1. Early Life and Background
1.1. Birth and Family Background
Bojan Krkić Pérez was born on 28 August 1990 in Linyola, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. His father, Bojan Krkić Sr., is a Serbian former professional footballer who played for the Serbian club OFK Beograd and later became a scout for FC Barcelona and Manchester City. His mother, Maria Lluïsa Pérez, is Catalan. This dual heritage meant Bojan was eligible to represent both Spain and Serbia internationally.
1.2. Youth Career
Bojan joined Barcelona's renowned youth academy, La Masia, in 1999 at the age of eight. During his seven years in the academy (1999-2006), he established himself as an exceptionally prolific goalscorer, reportedly netting over 900 goals for various youth teams, a feat that surpassed Lionel Messi's previous record. He was recognized as a quick striker with notable dribbling skills, marking him as one of Barcelona's most promising young talents. In 2006, he was promoted to Barcelona B, the club's reserve team. Bojan made his first appearance for Barcelona's senior team in a friendly match on 24 April 2007, scoring a goal in a 4-0 victory against Egyptian club Al Ahly. Following the match, then-manager Frank Rijkaard praised Bojan's performance, particularly his goal.
2. Club Career
Bojan Krkić's professional career spanned several clubs across Europe, North America, and Asia, marked by early record-breaking achievements at Barcelona and later challenges in finding consistent form.
2.1. Barcelona
Bojan spent four seasons with FC Barcelona's senior team, making a significant impact early in his career by breaking several club records for youth and goalscoring.
2.1.1. Barcelona B
During the 2006-07 season, Bojan played for the Barcelona B team. He quickly became a regular starter as a center forward, contributing significantly to the offense alongside players like Giovani dos Santos. In this season, he made 22 appearances and scored 10 goals, solidifying his reputation as a rising star before signing a professional contract with the first team upon turning 17.
2.1.2. Senior Debut and Records
On 16 September 2007, at the age of 17 years and 19 days, Bojan made his official debut for Barcelona in a La Liga match against Osasuna, coming on as a substitute for Giovani dos Santos in the 78th minute. This appearance broke Lionel Messi's record as the youngest Barcelona player to feature in a La Liga match. Three days later, on 19 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut against Lyon, entering the game in the 88th minute for Messi. At 17 years and 22 days, he became the youngest Barcelona player ever to play in a Champions League game.
On 20 October 2007, at 17 years and 53 days, Bojan made his first league start for Barcelona in an away match against Villarreal. He scored in the 25th minute, marking his first goal for the club's first team and making him the youngest ever goalscorer for Barcelona in a league match. This historic goal was assisted by Lionel Messi, the player whose records Bojan was consistently breaking. At the time of his debut, Spanish labor law prevented professional contracts for players under 18, leading to interest from English clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea. However, Bojan publicly stated his desire to remain at Barcelona and signed a professional contract immediately after his 18th birthday.
2.1.3. 2007-08 Season
Bojan's breakthrough season continued with his first UEFA Champions League goal on 1 April 2008, at 17 years and 217 days, against Schalke 04 in the first (away) leg of the quarter-finals. He scored the only goal of the match, making him the first player born in the 1990s to score in the Champions League and the youngest player to score in the knockout phase of the competition. Manager Frank Rijkaard expressed his satisfaction with Bojan's performance, noting his continued humility and growth. Bojan concluded the season with 10 league goals, surpassing Raúl's record for most goals scored in a debut season. Overall, he scored 12 goals in 48 matches across all competitions.
2.1.4. 2008-09 Season
Following the departure of Gianluca Zambrotta, Bojan was assigned the number 11 shirt for the 2008-09 season. After a period without scoring, he ended a goal drought by netting a brace against Almería in a 2-0 victory. Despite featuring less frequently compared to his debut season, Bojan played a part in Barcelona securing their 19th La Liga title. He also contributed to Barcelona's first Copa del Rey victory in 11 years, scoring five goals in the competition, including one in the final against Athletic Bilbao. Bojan was an unused substitute in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final against Manchester United, which Barcelona won 2-0, completing a historic treble-winning campaign. His three goals in ten Champions League appearances placed him among the top goalscorers for the season.
2.1.5. 2009-10 Season
In the opening match of the 2009-10 La Liga campaign against Sporting Gijón, Bojan scored an 18th-minute header, assisted by Seydou Keita, contributing to Barcelona's 3-0 victory. On 10 November, he scored twice in the second leg of the Copa del Rey against Cultural Leonesa, helping his team to a 5-0 win. He also scored his first and only Champions League goal of the season against VfB Stuttgart, coming off the bench as a late substitute for Andrés Iniesta. Bojan's goal-scoring form improved towards the end of the season, with seven of his eight league goals coming from the final 12 games. He finished the season with 12 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions.
