Patrick Kluivert (born July 1, 1976 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch international football striker currently playing for Newcastle United in the English Premiership.
Kluivert joined the renowned Ajax youth academy after he was spotted playing for Schellingwoude , he went on to make his debut in the senior team on August 21, 1994 at the age of 17 in the Dutch Supercup against win arch rivals Feyenoord in which he scored his first goal. He went on to make his mark in Europe scoring an 83rd minute winner in the Champions League Final of 1994/95 against AC Milan in Vienna. He also helped Ajax to win several pieces of silverware (see below) before leaving for AC Milan on a Bosman transfer in 1997. His career at Milan started well when he scored a sensational goal against Juventus in a friendly match. However at this time Kluivert's personal life began to cause problems, he was charged with manslaughter after running an art critic over in his new sports car, to which he received community service and a driving ban. He was also charged with rape on a separate occasion but he was to be later acquitted. After scoring only six goals in Italy he left for FC Barcelona where he was reunited with Louis Van Gaal, a mentor from his days at Ajax. Kluivert formed a strong partnership with Rivaldo which enabled Barça to win the Spanish La Liga in 1998/99. He was released from Barça in the Summer of 2004 along with fellow Dutch national teammates Michael Reiziger and Marc Overmars. He joined Newcastle United on 21 July 2004 to team up with Alan Shearer.
Kluivert's international career has perhaps not gone as well as he would have liked; he missed most of Euro 96 with a knee injury but he did manage to score a brilliant goal against England. At the 1998 World Cup he was sent off against Belgium by referee Pierluigi Collina after elbowing an opponent, although he made amends when selected to play against Argentina in the quarter-finals of the same tournament where he scored the opening goal. He also impressed in later matches, although the Dutch national team did not win the tournament which they were predicted to do so. At Euro 2000, after scoring a hat trick in the quarterfinals, Kluivert missed a penalty in the semifinal loss to Italy.
Kluivert is currently the all-time leading goalscorer for the Dutch national team. In 2004, he was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers chosen by Pelé as part of FIFA's centenary observances. Interestingly, he was born on the same day as fellow countryman and FIFA 100 member Ruud van Nistelrooy. During Euro 2004 he didn't play a single minute, while his team reached the semi finals again. In July he signed a new contract, moving from Barça to Newcastle United.
Statistics and Honours
Club Record
Honours
Ajax
FC Barcelona
Netherlands
