps / goals : 73 caps / 10 goals
Club career :
- 1980-1987 – Ajax (Netherlands)
- 1987-1988 – Sporting CP (Portugal)
- 1987-1988 – Zaragoza (Spain) (loan)
- 1988-1993 – AC Milan (Italy)
- 1993-1995 – Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1990, 1994
- UEFA Euro 1988, 1992
7. Johan Neeskens
Date of birth : 15 September 1951
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 49 caps / 17 goals
Club career :
- 1968-1970 – RCH (Netherlands)
- 1970-1974 – Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- 1974-1979 – Barcelona (Spain)
- 1979-1984 – New York Cosmos (United States)
- 1984-1985 – Groningen (Netherlands)
- 1985 – South Florida Sun (United States)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1974, 1978
- UEFA Euro 1976
8. Ruud Gullit
Date of birth : 1 September 1962
Position : Midfielder, forward
Caps / goals : 66 caps / 17 goals
Club career :
- 1979-1982 – HFC Haarlem (Netherlands)
- 1982-1985 – Feyenoord (Netherlands)
- 1985-1987 – PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
- 1987-1994 – AC Milan (Italy)
- 1994-1995 – Sampdoria (Italy)
- 1995-1998 – Chelsea (England)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1990
- UEFA Euro 1988, 1992
Substitutes :
- Edgar Davids (1994-2005), 74 caps, 6 goals
- Mark van Bommel (2000-2012), 79 caps, 10 goals
- Willem van Hanegem (1968-1979), 52 caps, 6 goals
- Philipp Cocu (1996-2006), 101 caps, 10 goals
- Willy van de Kerkhof (1973-1986), 63 caps, 5 goals
- Rafael van der Vaart (2001-2013), 109 caps, 25 goals
- Clarence Seedorf (1994-2008), 87 caps, 11 goals
- Wesley Sneijder (2003-2018), 134 caps, 31 goals
- Marc Overmars (1993-2004), 86 caps, 17 goals
- Piet Kaizer (1962-1974), 34 caps, 11 goals
FORWARD
9. Johan Cruyff
Date of birth : 25 April 1947
Position : Forward, attacking midfielder
Caps / goals : 48 caps / 33 goals
Club career :
- 1964-1973 – Ajax (Netherlands)
- 1973-1978 – Barcelona (Netherlands)
- 1978-1979 – Los Angeles Aztecs (United States)
- 1979-1981 – Washington Diplomats (United States)
- 1981 – Levante (Netherlands)
- 1981-1983 – Ajax (Netherlands)
- 1983-1984 – Feyenoord (Netherlands)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1974
- UEFA Euro 1976
10. Marco van Basten
Date of birth : 31 October 1964
Position : Striker
Caps / goals : 58 caps / 24 goals
Club career :
- 1981-1987 – Ajax (Netherlands)
- 1987-1994 – AC Milan (Italy)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 1990
- UEFA Euro 1988, 1992
11. Arjen Robben
Date of birth : 23 January 1984
Position : Winger
Caps / goals : 96 caps / 37 goals
Club career :
- 2000-2002 – Groningen (Netherlands)
- 2002-2004 – PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
- 2004-2007 – Chelsea (England)
- 2007-2009 – Real Madrid (Spain)
- 2009-2019 – Bayern Munchen (Germany)
Major tournament participations :
- FIFA World Cup 2006, 2010, 2014
- UEFA Euro 2004, 2008, 2012
Substitutes :
- Dennis Bergkamp (1990-2000), 79 caps, 37 goals
- Ruud van Nistelrooy (1998-2011), 70 caps, 35 goals
- Robin van Persie (2005-2017), 102 caps, 50 goals
- Patrick Kluivert (1994-2004), 79 caps, 40 goals
- Rob Rensenbrink (1968-1979), 46 caps, 14 goals
- Faas Wilkes (1946-1961), 38 caps, 35 goals
- Klaas Jan Huntelaar (2006-2016), 76 caps, 42 goals
- Johnny Rep (1973-1981), 42 caps, 12 goals
- Abe Lenstra (1940-1959), 47 caps, 33 goals
Netherlands National Team All-Time Best XI
| van der Sar |
| Suurbier – Koeman – Stam – Krol |
| Gullit – Rijkaard – Neeskens |
| Robben – van Basten – Cruyff |
That’s our pick for 11 of greatest Dutch players of all time in each position. What do you think? Write down your pick in comment below.
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