Top 10 Best Dutch Players in Football History – Ranking the Netherlands Football Legends

Dutch football is always seen as resembling beautiful football, and the names that the Dutch land has produced in history justify these claims with flying colours. Some of the greatest talents that the world has ever seen came from Dutch land. Not just players but some of the all-time great coaches also come from the Netherlands. Dutch has seen so much talent that it’s so hard to put footballers like Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder into the exclusive list of the top 10 best Dutch players of all time.

Dutch footballers are known for their technical skills, creativity, impressive vision, and passion & hunger for success and greatness. Johan Cruyff, Marco Van Basten, Virgil Van Dijk, and more are on the list of top Dutch footballers. It is filled with talented individuals gifted with impressive defending, goal-scoring abilities, and playmaking skills. In this list, we will be looking at the top 10 best Dutch footballers of all time who have graced the football pitch over the years:

Ranking Factors

Club Career: A player’s club career is taken into consideration to finalize the list of best Dutch players of all time, as some of these footballers have represented some of the biggest European clubs.

Player’s Legacy: A player’s legacy with the Netherlands national team and clubs, alongside statistics, International caps, Individual honors and team titles won by a player with their respective team.

Impact: The last parameter we considered while ranking the best Dutch players for the Netherlands was their impact and influence during their time with the club.

List of The 10 Greatest Dutch Footballers of All Time

10. Edwin van der Sar

Edwin van der Sar was known for his athletic body and long reach during his playing days. With more than 600 club appearances to his name as a goalkeeper, he added a new perspective to traditional goalkeeping by coming out of line and playing with his feet. During his professional career, Edwin van der Sar played for several elite clubs, including Ajax, Juventus, and Manchester United. And he won over 26 club trophies as a player throughout his career. Moreover, Edwin earned 130 caps for the Dutch national team and is considered one of the greatest Dutch footballers of all time.

Edwin played a role in changing the ideology about the existing goalkeepers’ playing style. He was good with his feet and often came out of his area to help his team, while his calmness and long reach made him reliable. The former Red Devils shot stopper won many trophies with clubs like Ajax and Manchester United and is remembered as one of the best Dutch players of all time.

Appearances	Clean Sheets	Trophies Won
130	72	0

9. Arjen Robben

Arjen Robben is often regarded as one of the best wingers of this generation. He amassed over 426 appearances and played for notable clubs like Groningen, PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, but his stint with Bayern Munich rejuvenated his career. He made over 200 appearances, scored 99 goals, and won 8 Bundesliga titles. Throughout his career, the Bayern Munich icon always made headlines for his speed, dribbling, long-range shots, and agility.

Arjen Robben was fast and loved cutting inside to shoot with his left foot. The Dutchman played for several big clubs in Europe, like Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. Despite injuries, he scored several key goals, like in the 2013 Champions League final. On the other hand, for the Dutch national team, he netted 37 goals in a total of 96 caps.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
96	37	0

8. Clarence Seedorf

One of the best Dutch players ever, Clarence Seedorf, was known for his versatility as well as for his robust physicality during his playing days. His career spanned from 1992 to 2014, where he played for clubs like Ajax, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Botafogo. Seedof made over 650 club appearances and 107 goals in his career, but his stint with AC Milan was the most successful phase, where he won 2 Serie A titles and 2 UEFA Champions League titles.

Clarence Seedorf was a strong midfielder who could defend and attack. The Dutchman is the only footballer in the world to win three UEFA Champions League titles with three different clubs (Ajax, Real Madrid, & AC Milan). Seedorf played 87 games for the Netherlands and scored 11 goals. The former Ballon d’Or winner’s strength and passing ability make him one of the greatest Dutch footballers of all time.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
87	11	0

7. Frank Rijkaard

Frank Rijkaard was the face of Dutch football during the ’80s and early ’90s, and his hairstyle still remains one of the most iconic in football history. The Dutch star made over 400 club appearances and scored 75 goals in his professional club career. Franklin Rijkaard played as a defensive midfielder his entire career for clubs like Ajax and AC Milan. He played 73 matches and scored 10 goals for the Netherlands senior team. The defensive midfielder Rijkaard was known for his man-to-man marking, defensive capabilities, and keen eyes to move the ball.

Rijkaard was a tough defensive midfielder and his work rate in the midfield, breaking up plays and crafting attacking plays with swift passes, made him one of the most famous Dutch football players. The former AC Milan midfielder played for several big clubs in Europe and helped them win trophies. His attacking style as a defensive midfielder makes him one of the best Dutch players in history.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
73	10	1

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6. Ronald Koeman

The current generation recognizes Ronald Koeman as a great manager and one of the best Barcelona players of all time, but he is also one of the big stars of Dutch football history. The former FC Barcelona manager scored over 250 goals to his name in his professional career. His most notable stint was with Barcelona in Spain, where he played 192 games and scored 67 goals. For the Dutch national team, he scored 14 goals in 78 matches.