2.1.6. 2010-11 Season
For the 2010-11 season, Bojan took over the number 9 shirt after Zlatan Ibrahimović moved on loan to A.C. Milan. This season saw Bojan facing increased competition for playing time, finding himself behind Lionel Messi, Pedro, and newly-signed David Villa in the team's attacking hierarchy. In a Copa del Rey match against Ceuta, Bojan captained Barcelona for the first time in an official match. He scored two goals after coming off the bench in an 8-0 victory against Almería and later came on against Real Madrid in El Clásico to set up the fifth goal for Jeffrén in the famous 5-0 win. In a La Liga match against Real Sociedad, Bojan again scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win after coming off the bench. He scored a crucial league goal from a Dani Alves assist for Barcelona against Sevilla in a 1-1 draw, and marked his 100th league appearance for the Catalan club with a goal against Getafe. In December 2010, his contract with Barcelona was extended until 2015, with his buyout clause increased to 100.00 M EUR. He finished his final season at Barcelona with 7 goals in 37 appearances.
2.2. AS Roma
On 22 July 2011, Bojan was transferred to Italian club Roma for a fee of 12.00 M EUR. The transfer agreement included a buyback clause, giving Barcelona the option to re-sign Bojan for 13.00 M EUR in 2012 or obligatorily in 2013. However, Roma had the option to pay an additional 28.00 M EUR (making the total transfer fee 40.00 M EUR) to retain the player and nullify the buyback clause.
Bojan made his unofficial debut for Roma on 3 August 2011 in a friendly match against Vasas in Budapest. He scored his first goal for Roma on 1 October 2011 against Atalanta, assisted by Daniele De Rossi. In his first season with the club, he made 33 league appearances and scored seven goals in total.
2.3. AC Milan (loan)
On 29 August 2012, Bojan joined AC Milan on a season-long loan from Roma. Barcelona confirmed that this loan move would not affect their prior buyback agreement with Roma. However, Milan's CEO Adriano Galliani stated that a new agreement was reached, giving Milan an option to sign the player permanently at the end of the season, while Barcelona would still retain their original buyback option.
Bojan made his debut for Milan on 1 September, coming off the bench during the second half of a 3-1 away win over Bologna. He scored his first goal for Milan against Chievo on 3 November 2012, netting the third goal in a 5-1 victory at the San Siro. He concluded his loan spell with Milan having made 19 league appearances and scored three goals.
2.4. Return to Barcelona
Following the 2012-13 season in Italy, Bojan returned to his former club Barcelona for 13.00 M EUR in July 2013. He expressed a desire for more consistent playing time, or an opportunity to play for a club where he would feature more regularly. Milan had opted not to extend his loan, as they could not guarantee him the minutes he sought, and Roma did not exercise their option to definitively sign him for the additional 28.00 M EUR. As a result, Bojan was free to seek an alternative club, and discussions began with Dutch clubs Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV Eindhoven.
2.5. Ajax (loan)
On 6 July 2013, it was announced that Ajax had signed Bojan on a one-year loan deal from Barcelona, with an option for a second year. Bojan revealed that conversations with Johan Cruyff had influenced his decision to move to Ajax, along with the opportunity to play in the Champions League. He made his debut for Ajax on 13 July 2013 in a pre-season friendly against Waalwijk, assisting Boban Lazić's goal in a 5-1 victory. His first goal for Ajax came in another pre-season friendly on 19 July 2013 against Werder Bremen, scoring the second goal in a 3-2 away win.
On 27 July 2013, Bojan won his first trophy with Ajax, the Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup), in a 3-2 extra-time victory over AZ Alkmaar. He started the match on the right wing and played for 61 minutes. After sustaining a hamstring injury on 29 September 2013, Bojan scored his first regular season goal on 1 December 2013 in a 4-0 victory against Den Haag. On 8 May 2014, Ajax announced that they would not exercise the option to extend Bojan's contract, leading to his return to Barcelona. During his loan spell, Bojan scored four goals in 24 regular season matches (5 goals in 32 matches overall) and helped Ajax secure their 33rd Eredivisie title, their fourth consecutive.
2.6. Stoke City
Bojan Krkić spent a significant period of his career playing for Stoke City in England, experiencing both the Premier League and the EFL Championship.
