After a career spanning 22 years and nine different clubs, Dutch legend Edgar Davids today announced that he is retiring from Football.
Playing these days as player-coach of Skrill Premiership side Barnet, he was sent off for the third time this season in only nine games, and he feels he is being targeted by referees. After today's 2-1 defeat away at Salisbury City he told awaiting reporters that the time has come to hang up his boots.
An Iconic figure, Davids 40, with his dreadlocks and goggles was instantly recognisable. It was due to suffering from glaucoma that he wore the protective goggles.
He spent most of his career at two clubs, Ajax and Juventus where he had massive success. He won the Eredivisie Title three times, the Dutch Cup twice, the UEFA Cup and most notably the UEFA Champions League in 1995, all with Ajax, while winning three Serie A Titles and UEFA's Intertoto Cup with Juventus. While playing for Ajax, manager Louis Van Gaal nicknamed Davids "The Pitbull" due to his battling qualities.
Davids has played for European Footballs biggest clubs during his career, Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur, which is testament to the man and how highly regarded he was during his time as a player.
He played over seventy games for Holland, scoring six goals, and played in three European Championships and two World Cups, most notably in 1998 when Holland finished forth overall.
He always wanted to try his hand at English football, and in 2005, after having his contract terminated at Inter Milan, he joined Tottenham to play for Dutch coach Martin Yol. He became an instant hit at White Hart Lane, with his all-action style being appreciated by the supporters. He played forty games for Spurs and only scored the one goal, away at Wigan Athletic.
After Tottenham he returned to Ajax, but Unfortunatley he broke his leg during pre-season training and left them at the end of the season in 2008. Semi-retirement beckoned for Davids until Crystal Palace came calling in 2010. A short two month stint at Palace rejuvenated him, and he decided to get into coaching.
Living in London since playing for Palace, he became attached to League Two side Barnet in October 2012 as a player-manager. Unfortunatley for Barnet and Davids, he couldn't save them from relegation at the end of the season, only going down on the last day.
He remains as Manager of Barnet this season, currently in ninth place, only three points off a play-off place with half the season left to play.
He was a wonderful player who gave his all when he played. There are many teams in Football who could do with a combative midfielder like Davids in their team. He will be missed by all the clubs that he played for over his career.
Published by @gersloveofsport December 28
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