Netherlands Greatest All-team 23 member team

This blogger Artur Yanturin of Russia copied many of my blog teams.  This blog was one of them.  It was my Russia All-Time Team here.  His team was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.   His Spartak Moscow All-Time team entry of was published in October 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2017.  His entry of the Dutch-German rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.  He also copied many many of my blog entries.

His Facebook and Instagram

World Cup 1974

Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index. 

Surnamese-Dutch,
North Holland, South Holand.
The rest of Netherlands excluding North and South Holland
Holland All-Time Team After Johan Cruyff
Netherlands before Johan Cruyff (BC)
Netherlands 2002
Dutch-Indos/Indonesia-born Dutch All-Time Team

The Netherlands played their inaugural international match on April 30, 1905, in Antwerp against Belgium. The team's players were selected by a five-member commission from the Dutch Football Association. The Netherlands rose to prominence during the 1974 World Cup Finals when they reached the final but were defeated by the host nation. Led by the iconic Johan Cruyff, the team captivated the world with their revolutionary style of play known as "Total Football."

Four years later, in the 1978 World Cup, the Netherlands once again reached the final, only to suffer another loss, this time to the host country, Argentina. However, their breakthrough came in 1988 when they won their first major international tournament, the European Championship. The likes of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard played crucial roles in the success of AC Milan during the late 1980s.

Furthermore, during the mid-1990s, a new Golden Generation emerged, guiding Ajax to victory in the UEFA Champions League in 1995. This talented group also made an impact on the national team, reaching the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup. In 2020, the Netherlands once again reached the final of a major tournament, this time the European Championship, before falling to Spain.

Colloquially, the team is known as Het Nederlands Elftal (The Dutch Eleven) or simply Oranje, in reference to the House of Orange-Nassau and their distinctive orange jerseys. Sometimes, like the country itself, the team is informally referred to as Holland. The dedicated fan club is recognized as "Het Oranje Legioen" (The Orange Legion).

This is my all-time team for Netherlands. If there were an All-Time World Cup, this would be the 23 players I would bring to the tournament. 

Euro 1988

Team 
GK: Edwin Van Der Sar 
Edwin Van Der Sar is the most capped player in Netherlands' history with 130 caps.  He went to 1994, 1998 and 2006 World Cup and Euro 1996, 2000 and 2004.  He was best remembered for being the Ajax keeper in 1995 that won the Champions' League and then, later for Manchester United for 6 seasons.  He won the Champions' League in 2007-2008. In between, he also played with Fulham and Juventus.

GK:  Jan Van Beveren
Jan van Beveren was considered one of the best keepers in the 1970's.  In 1970, Van Beveren joined PSV Eindhoven, where he won three Eredivisie titles, two domestic cups and the UEFA Cup in 1978. He had 32 caps from 1967 to 1977. His career with the national team was cut short because of a feud with Johan Cruyff. He missed the World Cup Finals in 1974 because of that. 

GK:  Just Göbel
Born in Dutch- Göbel who played for Vitesse Arnhem, succeeded Reinier Beeuwkes as the Dutch national goalkeeper in 1911. He was known for being the first Dutch keeper trying to catch the ball rather than stomp it away. He played 18 matches for the Dutch team, being best remembered for his numerous saves during the 2-1 win over England's amateurs and his bronze medal in the football tournament of the 1912 Summer Olympics.

RB: Wim Suurbier 
Suurbier is considered among the best ever rightback in history.  He was the starting rightback for Oranje at the 1974 World Cup in Germany as well as the great Ajax team of the early 1970's where he played 13 seasons. He won three European Cups with Ajax in the 1970's. He also played club football in France, the USA and Hong Kong.

RB: Harry Dénis 
Harry Dénis participated in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1920.  He actually delivered the Olympic Oath during the opening ceremony of the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. He was capped 56 times and 37 times as captain.  Dénis started playing football with local side DVV and joined HBS aged 11. He would stay at the club for the rest of his career, winning the 1925 Netherlands Football League Championship with them.

