Product Code Database
Michael John Reiziger (; born 3 May 1973) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played mainly as a right back. Reiziger currently manages the Netherlands U21 team.
After making a name for himself at AFC Ajax, with whom he won one Champions League, he went on to represent four teams in as many countries, notably FC Barcelona, for which he played 249 official games in seven years, as well as spells at A.C. Milan, Middlesbrough and PSV Eindhoven.
Reiziger represented the Netherlands national team for a full decade, competing at three European Championships and the 1998 World Cup and finishing fourth in the latter tournament.
Upon his return to Ajax, Reiziger established himself as a renowned defensive element, helping the side to, among other conquests, the 1994–95 edition of the UEFA Champions League. In 1996, he signed for A.C. Milan, but after a season marred by injury, he departed for FC Barcelona where he spent the following seven years, arriving at the same time as compatriot and former Ajax boss Louis van Gaal; though not an undisputed starter, he nonetheless featured heavily for the Catalonia, making more than 200 overall appearances and helping to back-to-back La Liga titles.
In 2004, Reiziger moved to Middlesbrough on a Bosman ruling. He scored once in the league for Boro, against Aston Villa in December 2004. After another campaign plagued by physical problems, he left and returned to the Netherlands to see out his career at PSV Eindhoven (in his second year he won the Eredivisie, and was also reunited with Ajax, Barça and national teammate Patrick Kluivert, although the two rarely ever played).
Shortly after signing for PSV, Reiziger said he would consider playing for the Netherlands again if the opportunity arose, but he was never recalled again, totalling 72 appearances in ten years.
On 20 June 2017, Reiziger returned to Ajax as manager of Jong Ajax who competed in the Eerste Divisie, replacing Marcel Keizer. In his first season in charge he led the squad to the league title, but they were ineligible for promotion. He also acted as interim for the first team during one match after the dismissal of Keizer, defeating Willem II 3–1 at home. He was the assistant coach of Ajax’ first team, from 2019 until 2023.Since 2023 he is the manager of Netherlands under 21 team.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||
| AFC Ajax | 1990–91 | Eredivisie | 0 |
| 1991–92 | Eredivisie | 0 | |
| 1992–93 | Eredivisie | 0 | |
| 1994–95 | Eredivisie | 0 | |
| 1995–96 | Eredivisie | 1 | |
| FC Volendam (loan) | 1992–93 | Eredivisie | 3 |
| FC Groningen (loan) | 1993–94 | Eredivisie | 6 |
| A.C. Milan | 1996–97 | Serie A | 0 |
| FC Barcelona | 1997–98 | La Liga | 0 |
| 1998–99 | La Liga | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 | La Liga | 0 | |
| 2000–01 | La Liga | 0 | |
| 2001–02 | La Liga | 0 | |
| 2002–03 | La Liga | 0 | |
| 2003–04 | La Liga | 0 | |
| Middlesbrough | 2004–05 | Premier League | 1 |
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 0 | |
| PSV Eindhoven | 2005–06 | Eredivisie | 0 |
| 2006–07 | Eredivisie | 1 | |
| + Appearances and goals by national team and year | |
| Netherlands | 0 |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 1 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| + International goal scored by Michael Reiziger |
| Friendly |
Barcelona
PSV
|
|
