| Throughout time, the Holland national soccer team | | | | defensive role to a supporting playmaker or an |
| gave out some truly outstanding players, most of | | | | attacking midfielder. Together with Marco Van Basten |
| them surpassing the status of Holland soccer stars | | | | and Frank Rijkaard, he succeeded in bringing Holland |
| and becoming famous on an international level. Here is | | | | their first international cup ever, winning the 1988 |
| an overview of Holland's all-time soccer stars that | | | | European Championship. |
| includes players such as Dennis Bergkamp, Johan | | | | Holland Soccer Stars - Frank Rijkaard |
| Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard or Marco Van | | | | Together with Gullit and van Basten, Rijkaard formed |
| Basten, players that have changed the way the | | | | an internationally renowned midfield triangle for both |
| game is played and marked their name in the | | | | his club, AC Milan and his national side. Based on this |
| international hall of fame. But enough blabber, let's get | | | | triangle, AC Milan had a tremendously successful |
| down to business: | | | | period, winning the European Cup (today's Champions |
| Holland Soccer Stars - Johan Cruyff | | | | League) twice and the Serie A championship on two |
| Cruyff is considered THE most important Dutch | | | | editions. The same success soon came on at national |
| soccer player of all times and he gained legendary | | | | level as well, as Holland won the 1988 European |
| status wherever he played, be it for Ajax | | | | Championship with a team based on the three |
| Amsterdam, FC Barcelona or even Feyenoord. Cruyff | | | | magnificent players. Although Frank Rijkaard didn't |
| is also considered third in a list of the best all times | | | | stand out as much as Ruud Gullit or van Basten, since |
| soccer players, following Pele and Maradona closely | | | | he had a more defensive role in the squad, but |
| (some even say he was over Maradona, as | | | | playing alongside his two "side-kicks" he would form |
| Maradona had feats of brilliance combined with poor | | | | an unstoppable midfield for any team. |
| games, whereas Cruyff kept a high standard for | | | | Holland Soccer Stars - Marco Van Basten |
| himself all throughout his career). He redefined | | | | Although no one can reach Johan Cruyff's throne as |
| modern soccer as we know it with his game style | | | | the most important Holland soccer star of all time, |
| and vision on the pitch and many football specialists | | | | van Basten came close enough and definitely closer |
| agree that Johan Cruyff was one of the smartest | | | | than anyone else could. His tremendous career at |
| and most calculated players ever to feel the grass of | | | | Ajax and AC Milan as well as his goals for the Holland |
| a soccer stadium. | | | | national soccer team made a lot of people see |
| Holland Soccer Stars - Ruud Gullit | | | | Cruyff's successor in van Basten. Unfortunately, after |
| Gullit was one of the most important Holland soccer | | | | several successful seasons with AC Milan and winning |
| stars during the 80s and 90s and he was amongst | | | | the European Championship with his home country in |
| the first to define the "complete midfielder". That | | | | 1988, van Basten suffered a career-ending injury at |
| meant that he could play almost any position in | | | | one of his ankles, when he was just age 30. |
| midfield his coach would place him in, from a | | | | |