CB:  Ronald Koeman 
Ronald Koeman was the rock solid sweeper of Holland's Euro1988 team.  He was capped 78 times. He also won two European Cups, one each for PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona FC.  He scored the winning goal for Barcelona's victory in 1992. The Cup was Barcelona FC's first ever European Cup.  In Netherlands, he played for all of the "big three" clubs, namely Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord.

Ronald Koeman 

CB:  Jaap Stam 
Stam was at one point the most expensive Dutch player and the most expensive defender in the world when Manchester United bought him for 10.6 million pounds.  He played for several European clubs including PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Lazio, A.C. Milan and Ajax. In total, he had 67 caps.  He was also an important player in the Dutch team that finished fourth in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and again reached the semifinal of Euro 2000.

CB:  Rinus Israel
Nicknamed "IJzeren Rinus (Iron Rinus)".  He had 47 caps for Holland. He was a part of the 1974 World Cup team  that finished second at the World Cup Finals in West Germany.  During his career he played for DWS (1962–66), Feyenoord Rotterdam (1966–74), Excelsior Rotterdam (1974–75) and PEC Zwolle (1975–82).  He won an European Cup with Feyenoord. 

CB: Virgil van Dijk 
Van Dijk started with Groningen before he moved to Celtic in 2013. In S2015, he joined Southampton before signing for Liverpool in 2018 for £75 million, a world record transfer fee for a defender. Van Dijk was named the PFA Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season for the 2018–19 season. Van Dijk starred as Liverpool won the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final where he was named man of the match. From 2015 onward, he played for Netherlands and was named captain.

LB/SW:  Ruud Krol 
Krol was one of the most important defender in Netherlands' history.  Capped 83 times. He helped Oranje to reach the World Cup Final in both 1974 and 1978.  He was a leftback at the World Cup in 1974 and switched to sweeper later in his career.  He won three straight European Cups with Ajax in the 1970's. He also played in Italy with Napoli, in France with Cannes and the NASL with Vancouver Whitecaps.

Ruud Krol 

LB/DM:  Giovanni Van Bronckhorst
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst played for his country in three FIFA World Cups, in 1998, 2006 and 2010, as well as three UEFA European Championships, in 2000, 2004 and 2008.  He was the captain of Netherlands at World Cup 2010, where Netherlands finished second.  He played 106 times for Netherlands.  He won the Champions' League for Barcelona in 2005-2006. He also played wirh Feyenoord, Arsenal and Rangers.  

CM: Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard was one of Netherlands' most important player.  Capped 73 times.  He won the 1988 European Championship in West Germany. He notably played for Ajax and AC Milan. He spent 5 seasons with AC Milan when Milan was considered the greatest club team in the world.  He won two European Cup with them. In 1995, he led a young Ajax team to their famous Champions' League victory.  That team is also considered one of the greatest club sides ever.

CM: Willem Van Hanegem
In Holland, Willem Van Hanegem was widely considered the second best Dutch player in the 1970's and perhaps, the greatest player for Feyenoord. He won the European Cup with Feyenoord in 1970.  He was capped 52 times between 1968 and 1979.  He was an important player at the World Cup Finals in 1974, where Netherlands finished second, but he missed the World Cup Finals in 1978.  He also played in NASL.

Willem Van Hanegem

CM: Johan Neeskens
Johan Neeskens was considered to be one of the greatest Dutch midfielders. He was a crucial component in the Total Football side of the 1970s.  He had 49 caps for Netherlands.  Her led Netherlands to two second place finishes at the World Cup Finals in 1974 and 1978.  He was Netherlands' top scorer at the 1974 World Cup Finals.  He also won three straight European Cups with Ajax: 1971, 1972, 1973. He also played with Barcelona FC and New York Cosmos.

