Danny Blind
Encyclopedia
Dirk Franciscus "Danny" Blind (born 1 August 1961) is a football coach
and former Dutch international player. He played as a defender
for Sparta Rotterdam
, AFC Ajax and the Dutch national team
.
Blind was born in Oost-Souburg
, Netherlands
. He is the only Dutch player to have won all international club competitions recognised by UEFA
and FIFA
.
His son, Daley
, has followed in his footsteps and also plays as a defender for Ajax,.
.
He would stay under contract with Sparta for seven seasons. In July 1986 he transferred to Ajax
, attracted there by the then manager Johan Cruijff. However, Blind's signing was much to the chagrin of then Ajax superstar Marco van Basten, who was upset that his manager had brought in a relatively unknown, defensive player from a fairly small cub like Sparta, instead of splashing out on a big-money, big-name transfer. With Ajax he amassed an amazing trophy list.
Winning all three European trophies (UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
in 1987
, the UEFA Cup
in 1992
and the UEFA Champions League
in 1995
). He secured the Intercontinental Cup
, in 1995 against Brazil's
Grêmio
, by scoring the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out.
He would again be a penalty hero when he converted twice against Real Zaragoza
in the European Super Cup Final of 1995
, which Ajax won 4 – 1 over the two legs.
The two penalties that Blind converted where in the 65th and 69th minutes of the second leg effectively putting the title out of reach for Real Zaragoza.
Domestically, with Ajax, he won five Dutch Eredivisie Championships
and four national cups
. He retired on 16 May 1999.
Blind was known for being a solid, dependable defender and a leader on the field. However, he was also a technically-gifted and cultured player who could pass and strike the ball well for a non-attacking player. Whilst famous for being a centre back, Blind started his career as a left full-back.
at Ajax from 14 March 2005 (appointed as successor to Ronald Koeman
) until 10 May 2006, after only 422 days in charge. He led Ajax to victory in the Gatorade Cup
and the Johan Cruyff Shield.
In 2007–08, he became football director at his old club, Sparta. On May 15, 2008 he returned to Ajax, to become the new football director in Amsterdam but switched roles when Martin Jol
joined the club to assistant-trainer.
, who is currently contracted to the same club that Danny made his name at, AFC Ajax. Unlike his father, Daley rose through Ajax's youth ranks and, other than loan signings, has so far only played for the Amsterdam club.
In December 2006 Blind crashed his car into a parked vehicle, injuring a 48-year old woman. A two-year-old child in her car remained uninjured. Blind had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.
|1979–80
||rowspan="7"|Sparta Rotterdam
||rowspan="20"|Eredivisie
||13||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1980–81
||10||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1981–82
||10||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1982–83
||34||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|1983–84
||34||5||||||||||||||||
|-
|1984–85
||30||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|1985–86
||34||5||||||||||||||||
|-
|1986–87
||rowspan="13"|Ajax||29||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|1987–88
||31||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1988–89
||30||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1989–90
||34||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1990–91
||34||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1991–92
||30||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1992–93
||28||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|1993–94
||30||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1994–95
||34||5||||||||||||||||
|-
|1995–96
||31||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|1996–97
||16||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1997–98
||26||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1998–99
||19||3||||||||||||||||
537||45||||||||||||||||
537||45||||||||||||||||
As manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and former Dutch international player. He played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
, AFC Ajax and the Dutch national team
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
.
Blind was born in Oost-Souburg
Oost-Souburg
Oost-Souburg is a town in the municipality of Flushing, Netherlands .Oost-Souburg was a separate municipality until 1836, when it merged with West-Souburg to create the new municipality of Oost- en West-Souburg.---...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He is the only Dutch player to have won all international club competitions recognised by UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
and FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.
His son, Daley
Daley Blind
Daley Blind is a Dutch professional football defender currently playing for Eredivisie side AFC Ajax.-Career:...
, has followed in his footsteps and also plays as a defender for Ajax,.
Playing career
Blind made his professional football debut on 29 August 1979 with SpartaSparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
.
He would stay under contract with Sparta for seven seasons. In July 1986 he transferred to Ajax
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
, attracted there by the then manager Johan Cruijff. However, Blind's signing was much to the chagrin of then Ajax superstar Marco van Basten, who was upset that his manager had brought in a relatively unknown, defensive player from a fairly small cub like Sparta, instead of splashing out on a big-money, big-name transfer. With Ajax he amassed an amazing trophy list.
Winning all three European trophies (UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
in 1987
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1986-87
The season 1986-87 of the European Cup Winners' Cup was won by Ajax Amsterdam in the final against 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig. It was their only title in the competition, and was added to a hat-trick of European Cup wins from 1971 to 1973...