2.6.1. 2014-2017
On 22 July 2014, Bojan signed a four-year contract with Premier League side Stoke City for a fee of 1.80 M EUR. Manager Mark Hughes expressed excitement about Bojan joining the club, highlighting his reputation in European football. Bojan scored his first goal for Stoke in a 1-2 friendly defeat against Schalke 04 on 29 July 2014, and also found the net in friendlies against Blackburn Rovers and Real Betis. He made his league debut at home on 16 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, with BBC Sport noting his impressive performance. Despite some initial ineffective performances, Hughes stated he would give Bojan time to adapt to English football.
He returned to the starting line-up on 1 November 2014 in a 2-2 draw against West Ham United. Eight days later, he scored his first competitive goal for Stoke to open a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur with a skillful dribble and shot from outside the penalty area. On 6 December 2014, Bojan scored in a 3-2 victory over Arsenal. On 26 December, he won and converted a penalty against Everton at Goodison Park, securing a 1-0 win. Bojan scored again in a 1-0 victory against Leicester City on 17 January 2015. Nine days later, he scored his fifth goal of the season in a 4-1 FA Cup fourth-round victory against Rochdale, but unfortunately suffered a knee injury during the match, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2014-15 season.
Bojan returned from injury in July 2015, featuring in a pre-season friendly against Brentford. He made his first league start in over eight months on 19 September 2015, scoring in a 2-2 draw against Leicester City. A month later, he won and converted a penalty against Swansea City, securing a 1-0 away win. In February 2016, Bojan signed a new contract with Stoke, committing him to the club until the summer of 2020. However, towards the end of the 2015-16 campaign, he saw less playing time, often starting from the bench. He played 31 times for Stoke in that season, scoring seven goals as the Potters finished ninth. In the 2016-17 season, Bojan continued to struggle for playing time under manager Mark Hughes, starting only five league matches in six months. In January 2017, he openly admitted he would be willing to leave Stoke in pursuit of regular football.
2.6.2. 2017-2018: Loans to Mainz and Alavés
On 29 January 2017, Bojan joined Bundesliga side Mainz 05 on loan for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. Mainz was in a relegation battle, a situation Bojan admitted surprised him. He scored his first goal for Mainz in a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich, making him only the seventh player to score in the four major European leagues (La Liga, Serie A, Premier League, Bundesliga). Bojan played a crucial role in helping Mainz secure their Bundesliga status with a 4-2 win against Eintracht Frankfurt on 13 May 2017.
On 31 August 2017, Bojan moved to La Liga side Alavés on a season-long loan deal. He made 15 appearances for Alavés in the 2017-18 season as the team finished in 14th position.
2.6.3. 2018-2019
Bojan remained with Stoke City for the 2018-19 season, which saw the club in the second tier of English football. Despite being a fan favorite, he struggled to impress manager Gary Rowett. The situation escalated in late December when Bojan was omitted from the squad against Bolton Wanderers, leading to supporters chanting for his inclusion, which reportedly angered Rowett. Although Rowett was soon sacked and replaced by Nathan Jones, Bojan continued to struggle for a regular starting spot. He made 23 appearances in the 2018-19 season as Stoke finished 16th. It was reported that he was advised to seek another club, and he ultimately left Stoke by mutual consent on 6 August 2019.
2.7. Montreal Impact
On 7 August 2019, Bojan joined Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact on a deal that extended through the end of the 2020 season. He made his debut four days later, on 11 August, in a 2-3 loss against Chicago Fire, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute. On 25 August, he scored his first goal for the club with a 25-yard strike to open a 1-2 loss away to Toronto FC in the Canadian Classique; this marked his first goal in 11 months. Bojan contributed to the Montreal Impact's victory in the 2019 Canadian Championship, scoring a penalty in the shootout against Toronto FC in the final. In December 2020, the Montreal Impact declined to activate the option to keep him for the next year, and he was subsequently left out of their CONCACAF Champions League squad.
2.8. Vissel Kobe
In August 2021, Bojan joined J1 League club Vissel Kobe in Japan. He made his debut on 5 September, coming on in the 75th minute for former Barcelona teammate Andrés Iniesta in a 1-1 draw at Sanfrecce Hiroshima. On 2 October, again coming on for Iniesta, he scored his first goal for Vissel Kobe to conclude a 5-1 home victory over Urawa Red Diamonds. However, his first season was cut short due to injury; on 24 October, he sustained a left knee medial meniscus tear during a match against Nagoya Grampus, leading to a long-term absence.
In 2022, Bojan was often deployed in a midfield role. On 14 May, he assisted Yuya Osako's first goal of the season in a match against Sagan Tosu. On 13 July, he suffered another injury during an Emperor's Cup match against Kashiwa Reysol, leading to a second consecutive long-term absence. On 27 December 2022, it was announced that Bojan's contract with Vissel Kobe had expired, and he left the club.