CM: Edgar Davids
Nicknamed "the Pitbull", Edgar Davids was one of the greatest defensive midfielders in the world.  He won the European Champions' League with Ajax in 1995.  He was an important player at the World Cup Finals in 1998 when Netherlands reached the semi-final. He also spent 7 seasons with Juventus at the height of his career. He also played for Tottenham Hotspurs, Barcelona, AC Milan, etc.

RW/LW/FW: Arjen Robben
Arjen Robin was an important player for Bayern Munich's dominance in Europe as they reached three Champions' League Finals in 4 years, winning a single one.  He also played with PSV, Real Madrid and Chelsea. For the national team, he had 97 caps. He helped Netherlands to reach the World Cup Final in 2010 and then the semi-final in 2014. He also went to the 2006 World Cup Finals. He had 96 caps between 2003 and 2017.

Arjen Robben

LW: Coen Moulijn
Coen Moulijn was considered the best left winger in Dutch football and probably the best player from Feyenoord.  He started his career with Xerxes in 1954.  A season later, he joined Feyenoord. He stayed there until 1972. He won the European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup with them in 1970. He had 38 caps at a time when Netherlands was not considered a major power in football.  He scored 4 goals for the Netherlands national football team.

AM: Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit was the iconic captain of Netherlands' Euro 1988 winning team.  In 1987,  he moved from PSV Eindhoven to A.C. Milan for a world record transfer fee.  He was an important player for AC Milan during the 1980's where they won two straight European Cups. He was the European Footballer of the Year in 1987 and the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989.  He spent one season with Sampdoria winning the Italian Cup in 1994.  He earned 66 caps.

Gullit with Van Basten

FW:  Faas Wilkes
Faas Wilkes was one of the first Dutch player to play aboard.  In 1949, he joined Inter Milan, where he had the best of his career.  He also had a great career with Valencia.  He was considered to Holland's best player until the emerge of the Golden Generation of the 1970's. He was capped 38 times scoring 35 goals.  He was banned from the national team between 1949 and 1955 because KNVB did not select professional players. He was Netherlands' all-time leading scorer until 1998.

FW: Johan Cruyff
Known for his number "14", Johan Cruyff is the greatest Dutch player ever.  He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974.  He was considered one of the best players in history.  He was noted for his brilliant performance at the World Cup in 1974.  He also won three straight European Cups with Ajax in the 1970's.  He moved to Barcelona in 1973 for a world record transfer fees, where he became a legend.  He also played in the NASL at the end of his career.

Johan Cruyff

FW: Dennis Bergkamp
Bergkamp was the best-known Dutch player of the mid-1990's.  He helped Netherlands to reach the semi-final of the 1998 WC Finals in France.  His goal vs Argentina at was considered among the best ever scored in WC history.  Bergkamp surpassed Faas Wilkes's record to become the country's top goalscorer of all time in 1998. He started with Ajax and played for Inter Milan.  He also had a successful career with Arsenal.

ST:  Marco Van Basten
Marco Van Basten was probably the second best Dutch player and among the best striker in football's history.  He won the Ballon d'Or three times.  He led Oranje to the victory at the European Championship 1988 scoring 5 goals at the tournament. It was Holland's first victory in a major tournament. His goal in the Final is considered one of the best in history of the tournament. He started his career with Ajax.  He also won two European Cups with AC Milan, a club side that was considered the best ever.  