, the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
in 1992
UEFA Cup 1991-92
The UEFA Cup 1991–92 was won by Ajax on away goals over Torino.Although this was the second season since the ban on English clubs in European competitions was lifted, only one English club was entered into the 1991–92 UEFA Cup...
and the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 1995
UEFA Champions League 1994-95
The 1994–95 UEFA Champions League was the 40th edition of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, and the third since its rebranding as the UEFA Champions League. The tournament was won by Ajax of the Netherlands with a late goal in the final against defending champions Milan of Italy...
). He secured the Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
, in 1995 against Brazil's
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Grêmio
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
, by scoring the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out.
He would again be a penalty hero when he converted twice against Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
in the European Super Cup Final of 1995
1995 UEFA Super Cup
The 1995 UEFA Super Cup was contested between the UEFA Champions League holders AFC Ajax and the Cup Winners' Cup holders Real Zaragoza. The cup was played later than usual, the two legs taking place in February 1996. The first leg was draw 1–1 at the La Romareda stadium in Zaragoza. The...
, which Ajax won 4 – 1 over the two legs.
The two penalties that Blind converted where in the 65th and 69th minutes of the second leg effectively putting the title out of reach for Real Zaragoza.
Domestically, with Ajax, he won five Dutch Eredivisie Championships
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
and four national cups
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
. He retired on 16 May 1999.
Blind was known for being a solid, dependable defender and a leader on the field. However, he was also a technically-gifted and cultured player who could pass and strike the ball well for a non-attacking player. Whilst famous for being a centre back, Blind started his career as a left full-back.
Management career
Blind was head coachCoach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at Ajax from 14 March 2005 (appointed as successor to Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a former Dutch footballer, and the current manager of Feyenoord. He is the younger brother of former Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman...
) until 10 May 2006, after only 422 days in charge. He led Ajax to victory in the Gatorade Cup
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
and the Johan Cruyff Shield.
In 2007–08, he became football director at his old club, Sparta. On May 15, 2008 he returned to Ajax, to become the new football director in Amsterdam but switched roles when Martin Jol
Martin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
joined the club to assistant-trainer.
Personal life
Blind is the father of professional footballer Daley BlindDaley Blind
Daley Blind is a Dutch professional football defender currently playing for Eredivisie side AFC Ajax.-Career:...
, who is currently contracted to the same club that Danny made his name at, AFC Ajax. Unlike his father, Daley rose through Ajax's youth ranks and, other than loan signings, has so far only played for the Amsterdam club.
In December 2006 Blind crashed his car into a parked vehicle, injuring a 48-year old woman. A two-year-old child in her car remained uninjured. Blind had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.
Career statistics
|-|1979–80
Eredivisie 1979-80
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1979/1980 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 Clubs participating in the Intertoto Cup 1980.-References:* *...
||rowspan="7"|Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
||rowspan="20"|Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
||13||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1980–81
Eredivisie 1980-81
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1980/1981 season was contested by 18 teams. AZ '67 won the championship.-League standings:1 AZ also won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the European Cup, so finalists Ajax could play in the Cup Winners' Cup. 2 Willem II participated in...
||10||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1981–82
Eredivisie 1981-82
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1981/1982 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship. From this season onwards, three clubs relegated instead of two.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup.-References:* *...
||10||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1982–83
Eredivisie 1982-83
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1982/1983 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax also won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the European Cup, so finalists NEC could play in the Cup Winners' Cup...
||34||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|1983–84
Eredivisie 1983-84
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1983/1984 season was contested by 18 teams. Feyenoord won the championship.-League standings:1 Feyenoord also won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the European Cup, so finalists Fortuna Sittard could play in the Cup Winners' Cup. 2 Clubs...
||34||5||||||||||||||||
|-
|1984–85
Eredivisie 1984-85
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1984/1985 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 FC Twente would play in the Intertoto Cup 1985.-References:* *...
||30||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|1985–86
Eredivisie 1985-86
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1985/1986 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 NEC would participate in the Intertoto Cup 1986.-References:* *...
||34||5||||||||||||||||
|-
|1986–87
Eredivisie 1986-87
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1986/1987 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV Eindhoven won the championship. At the beginning of the season, AZ '67 from Alkmaar changed their name to AZ.-League standings:...
||rowspan="13"|Ajax||29||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|1987–88
Eredivisie 1987-88
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1987/1988 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV Eindhoven won the championship.-League standings:1 PSV alson won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the European Cup, so finalists Roda JC could play in the Cup Winners' Cup...
||31||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1988–89
Eredivisie 1988-89
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1988/1989 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the championship.-League standings:1 PSV alson won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the European Cup, so finalists FC Groningen could play in the Cup Winners' Cup. 2 Clubs participating...
||30||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1989–90
Eredivisie 1989-90
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1989/1990 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax didn't qualify for the European Cup. On September 27 1989, Austrian goalkeeper Franz Wohlfahrt was hit and injured by a bar, thrown by a home supporter at an Ajax-Austria Wien...