2.9. Retirement
Bojan officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32. The announcement was made at the Camp Nou in Barcelona on 23 March 2023, the stadium where he began his illustrious career.
3. International Career
Bojan Krkić represented Spain at various youth levels with significant success before earning a single cap for the senior national team.
3.1. Spain
3.1.1. Youth Teams
Bojan first gained prominence as a 15-year-old at the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Luxembourg in May 2006. Despite being a year younger than most participants and playing only 40 minutes in four of Spain's five matches, he was a joint top-scorer. He scored a hat-trick against Luxembourg and inspired a 3-0 victory over eventual champions Russia, with all goals coming after he entered as a second-half substitute. In the third match, he scored a penalty after another half-time introduction. He started the semi-final against the Czech Republic, but Spain lost 0-2 after a teammate was sent off. In the third-place play-off against Portugal, Bojan was a second-half substitute, scoring the opener in the 53rd minute and converting a penalty in the shootout that Spain won 5-4.
In the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, Bojan led Spain to victory, scoring the only goal against England in the final. He also scored in the semi-final against Belgium.
Controversy arose regarding Bojan's call-up to the Spain U17 squad for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea. Barcelona wanted him to participate in their Asian tour, but the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) denied the request. Further dispute occurred when the RFEF denied Barcelona's medic, Ricard Pruna, the opportunity to accompany Bojan to the tournament to monitor a tendon problem in his knee. During the tournament, Bojan scored five goals, finishing as joint third top scorer alongside Toni Kroos. He was instrumental in leading Spain to the final. However, in the semi-final against Ghana, Bojan was sent off for his second yellow card in the closing seconds, leading to his suspension from the final, which Spain lost to Nigeria on penalties. For his performances, Bojan was awarded the Adidas Bronze Ball, recognizing him as the third best player in the tournament.
Bojan quickly established himself as an important player for the Spanish under-21s, scoring in their 2-0 win over Poland on 12 October 2007. He was selected for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, where the Spanish team underperformed. He was also called up to the Spain U-21 squad for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
3.1.2. Senior Team
In 2008, Bojan was approached to play for the Serbian national team but declined, stating his wish to represent Spain. He was included in the Spanish squad for a friendly game against France on 6 February 2008. Had he played, Bojan would have become the youngest player ever to represent Spain at 17 years, 5 months, and 9 days, eclipsing Ángel Zubieta's 70-year-old record. However, Bojan fell ill and was unable to play.
On 17 May 2008, it was announced that Bojan had been left out of Spain's 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2008, with the official reasons cited as personal grounds and fatigue. Ten years later, in an interview with The Guardian, Bojan revealed that he missed both his potential international debut and UEFA Euro 2008 due to anxiety issues, which he had covered up with other reasons. He stated that his mental health struggles were known to members of the Spanish Football Federation, including first team coach Luis Aragonés, sporting director Fernando Hierro, and teammate Carles Puyol.
Bojan made his full Spanish debut on 10 September 2008, at 18 years and 13 days, under manager Vicente del Bosque. He came on as a substitute for Santi Cazorla during the last ten minutes of a match against Armenia, playing on the right wing. This remains his only senior international cap for Spain.
3.2. Catalonia National Team
Bojan made his official debut for the Catalonia regional team in a friendly match against the Basque Country on 29 December 2007 in Bilbao, scoring Catalonia's goal in a 1-1 draw. He also scored a year later on 29 December 2008 in a 2-1 victory over Colombia, and in a 4-2 win against Argentina on 22 December 2009. On 29 December 2010, he scored twice and provided two assists in a 4-0 win against Honduras. His final goal for Catalonia came on 25 March 2019 in a 2-1 friendly match victory over Venezuela at Girona's Montilivi Stadium.
4. Post-retirement Activities
On 13 September 2023, Bojan Krkić returned to his former club Barcelona in a new capacity, becoming the football coordinator. His primary responsibility in this role is monitoring the young talents at La Masia, working alongside the head of the youth department, Alexanko.
5. Personal Life
Bojan Krkić Pérez holds a distant familial relationship with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi. According to genealogical research conducted by Diari Segre in 2011, Bojan is a fourth cousin of Messi. Both are the great-great-great-grandchildren of Mariano Pérez Miralles and Teresa Llobrera Minguet, who married in El Poal in the Catalan Comarca of Pla d'Urgell in 1846. This finding received significant coverage across Spanish media, including major sports newspapers and general-interest publications.
