Ajax Captain Edgar Davids To Call It A Day

papa5murf · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Quote:

After a long and bright career, which has seen him play on top level for 17 years and win almost everything there was to win, Edgar Davids has hinted he will hang up his boots at the end of the season.

After helping Ajax reach an all-important 3-2 victory at Breda on Sunday, the 34-year-old captain was asked by a RTL reporter whether he intends to play under Marco van Basten, who will take over from July 1.

“I don’t think so. Everything has to come to an end. It might be that this is my last season. It’s more than 50 per cent certain,” Davids replied.

Open letter

Van Basten, who initially named the Suriname-born midfielder as the Netherlands captain, signed a four-year deal with the Johan Cruyff Schaal and Beker holders last Friday. Davids played six times under Van Basten, but was not selected for the 2006 World Cup finals. He then wrote an open letter to the Oranje boss, criticizing his lack of “personal class” in squad selection and describing him as “arrogant”.

However, he insists his decision to quit the game has nothing to do with Van Basten’s appointment. “If Van Basten is the coach who can lead Ajax back to success, I’ll be the first to shout with joy. But whether he’s left the past behind him I don’t know.”

Up there with the best of them

Davids, who will turn 35 on March 13, returned to the Dutch capital on January 2007 after initially joining Ajax as an 18-year-old. He played for them from 1991 to ’96, going on to play for Milan, Juventus Turin, Barcelona, Internazionale and Tottenham.

One of the most passionate and tireless defensive midfielders of his generation, he won no fewer than 19 major trophies, including a European / South American Cup (’95), a European Super Cup (’95), a European Champions League (’94-’95) and a UEFA Cup (’91-’92). He also earned 74 caps and scored six goals for the national side, playing for them for more than 11 years.

Beautifully nicknamed The Pitbull, he would probably like to forget all about his suspension by FIFA on May 17, 2001, after testing positive for the banned substance nandrolone.

Yessicajax · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:12 am

yea...i heard this yesterday too in a interview with him.
bad news i think.... he is a real fighter "pitbull" with a real big ajax heart.
We all love him.
But somethimes he also do stupid things. (thats just him.)
We will see what he is going to do.
-x-

tim5303 · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:25 pm

I've always liked to see what Davids is doing as he goes from team to team.

35 though is probably the end of most professional players career, at least in the top divisons. age of course gives him an excuse not to play under van Basten, which is probably for the best for both Davids and van Basten

FR-Rinaldo · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:50 pm

It has always been a great player in the national squad.