Ronald Koeman was a defender known for his knack of goal-scoring ability, especially from set pieces. The Dutchman’s attacking style as a defender makes him one of the greatest Dutch footballers of all time. After retiring, he came back to manage Barcelona in 2020. Koeman cemented his place in the star-studded list of the top 10 best Dutch players in history.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
78	14	1

5. Denis Bergkamp

Dennis Bergkamp’s name is familiar to Ajax and Arsenal fans for his stint with the club. The charismatic Dutchman has played 552 club appearances in his professional career. Bergkamp scored 201 goals in his club career. He was considered one of the very few players who needed a few touches to score a goal. The Arsenal legend earned 79 International caps for the Dutch national side and scored 37 goals in total.

Dennis Bergkamp was a creative forward with amazing control over the ball. The Dutchman scored numerous goals, but his famous turn-and-shot goal for Arsenal is vividly remembered. Bergkamp’s skill on the ball and vision to pick teammates make him one of the greatest Dutch footballers of all time. The former Dutch international is one the best Arsenal players of all time and was a part of their invincible squad alongside other legendary names like Thiery Henry and Patrick Viera.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
79	37	0

4. Johan Neeskens

Johannes Jacobus Neeskens is considered one of the greatest Dutch midfielders of all time, and his stats speak for himself. For his country, he earned 49 caps and netted 17 goals. His work ethic on the field was highly regarded as he used to work tirelessly and was a box-to-box midfielder. The former Barcelona legend finished his club career with more than 500 appearances and 100+ goals, which is a big achievement for a midfielder.

Neeskens spent most of his career at Ajax and FC Barcelona and is one of the few players to make more than 100 appearances for both clubs. Johan Neeskens was known for his stamina and work rate in the midfield. The Dutchman’s energy and toughness made him one of the best Dutch players of the 1970s.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
49	17	1

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3. Ruud Gullit

Ruud Gullit is one of the rare football geniuses who excelled at any given position, he played as a defender, midfielder, and sometimes as a forward. With over 470 club appearances and scoring 174 goals, Gullit played for several elite clubs like PSV, AC Milan, and Chelsea, making him one of the greatest Dutch football players. Gullit earned 66 caps for the Dutch national team and netted 17 goals.

Rudd Gullit is one the greatest Dutch footballers of all time, following a stellar career with club and country. He was strong, skillful, and a great leader. He captained the Netherlands team, which won the UEFA Euros in 1988, and was also featured in the squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
66	17	1

2. Marco van Basten

Marco van Basten is known as one of the most prolific goalscorers in the history of football and had a goals-per-game ratio of 0.99 which is truly impressive by any standards. Basten had spent the majority of his brief professional club career with Ajax and AC Milan, where he scored 218 goals in 280 matches. Although his club career was cut short due to repeated ankle injuries, his achievements are still unmatched. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner has earned shouts for being one of the best Dutch soccer players of all time.

Marco van Basten was a striker who scored incredible goals, like his volley in the 1988 Euros final. Injuries cut his career short, but he still won three Ballon d’Or awards. For the Netherlands, he scored 24 goals in 58 games. He’s the greatest Dutch footballer for his finishing and elegance.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
58	24	1

1. Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff is regarded as the father of ‘Modern Football’. He was known for his genius control over the ball, dribbling, and speed. The Dutchman not only changed history as a player but also left a mark as a manager. The former Barca forward enjoyed a remarkable club career playing for elite clubs and won more than 22 club trophies as well as three Ballon d’Ors. As a manager, he won 14 trophies and cemented his place as one of the greatest managers of all time.

For the Netherlands, he played 48 times, where he netted 33 goals for his country. Johan Cruyff changed football forever. He invented the “Cruyff Turn” dribble and led Total Football with Ajax and Barcelona. For his nation, Cruyff scored 33 goals in 48 games.

Appearances	Goals	Trophies Won
48	33	1

List Of Best Dutch Players Of All Time

Rank	Players	International Caps	Position
1	Johan Cruyff	48	Forward
2	Marco van Basten	58	Striker
3	Ruud Gullit	66	Midfielder
4	Johan Neeskens	49	Midfielder
5	Dennis Bergkamp	79	Forward
6	Ronald Koeman	78	Defender
7	Frank Rijkaard	73	Midifelder
8	Clarence Seedorf	87	Midfielder
9	Arjen Robben	96	Winger
10	Edwin van der Sar	130	Keeper

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