In 2021, Bojan furthered his education by obtaining a master's degree in Sport Management from the Johan Cruyff Institute. He has also expressed an interest in bicycle entrepreneurship, considering starting a business related to bicycles. Bojan's transparency about his struggles with anxiety during his playing career has contributed to broader discussions about mental health in professional sports.
6. Career Statistics
6.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona B | 2006-07 | Segunda División B | 22 | 10 | - | - | - | - | 22 | 10 | ||||
| Barcelona | 2007-08 | La Liga | 31 | 10 | 8 | 1 | - | 9 | 1 | - | 48 | 12 | ||
| 2008-09 | La Liga | 23 | 2 | 9 | 5 | - | 10 | 3 | - | 42 | 10 | |||
| 2009-10 | La Liga | 23 | 8 | 4 | 2 | - | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 36 | 12 | ||
| 2010-11 | La Liga | 27 | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 7 | ||
| Total | 104 | 26 | 26 | 9 | - | 27 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 163 | 41 | |||
| Roma | 2011-12 | Serie A | 33 | 7 | 2 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | - | 37 | 7 | ||
| Milan (loan) | 2012-13 | Serie A | 19 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | - | 27 | 3 | ||
| Barcelona | 2013-14 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ajax (loan) | 2013-14 | Eredivisie | 24 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 5 | |
| Stoke City | 2014-15 | Premier League | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 18 | 5 | ||
| 2015-16 | Premier League | 27 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 7 | |||
| 2016-17 | Premier League | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 3 | |||
| 2017-18 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2018-19 | Championship | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 23 | 1 | |||
| Total | 74 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 | - | - | 85 | 16 | ||||
| Stoke City U23 | 2016-17 | |||||||||||||
| Mainz 05 (loan) | 2016-17 | Bundesliga | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 11 | 1 | |||
| Alavés (loan) | 2017-18 | La Liga | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 15 | 1 | |||
| Montreal Impact | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 10 | 3 | |||
| 2020 | Major League Soccer | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | - | 19 | 4 | |||
| Total | 25 | 7 | 2 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | - | 29 | 7 | ||||
| Vissel Kobe | 2021 | J1 League | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 6 | 1 | |
| 2022 | J1 League | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 20 | 0 | ||
| Total | 20 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 26 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 345 | 74 | 43 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 44 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 433 | 93 | ||
6.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
7. Honours
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
- Copa del Rey: 2008-09
- Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010
- UEFA Champions League: 2008-09, 2010-11
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009
Ajax
- Eredivisie: 2013-14
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 2013
Montreal Impact
- Canadian Championship: 2019
Spain U17
- UEFA U-17 European Championship: 2007
Spain U21
- UEFA U-21 European Championship: 2011
Individual
- UEFA U-17 Championship Golden Player: 2007
- UEFA U-17 Championship Top Scorer: 2006
- FIFA U-17 World Cup Bronze Ball: 2007
- FIFA U-17 World Cup Bronze Shoe: 2007
- La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2007-08
8. Evaluation and Impact
Bojan Krkić's career trajectory is a notable example of a football prodigy who, despite breaking numerous records at a young age and achieving significant club honors, did not fully realize the immense expectations placed upon him. Hailed as "the next Messi" early in his career, his initial seasons at Barcelona were marked by prolific goalscoring and record-breaking debuts, demonstrating exceptional talent and potential. He played a key role in multiple trophy-winning campaigns with Barcelona, including two Champions League titles and three La Liga titles.
However, as his career progressed, he faced challenges in securing a consistent starting role and maintaining his early form, leading to transfers and loan spells across various European leagues, MLS, and the J1 League. While he found moments of success and contributed to titles at clubs like Ajax and Montreal Impact, he never quite recaptured the explosive impact of his youth.
A significant aspect of Bojan's impact on the sport, particularly in his later career, is his candidness about his struggles with anxiety issues. His public disclosure that anxiety prevented him from participating in key international matches, including a potential senior debut and UEFA Euro 2008, shed light on the mental health challenges faced by athletes. This openness, supported by figures within the Spanish Football Federation, contributed to a broader conversation about mental well-being in professional sports, highlighting the pressures and the importance of addressing such issues. His return to Barcelona in a coordinator role after retirement further demonstrates his enduring connection to the sport and his commitment to nurturing young talent.
9. Notes
- National cup: Includes appearances and goals in Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, KNVB Cup, FA Cup, Canadian Championship, Emperor's Cup.
- League cup: Includes appearances and goals in Football League Cup, J.League Cup.
- Other: Includes appearances and goals in Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Johan Cruyff Shield, EFL Trophy.