Marco Van Basten

ST: Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Ruud Van Nistelrooy was a prolific goal scorer. He won the top scorer award in three different European domestic leagues. He started with PSV Eindhoven.  He spent 5 seasons with Manchester United where he was voted as their best player twice.  With Real Madrid, he finished second as the European Golden Boot. Van Nistelrooy earned 70 caps and scored 35 goals for the Netherlands. He played in the 2006 World Cup Finals and two European Championship.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy

Honorable Mention
Hans Van Breukelen, Maarten Stekelenburg, Eddy Graafland, Jan Jongbloed, Frans de Munck, Piet Keizer, Roel Wiersma, Berry van Aerle, Danny Blind, Wesley Sneijder, Johnny Rep, Patrick Kluivert, Robin Van Persie, Barry Hulshoff, Jan Wouters, Arie Haan, Michael Reiziger, Wim Jensen, Arnold Muhren, Gerrie Muhren, Abe Minderts Lenstra, Rob Rensenbrink, Clarence Seedorf, Kees Rijvers, Willy Van De Kerkhof, Willy van der Kuijlen, Marc Overmars, Rafael van der Vaart, Frank De Boer, Ronald De Boer, Puck Van Heel, Cor Van De Hart, Mark Van Bommel, Nigel De Jong, Phillip Cocu, Georginio Wijnaldum, Beb Bakhuys, Jan Klaassens, Abe Lenstra.

Squad Explanation 

-- Johan Cruyff, Ruud Krol, Johan Neesken, Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman were probably automatic selections.  No need to explain.  was also strong contender for an automatic selection.

-- In 2022, Goal.com created their own All-Time Best XI.  The players were Edwin van der Sar, Wim Suurbier, Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, Ruud Krol, Johan Neesken, Willem van Hanegem, Arjen Robben, Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Johan Cruyff.  Fox Sports also had their own team, but they had Dennis Bergkamp instead of Robben.

-- IFFHS came up with three All-Time Dream teams.  Their A team consisted of Edwin van der Sar, Jaap Stam, Ronald Koeman, Ruud Krol, Frank Rijkaard, Johan Neeskens, Wim van Hanegem, Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Rob Rensenbrink.  They are followed by their B team: Hans van Breukelen, Wim Suurbier, Rinus Israël, Frank de Boer, Arie Haan, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Dennis Bergkamp, Arjen Robben, Patrick Kluivert, Abe Lenstra. And finally this is the Team C: Jan van Beveren, Berry van Aerle, Barry Hulshoff, Adri van Tiggelen, Wim Jansen, Willy van de Kerkhof, Wesley Sneijder, Faas Wilkes, Johnny Rep, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Piet Keizer.

-- Netherlands might have reached the Final of the 2010 World Cup Finals, but I selected more players from the Dutch national team from 1998 to 2006 than the team from 2010 and 2014. I thought that they were more talented. Edwin De Sar, Jaap Stam, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Edgar Davids, Dennis Bergkamp and Ruud Van Nistelrooy were on my team.  They reached the semi-final of the 1998 World Cups, but underperformed in 2001 when they failed to qualify for the World Cup Finals in 2002.  I did a 2002 World Cup team for them over here.

-- Netherlands' greatest moment was winning the European Championship in 1988. However, I only selected 4 players from that team, namely Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman.  They all started on this all-time team. The four of them also had successful club careers.

-- Netherlands 1974 was known to be the greatest national team that did not win the World Cup.  The team defined Dutch football. However, I only took 6 footballers from that team: Johan Cruyff, Ruud Krol, Willem Van Hanegem, Johan Neesken, Wim Suurbier and Rinus Israel.  The goalkeeper Jan Van Beveren did not attend the World Cup Finals because of a feud with Johan Cruyff, but he was from the same generation.  He should be counted as the 7th player.    

Johan Neeskens

-- The Netherlands had many sets of brothers who made impacts on Dutch football.  The Muhrens, the Koemans, the De Boers and the Van De Kerkhofs were all famous sets of brothers.  Ronald Koeman was the only player who made this team.  His brother Erwin did not make honorable mention, but he was capped over 30 times for the national team and was a part of Euro 1988 winning team.

-- Only four Surinamese made this team which surprised me.  They were Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Edgar Davids and Virgil van Dijk.  Please see my Dutch-Surinamese All-Time team.

Goalkeepers

-- Edwin van de Sar was the greatest Dutch goalkeeper.  Then, I took Jan Van Beveren.  A feud with Johan Cruyff kept goalkeeper him off the 1974 World Cup team, but I did not consider it as a factor.  He was rated among the greatest ever Dutch goalkeepers.  

-- Just Göbel was a pioneer in Dutch football.  He was also the least known player selected.  In 1912, he was in goal when England beat the Netherlands.  His heroic performance kept the scoreline to just 4-0. He earned a standing ovation from the English fans, which reportedly first time ever given to a foreign player.  In 1913, he was again in field against England.  This time, the Netherlands prevailed with 2-1 victory.

-- So Hans Van Breukelen, Maarten Stekelenburg, Eddy Graafland and Jan Jongbloed were also big names in Dutch football.  I also came upon Frans de Munck.  

-- Jan Jongbloed himself did not expect to start in the 1974 World Cup Finals.  He was never known to be as talented as other Dutch goalkeepers, but he played well in one World Cup Finals and he should be honored. Barcelona wanted to sign Frans de Munch in 1947, but he decided to stay in the Netherlands to keep his amateur status.  At the time, the Dutch national team did not select professional players. "Gejus" van der Meulen was one of the most popular Dutch sportsmen of the 1920s–1930s, but he fell into disgrace in the late 1940s due to his collaboration with Nazi Germany.  His exclusion had nothing to do with this.  He just was outside the top three.

Defenders

-- Jan Stam was at one point the most expensive Dutch player and the most expensive defender in the world when he joined Manchester United.  In Manchester, he lived up to expectations.  Ronald Koeman was a hero of Barcelona FC.  The pair was undisputed selection for central defenders.

-- Virgil van Dijk is becoming one of the best defenders in the world at this moment.  He came second in the 2019 Ballon d'or, an award that he should have won it.   Not many defender ever came close of winning it. He won the UEFA Player of the Year in 2019 as well as PFA Player of the year in 2018-2019. Certainly, Rinus Israel or Frank De Boer never came close. In August, 2019, I took Frank De Boer off the list and replaced him with Van Dijk.  

Virgil van Dijk 

-- The last central defender chosen was Rinus Israel. He only narrowly edged out Frank De Boer, Danny Blind, Barry Hulshoff, Ariel Haan and Cor Van De Hart.  They could have easily take over the 4th central defender spot.

-- Cor Van De Hart played 44 international matches, in which he was captain in 23 games.  He played in the famous victory over World Cup winner West Germany in 1956.  

-- Wim Suurbier was the greatest Dutch rightback, but after him, I found the position weak. I do not know how to rate Roel Wiersma, and I was not sure about Michael Reiziger, Berry van Aerle or Adri van Tiggelen.  So I honoured rightback Harry Denis with a spot of the team.  He was a pioneer in Dutch football.

-- Although Ruud Krol was primarily known as a left-back, in my team, I considered him as the fifth central defender due to his versatility. Towards the end of his career, he played as a sweeper. His selection for the team was unquestionable. Giovanni Van Bronkhorst, in his prime, played for two prominent clubs, showcasing his talent at the highest level. Despite being 35 years old, he captained the national team during the 2010 World Cup. His performances throughout the tournament were exceptional, solidifying his impact on the team. Unfortunately, the presence of Ruud Krol and Giovanni Van Bronkhorst limited the opportunities for Frank De Boer to secure a spot as a leftback on the team. The central defender position was also highly competitive and deep. 

Midfielders/Wingers

-- When discussing the remarkable midfield talents of the Netherlands, two names that stand out are Frank Rijkaard and Johan Neeskens. These legendary players effortlessly secured their spots as central midfielders.  Another midfielder who deserves high praise is Edgar Davids, who displayed a commanding presence and dominance during his prime. His energetic and combative style of play endeared him to fans, while his silky dribbling skills added flair to his performances on the field. Willem Van Hanegem, on the other hand, was often mistaken for a defensive midfielder due to his physical appearance. However, he was, in fact, a gifted playmaker. Considered the second-best Dutch player after the 1974 World Cup Finals.

