Patrick Kluivert Bio Send To Friend  

Amsterdam-born Kluivert burst onto the scene with Ajax in 1994, scoring on his debut for Ajax against Feyenoord in the Dutch Super Cup.

His meteoric rise was complete later that year when he was handed his full international bow for Holland against Czech Republic. He got his first goal for his country in his second appearance against Malta.

The following year he bagged the only goal of the European Cup final as Ajax beat AC Milan, and helped Ajax to the Championship, Dutch Cup, European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in the same season.

It was a glittering start to his career.

In 1996, after winning another league and cup double with Ajax, Kluivert came on as a substitute and scored a crucial goal to take Holland through to the knockout stages of Euro 96 despite a 4-1 defeat against England.

At the end of the 1996/97 season, after scoring 39 league goals in 70 games for Ajax, the Dutch striker moved to AC Milan on a free transfer after refusing to sign a new contract. But he struggled to settle in Italy, scoring only six goals in 27 appearances.

He was sent off against Belgium in the 1998 World Cup but returned to score two goals as Holland reached the semi-finals.

Kluivert spent just one season in Serie A before moving to Barcelona in September 1998 where he was reunited with his former Ajax coach Louis van Gaal. He would score over 100 goals, and won the European Super Cup and the title in his first season.

He finished Euro 2000 as joint top scorer with five goals, including a hat-trick in the quarter-finals against Yugoslavia, and was named in the team of the tournament as Holland went out to Italy on penalties at the semi-finals.

Despite averaging 16 league goals a season Kluivert never became the undisputed hero in Spain.

He suffered a loss of form in 2002/03, and by the end of that season it had become clear Barcelona were happy for him to move on. He remained at the Nou Camp for 2003/04 but was in and out of the side.

The striker was selected for Euro 2004, but high profile bust-ups with coach Dick Advocaat meant he was the only outfield player not used in Portugal.

After being told he was free to leave Barca in the summer of 2004, Kluivert was linked with a move to the Premiership, with Newcastle United, Liverpool and Middlesbrough all reportedly interested.

It was the Magpies who won his signature in July 2004 on a three-year contract. But with two years of underachievement behind him there is definite pressure to deliver at St James' Park.

Sir Bobby Robson remarked: 'We're delighted to sign him. I've known him for many years, he's a player of immense experience and of great stature.

'He's a dazzling player and with Alan, Shola Ameobi and Craig Bellamy I think we've got a strike force as good as anything in the Premiership.'

Kluivert is already the most successful striker in Dutch history with a record 40 goals in 75 internationals.

He made his Newcastle debut in a 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough.