Danny Blind

1.1. Club Career

Blind began his professional football journey with Sparta Rotterdam, making his debut on 29 August 1979. He remained with Sparta for seven seasons, establishing himself as a reliable defender. In July 1986, he made a pivotal move to Ajax, a transfer facilitated by the legendary manager Johan Cruyff. This signing, however, reportedly caused some dismay for Ajax superstar Marco van Basten, who preferred a high-profile transfer over a relatively unknown defensive player from a smaller club.

At Ajax, Blind achieved an extraordinary list of honours, becoming one of the most decorated players in the club's history. His European triumphs include winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1987, the UEFA Cup in 1992, and the prestigious UEFA Champions League in 1995. He further cemented his legacy by winning the Intercontinental Cup in 1995 against Brazil's Grêmio, where he famously scored the winning penalty in the shootout. Blind proved to be a penalty hero again in the 1995 UEFA Super Cup final against Real Zaragoza, converting two penalties in the second leg, contributing to Ajax's dominant 5-1 aggregate victory. Domestically, he secured five Dutch Eredivisie Championships and four national cups with Ajax. Despite receiving lucrative offers from clubs in the Premier League and Galatasaray in 1994, Blind opted to sign a two-year extension with Ajax, further demonstrating his loyalty. He retired from playing on 16 May 1999, having spent 13 years at the Amsterdam club.

1.2. International Career

Danny Blind earned 42 caps for the Netherlands over a ten-year period. He made his international debut in 1986 against Scotland, but he was not capped in 1987 or 1988, which meant he missed out on being part of the victorious UEFA Euro 1988 squad.

Despite periods of limited appearances due to the presence of players like Ronald Koeman in the same position, Blind participated in major international tournaments. He represented his country at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as well as the UEFA Euro 1992 and 1996 European Championships. After the 1994 World Cup, in his mid-30s, Blind became a regular starter following Koeman's international retirement. However, when national team coach Guus Hiddink reportedly sought to bring Koeman back into the squad, Blind declared he would no longer play for the national team if that happened, leading to Koeman's non-return. Blind then played as a regular during Euro 1996, retiring from international football after the tournament. He scored a single goal for the national team, which came against Greece in a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifier.

1.3. Playing Style and Characteristics

Danny Blind was renowned as a solid, dependable defender and a natural leader on the field, often serving as the captain for Ajax and being considered the team's "spiritual pillar." Beyond his defensive prowess, he was also a technically gifted and cultured player, capable of accurate passing and powerful shooting, skills not always common among non-attacking players. While he became most famous as a center-back, Blind began his career as a right-back, showcasing his versatility. He was also known for occasionally playing as a defensive midfielder following Frank Rijkaard's retirement. Coaches held him in high regard; Louis van Gaal, his manager at Ajax, reportedly valued Blind as highly as legendary defenders like Franco Baresi of AC Milan and Michael Laudrup of Real Madrid (though Laudrup was more of an attacking midfielder). His intelligence, reliability, and strong personality made him a respected figure among his peers.

2.1. AFC Ajax

Blind's first foray into management was as head coach of AFC Ajax, a position he assumed on 14 March 2005, succeeding Ronald Koeman. His tenure, however, was relatively short, lasting only 422 days until his dismissal on 10 May 2006. During this period, he led Ajax to victory in the KNVB Cup in 2006 and the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2005.

After his initial head coaching spell, Blind took on various other roles at Ajax. In 2007-08, he served as director of football at his former club, Sparta Rotterdam. On 15 May 2008, he returned to Ajax as the new director of football. He later transitioned into an assistant coach role when Martin Jol joined the club as manager. At the beginning of the 2011-12 season, Blind moved into the position of technical director for Ajax. However, on 9 February 2012, it was announced that he would retire from his duties as technical director, concluding a heated dispute surrounding the club's board of directors.

2.2. Netherlands National Team

Danny Blind had a significant association with the Netherlands national football team's coaching staff. He initially served as an assistant coach to Louis van Gaal starting in the summer of 2012, a role he continued under Guus Hiddink following the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 1 July 2015, Blind was appointed as Hiddink's successor, taking over as head coach of the national team. This appointment was initially part of a broader plan announced in March 2014, where Blind was slated to become head coach after Hiddink following UEFA Euro 2016. However, Hiddink's early resignation accelerated Blind's promotion.

His tenure as head coach was challenging. He notably failed to lead the team to qualify for UEFA Euro 2016, a significant disappointment for the football-proud nation. The struggles continued into the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, with meager results putting their qualification chances in serious jeopardy. Key matches, such as a draw against Sweden and a loss to France, hampered their progress. His dismissal by the Dutch FA came on 26 March 2017, the day after a crucial 2-0 away loss to Bulgaria. In that match, due to injuries to key right-footed center-backs like Virgil van Dijk, Jeffrey Bruma, and Stefan de Vrij, Blind controversially gave a starting international debut to 17-year-old Matthijs de Ligt, who had only recently debuted for Ajax's senior team. De Ligt was involved in both of Bulgaria's goals within the first 20 minutes of the match, contributing to the defeat. Following this result, the KNVB announced his dismissal, acknowledging that the initial dual appointment of Hiddink and Blind three years prior had been a failure. He was succeeded by Dick Advocaat, but the Netherlands ultimately failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Despite this setback, Blind returned to the Netherlands national team as an assistant coach to Louis van Gaal when the latter took over the managerial reins again on 4 August 2021.

4.1. Player Honours

With AFC Ajax:

• Eredivisie: 1989-90, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98
• KNVB Cup: 1987, 1993, 1998, 1999
• Johan Cruyff Shield: 1993, 1994
• UEFA Champions League: 1995
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1987
• UEFA Cup: 1992
• UEFA Super Cup: 1995
• Intercontinental Cup: 1995

Individual:

• Dutch Golden Shoe: 1995, 1996
• ESM Team of the Year: 1994-95, 1995-96
• Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player of the Match Award: 1995

4.2. Managerial Honours

With AFC Ajax:

• KNVB Cup: 2006
• Johan Cruyff Shield: 2005

5.1. Player Statistics

5.2. Managerial Statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure

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Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Ajax		15 March 2005	10 May 2006	64	38	10	16	133	74
59.38
Netherlands		1 July 2015	26 March 2017	17	7	3	7	26	25
41.18
Total				81	45	13	23	159	99
55.56

6.1. Achievements and Positive Evaluation

As a player, Danny Blind is widely regarded as one of the most successful Dutch defenders of his generation. His tenure at Ajax was exceptionally fruitful, culminating in a remarkable array of trophies, including five Eredivisie titles, four KNVB Cups, and all three major UEFA club competitions (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and UEFA Cup). This achievement of winning all UEFA club competitions, shared only with Arnold Mühren among Dutch players, underscores his exceptional talent and the golden era of Ajax football he was a part of. Blind was celebrated for his leadership qualities, serving as captain for Ajax, and was considered a "spiritual pillar" of the team. His technical skills, tactical intelligence, and versatility-playing effectively as a right-back, center-back, and defensive midfielder-earned him high praise from coaches like Louis van Gaal, who valued him immensely. He also received individual accolades such as the Dutch Golden Shoe in 1995 and 1996 and the Intercontinental Cup MVP award in 1995, highlighting his individual contributions to team success. His decision to remain with Ajax despite lucrative offers from other European clubs further cemented his respected status.

As a manager, while his time as head coach of the Netherlands national team faced difficulties, he did achieve success during his initial stint as head coach of Ajax, leading the club to win the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield. His subsequent roles as director of football and technical director at Ajax, and later as an assistant coach for the national team, demonstrate the continued trust and value placed in his footballing acumen and experience.

6.2. Criticisms and Controversies

Despite his success as a player, Danny Blind's managerial career, particularly with the Netherlands national team, encountered significant criticism and challenges. His primary managerial tenure with the national team was marked by a failure to qualify for UEFA Euro 2016, a major disappointment for the Dutch footballing public. The struggles continued into the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, where the team's poor results left their qualification chances in serious doubt.

His dismissal in March 2017, following a crucial loss to Bulgaria, became a focal point of criticism. The decision to hand a debut to 17-year-old Matthijs de Ligt in such a critical match, especially given de Ligt's involvement in the two early goals conceded, was widely questioned. The KNVB itself publicly admitted that the earlier dual appointment strategy, which saw Blind pre-selected as Hiddink's successor, had been a mistake. These managerial failures and the team's subsequent non-qualification for the 2018 World Cup led to a period of decline for the Dutch national team and cast a shadow over Blind's coaching reputation. However, his later return as an assistant coach to Louis van Gaal indicates a recognition of his continued value in a support role despite past setbacks.