Michael John Reiziger (; born 3 May 1973) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played mainly as a right back. He currently manages the Netherlands U21 team.
After making a name for himself at Ajax, with whom he won one Champions League, Reiziger went on to represent four teams in as many countries, notably 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.
Playing career Club Born in Amstelveen, North Holland, to Surinamese parents, Reiziger started his career with hometown club Ajax, making his first-team debut at the age of 17 then serving two consecutive loan spells, with Volendam and Groningen; with the latter, in the 1993–94 season, he scored a career-best six goals while operating also as a midfielder.
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 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 Catalans, making more than 200 overall appearances and helping to back-to-back La Liga titles.
In 2004, Reiziger moved to Middlesbrough on a Bosman transfer. 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).
International
Reiziger made his debut for the Netherlands national team on 12 October 1994, against Norway. He played for his country at the UEFA Euro 1996, 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, retiring from international play after the latter.
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.
Coaching career After retiring, Reiziger settled in Barcelona. He later went on to coach Sparta Rotterdam at youth level and, subsequently and successively, acted as assistant to Gert Kruys and Alex Pastoor.
On 20 June 2017, Reiziger returned to Ajax as manager of the reserves 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.
Personal life Reiziger's son, Gabriël (born 2005), also came through the Ajax youth system. He plays in 2026 for PEC Zwolle, with his contract expiring in June, 2028.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAjax1990–91Eredivisie10–––101991–92Eredivisie10–––101992–93Eredivisie10–––101994–95Eredivisie34030110104901995–96Eredivisie261009040391Total6313020050911Volendam (loan)1992–93Eredivisie10211––113Groningen (loan)1993–94Eredivisie3460––346A.C. Milan1996–97Serie A100403010180Barcelona1997–98La Liga2904060304201998–99La Liga2600050203301999–2000La Liga29040110204602000–01La Liga2507080–4002001–02La Liga1300080–2102002–03La Liga2101090–3102003–04La Liga3004060–400Total1730200530702530Middlesbrough2004–05Premier League1811060002512005–06Premier League4000000040Total221106000291PSV2005–06Eredivisie1300070–2002006–07Eredivisie111203000111Total2412010000361Career total3371131192013047312
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsNetherlands1994101995501996901997701998111199950200080200150200260200380200470Total721
Score and result list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after Reiziger's goal.
+ International goal scored by Michael ReizigerNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 18 November 1998 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany 1–0 1–1 Friendly
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenure TeamNationFromToRecord Jong Ajax1 July 201730 June 2019Ajax (interim)21 December 201731 December 2017 Netherlands U211 July 2023PresentTotal
Honours Player Ajax Eredivisie: 1994–95, 1995–96 KNVB Cup: 1992–93 Dutch Supercup: 1994, 1995 UEFA Champions League: 1994–95 UEFA Cup: 1991–92 UEFA Super Cup: 1995 Intercontinental Cup: 1995
Barcelona La Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99 Copa del Rey: 1997–98 UEFA Super Cup: 1997
PSV Eredivisie: 2005–06, 2006–07
Manager Jong Ajax Eerste Divisie: 2017–18
References
External links
Beijen profile