RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Netherlands and AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf said on Tuesday he would become the Serie A club’s new coach after announcing an end to his illustrious playing career.
The 37-year-old Dutchman, who has no previous coaching experience, told a Rio de Janeiro news conference that he was retiring as a player. He left Milan for Brazil’s Botafogo in 2012.
“This isn’t a goodbye, we’ll meet again,” he said at Botafogo’s stadium.
“All the experience I have gained in this year and a half at Botafogo is going to help me in my next venture, which will be as coach of Milan.”
Seedorf will replace Massimiliano Allegri who was fired by Milan on Monday following a dismal run of results for the seven-times European champions.
The move to appoint Seedorf, who had a successful 10-year playing career at Milan, is something of a gamble although he is a hugely popular figure at the club and would arrive with a deep bank of goodwill.
The midfielder was the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs — Ajax Amsterdam in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and AC Milan in 2003 and 2007. He has also represented Inter Milan and Sampdoria.
The former Dutch international won two league titles and an Italian Cup to go with the two Champions League victories during his time at Milan, which also saw him awarded the UEFA Best Midfielder Award in 2007.
Milan are currently 11th in Serie A after squandering a two goal lead in a 4-3 defeat at promoted Sassuolo on Sunday night. That left them 30 points behind leaders Juventus and 20 points off the final Champions League berth occupied by Napoli.
Seedorf says he will be next AC Milan coach
Seedorf says he will be next AC Milan coach
Patrick Habirora headlines PFL Brussels at Ing Arena in May
- PFL returns on May 23 with ‘The Belgian Bomber’ facing MMA legend Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson
NEW YORK: The Professional Fighters League returns to the ING Arena on Saturday, May 23, for PFL Brussels, with Belgium’s No. 10-ranked welterweight Patrick “The Belgian Bomber” Habirora (8-0) facing former UFC champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson (30-12).
Habirora has seven victories coming by way of KO or TKO. He silenced doubters last December at PFL Lyon against his toughest test to date, Kevin Jousset.
A thunderous first-round knockout followed by relentless ground-and-pound sent the Lyon crowd into a frenzy and left many wondering how far he can go in MMA.
A former WEC and UFC champion, “Smooth” is a 20-year veteran and remains one of the most accomplished athletes of his era. Henderson has beaten Nate Diaz, Frankie Edgar (twice), and Jorge Masvidal.
Recently sharpening his tools across grappling, karate, wrestling and boxing, Henderson now returns to MMA determined to prove his championship pedigree.
Upcoming PFL Schedule:
- Friday, March 20: PFL Madrid, Palacio Vistalegre, Madrid, Spain.
- Saturday, March 28: PFL Pittsburgh, UPMC Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Saturday, April 11: PFL Chicago, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois.
- Thursday, April 16: PFL Belfast, SSE Arena Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Saturday, May 2: PFL Sioux Falls, Sanford Pentagon: Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
- Saturday, May 23: PFL Brussels, ING Arena, Brussels, Belgium.
