Richard Witschge

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Richard Witschge
Richard Witschge 2013.jpg
Witschge in 2013
Personal information
Full name Richard Peter Witschge
Date of birth (1969-09-20) 20 September 1969 (age 54)
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
SDW
Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1991 Ajax 87 (3)
1991–1993 Barcelona 40 (2)
1993–1996 Bordeaux 77 (9)
1995 → Blackburn (loan) 1 (0)
1996–2003 Ajax 139 (12)
2001–2002 → Alavés (loan) 26 (1)
2003 ADO' 20
2004 Oita Trinita 9 (0)
Total 379 (27)
International career
1990–2000 Netherlands 31 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Peter Witschge (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈriʃɑrt ˈʋɪtsxə]; born 20 September 1969) is a Dutch retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He was known for his technique and passing ability.

In an 18-year professional career he played mainly for Ajax, but also represented, amongst other teams, Barcelona. He amassed Eredivisie totals of 226 games and 15 goals, over the course of 11 seasons.

Witschge represented Holland in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Club career

Witschge was born in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland. A product of local AFC Ajax's prolific youth ranks, he first appeared in the Eredivisie on 26 October 1986, at only 17, and scored his first league goal fairly a year after. His older brother Rob was already playing there.

After being established in the first team, Witschge joined Johan Cruyff's FC Barcelona, being fairly played[1] as the Catalans won back-to-back La Liga championships. He made his debut in the competition on 14 September 1991, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 home win against Real Zaragoza.

Subsequently Witschge represented FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Blackburn Rovers (on loan from March 1995, he played once against West Ham United, as his team won the Premier League), Ajax (in his second spell with his main club, he added more than 150 official appearances, helping the club to two leagues and back-to-back domestic cups; additionally, he was loaned to Spanish top flight club Deportivo Alavés in the 2001–02 season), amateurs AD0' 20 Heemskerk and Oita Trinita from Japan, retiring in June 2004 at nearly 35 years of age.

In 2013 Witschge returned to Ajax, as a youth coach.[2]

International career

Witschge earned 31 caps for the Netherlands national football team, in which he scored one goal. He made his debut on 21 February 1990 in a 0–0 friendly draw against Italy, and was picked for the 1990 FIFA World Cup under manager Leo Beenhakker.

However, an injury playing for Barcelona ruled him out of UEFA Euro 1992 and he did not make another major tournament until Euro 1996, held in England. During this time, his place in the national team was taken by his older brother.

Personal life

Witschge's older brother, Rob, was also a footballer and a midfielder.[3]

Statistics

Club

[4]

Club performance League
Season Club League Apps Goals
Netherlands League
1986–87 Ajax Eredivisie 2 0
1987–88 10 1
1988–89 14 0
1989–90 28 2
1990–91 33 0
Spain League
1991–92 Barcelona La Liga 23 0
1992–93 17 2
France League
1993–94 Bordeaux Ligue 1 27 1
England League
1994–95 Blackburn Rovers Premier League 1 0
France League
1994–95 Bordeaux Ligue 1 17 1
1995–96 33 7
Netherlands League
1996–97 Ajax Eredivisie 21 3
1997–98 29 2
1998–99 32 2
1999–2000 20 2
2000–01 15 2
Spain League
2001–02 Alavés La Liga 26 1
Netherlands League
2002–03 Ajax Eredivisie 22 1
2003–04 Den Haag Eredivisie 0 0
Japan League
2004 Oita Trinita J. League 1 9 0
Country Netherlands 226 15
Spain 66 3
France 77 9
England 1 0
Japan 9 0
Total 379 27

International

[5]

Netherlands
Year Apps Goals
1990 11 0
1991 6 1
1992 2 0
1993 0 0
1994 0 0
1995 3 0
1996 7 0
1997 1 0
1998 0 0
1999 0 0
2000 1 0
Total 31 1

Honours

References

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External links

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