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Nicknamed the “Pit bull”, tenacious Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids was remarkably shorter than I had expected. He was without his trademark goggles however his equally famous dreadlocks blew in the strong wind. I had enjoyed watching his rigorous training approach and despite just coming off the Ajax training pitch the thirty-five year old showed hardly any signs of tiredness signifying his stamina remains as does his hard-work ethic for which he is well renowned. The goggles and hairstyle have made the Dutchman one of the most recognisable footballers of the modern game; however it is not just these distinguishable attributes that have made him one of the finest players of his generation. Davids started his illustrious career at Ajax in 1991. He helped the Amsterdam side clinch success in the 1992 UEFA Cup and 1995 Champions League, as well as winning three domestic Eredivisie titles. Davids was nicknamed by his then manger, Louis Van Gaal, “the Pit bull”, however the Surinam born defensive midfielder possessed much more than just ferocity and tenacity. His technique and stamina propelled him to the Dutch international side and a transfer to Italy. His international experience was mixed, after falling out with manager Guus Hiddink, Davids was sent home from Euro 96. He did indeed play instrumental roles in subsequent international tournaments and made 76 appearances in the Orange jersey however never won any major international tournaments. After a short spell at AC Milan, he inspired the Turin based club Juventus to success. However during his six year spell at Juventus, Davids was suspended by FIFA when he tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid, nandrolone. Next up for Davids was a loan move to Barcelona. Many Catalans believe it was Davids who catapulted Barcelona back into a successful resurgence of form. Inter Milan then purchased Davids, which was followed by a move to the English Premiership with Tottenham. The White Hart Lane faithful took fondly to the Dutchman delighted with his commitment to the club. In 2007, Davids decided to return back to Ajax where once again he impelled the team to glory. Injury struck in the 2007/08 season as he broke his leg in a pre-season game and as the season came to a close, Davids chose to leave the Amsterdam club. As I stood side to side with Davids, I realised how he had gained his reputation and I certainly wouldn’t want to go in for a fifty-fifty challenge with the midfielder. Throughout his spell in football Davids has had run-ins with referees and during his spell in England he joked, “I've been given so many cards it feels like Christmas. It seems referees target me.” It is rumoured Davids may now join LA Galaxy and team up with Dutch compatriot Rudd Gullit who is the manager at the MLS side. Whatever “the Pit bull” decides, he will be remembered not only for his trademark appearance but for his incredible football talent and tremendous work-ethic. Just looking at the list of prestigious clubs Edgar Davids has played for shows his value to any team.
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