||34||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1990–91
Eredivisie 1990-91
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1990/1991 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 SVV would remain in the eredivisie after winning the promotion/relegation play-offs...
||34||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1991–92
Eredivisie 1991-92
The 1991-92 season of the Dutch Eredivisie was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the title.-League standings:-Promotion/relegation:The number 16 of the Eredivisie would play against relegation against the runners-up of the promotion/relegation play-offs of the Eerste Divisie...
||30||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1992–93
Eredivisie 1992-93
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1992/1993 season was contested by 18 teams. Feyenoord won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 Fortuna Sittard and FC Den Bosch both relegated after losing their promotion/relegation play-offs....
||28||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|1993–94
Eredivisie 1993-94
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1993/1994 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 RKC remained in the Eredivisie after winning promotion/relegation play-offs. VVV lost theirs and relegated...
||30||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1994–95
Eredivisie 1994-95
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1994/1995 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship. Starting this season, clubs qualifying for the Intertoto Cup can play for a spot in the UEFA Cup.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup....
||34||5||||||||||||||||
|-
|1995–96
Eredivisie 1995-96
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1995/1996 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship. From this season onwards a match win was rewarded with 3 points instead of 2.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup...
||31||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|1996–97
Eredivisie 1996-97
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1996/1997 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 RKC and NEC both remained in the eredivisie after winning promotion/relegation play-offs.-Relegation play-offs:...
||16||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1997–98
Eredivisie 1997-98
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1997/1998 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax also won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the Champions League, just like finalists PSV. sc Heerenveen, the winner of the third place match,...
||26||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1998–99
Eredivisie 1998-99
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1998/1999 season was contested by 18 teams. Feyenoord won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup...
||19||3||||||||||||||||
537||45||||||||||||||||
537||45||||||||||||||||
AFC Ajax
As player- EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
: 1989–90Eredivisie 1989-90The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1989/1990 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax didn't qualify for the European Cup. On September 27 1989, Austrian goalkeeper Franz Wohlfahrt was hit and injured by a bar, thrown by a home supporter at an Ajax-Austria Wien...
, 1993–94Eredivisie 1993-94The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1993/1994 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 RKC remained in the Eredivisie after winning promotion/relegation play-offs. VVV lost theirs and relegated...
, 1994–95Eredivisie 1994-95The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1994/1995 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship. Starting this season, clubs qualifying for the Intertoto Cup can play for a spot in the UEFA Cup.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup....
, 1995–96Eredivisie 1995-96The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1995/1996 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship. From this season onwards a match win was rewarded with 3 points instead of 2.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup...
, 1997–98Eredivisie 1997-98The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1997/1998 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax also won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the Champions League, just like finalists PSV. sc Heerenveen, the winner of the third place match,... - KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
: 1987, 1993, 1998, 1999 - UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 19951995 UEFA Champions League FinalThe 1995 UEFA Champions League Final was the 40th edition and took place in Vienna between AFC Ajax and A.C. Milan. It was Milan's third European Cup final in three years and they were aiming to tie Real Madrid's record of having won the European Cup six times... - UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1987 - UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
: 19921992 UEFA Cup FinalThe 1992 UEFA Cup Final was played on April 29, 1992 and May 13, 1992 between Ajax of the Netherlands and Torino of Italy. Ajax won on away goals after the two legs were both drawn 2–2 and 0–0.-First leg:-Second leg:-References:*... - UEFA Super Cup: 19951995 UEFA Super CupThe 1995 UEFA Super Cup was contested between the UEFA Champions League holders AFC Ajax and the Cup Winners' Cup holders Real Zaragoza. The cup was played later than usual, the two legs taking place in February 1996. The first leg was draw 1–1 at the La Romareda stadium in Zaragoza. The...
- Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 19951995 Intercontinental CupThe 1995 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on November 28, 1995 between Ajax, winners of the 1994-95 European Cup, and Grêmio, winners of the 1995 Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the National Stadium in Tokyo...
As manager
- KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
: 2006KNVB Cup 2005-06The KNVB Cup 2005–06 started on August 2, 2005. The tournament was held for the 88th time. The final was held on May 7, 2006: Ajax beat PSV 2–1 and won the trophy for the sixteenth time.-Teams:* All 18 participants of the Eredivisie 2005-06... - Johan Cruijff Schaal: 2005Johan Cruijff-schaal XThe match for the Johan Cruijff-schaal X was held on 5 August 2005 between Eredivisie 2004-05 champions and KNVB Cup 2004-05 winners PSV and Eredivisie runners-up Ajax. Ajax won the match 2–1.-Match details:...
See also
- List of players to have won all international club competitions
- List of players to have won the three main European club competitions