Edgar Davids

-- Clarence Seedorf, Wim Jensen, Arnold Muhren, Jan Wouter, Gerri Muhren, Mark Van Bommel, Jan Klaassens, Phillip Cocu, Willy Van de Kerkhof, Nigel De Jong, etc all deserved a mention, but they were not going to challenge the four midfielders I just mentioned.

-- Wesley Sneijder, I felt, had one good season in 2009-2010 where he won the Champions' League with Inter Milan and the Golden Silver Ball at the World Cup Finals.  His club career in other seasons, however, were marked with a lot of inconsistency, but I gave him credit for leading the Netherlands to 2nd place at the World Cup Finals in 2010. He deserved to be on the team, but unfortunately, Ruud Gullit, Willem Van Hanegem, Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp and Faas Wilkins could all play as a secondary striker/offensive midfielder role. So I only put him as an honorable mention. 

-- Ariel Robben was a vital member of the 2010 World Cup Finalist team. As I needed a winger or wide player, his inclusion was crucial. His outstanding performances for Bayern Munich, including winning the Champions League, solidified his status as an all-time great. In 2014, Robben became the first football player since Ruud Gullit in 1987 to be elected Dutch Sportsman of the Year, highlighting his exceptional achievements. During his prime, Robben was considered one of the top players in the world, with his skills placing him just behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

-- Choosing Robben over Piet Keizer, who was highly regarded and often compared to Johan Cruyff, was a controversial decision. Keizer's career may have been overshadowed by Cruyff, but Robben's consistent performances and impact on the field justified his selection. Additionally, I chose Coen Moulijn due to his iconic status at Feyenoord, recognizing his significant contributions to the club. Marc Overmars, who followed behind Robben and Keizer, also warranted consideration for his notable career. While Rob Rensenbrink had two memorable World Cup Finals, his overall career did not match the level of Robben or Keizer. I should also have taken Puck van Heel.  He held the Dutch appearance record for 42 years.  He was an inside left or left winger.  He was probably capable of playing in the midfield.

Forwards

-- Johan Cruyff, Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit already occupied three of the attacking spots.  Dennis Bergkamp and Faas Wilkes also did not need introduction.  Faas Wilkes was one of the first Dutch player to play aboard. He was an idol in Valencia. I considered him as a pioneer in the Dutch football.  After I selected Ruud Van Nistelrooy.  The team was set.

Dennis Bergkamp 

-- Ruud Van Nistelrooy won the top scorer award in three different countries.  He has been the top scorer in three separate UEFA Champions League seasons, and is the sixth-highest goalscorer in the competition's history with 56 goals. Besides Marco Van Basten, Netherlands did not have another striker better than him. Robin Van Persie was probably right behind him. He was sometimes ranked as high as Van Nistelrooy.  He actually had scored more international goals than Van Nistelrooy.  Patrick Kluivert's peak was too short.  Ironically, he was born on the same date as Van Nistelrooy. Kluivert started his career quickly, but faded quickly while Van Nistelrooy was a late bloomer.  

-- Before I started researching this team, I could not imagine Keizer not on the team.  He was kept off by Coen Moulijn, Denis Bergkamp and Faas Wilkes. 

-- Abe Lenstra, Faas Wilkes and Kees Rijvers formed what was then called the "Gouden Binnentrio" with the Dutch national team. Of the ten international matches they played together, only one was lost.

-- Kees Rijvers, Piet Keizer and Rob Rensenbrink were the biggest names missing from this team. I decided to select two old-timers (Wilkes and Moulijin) and two younger players (Bergkamp and Robben) over them.  

-- Abe Lenstra also deserved a spot, but I went with more modern players.  He was the greatest ever player from Heerenveen.  The club was also fondly referred to as 'Abeveen'.  He reportedly had scored over 700 goals in approximately 730 matches.

-- Johnny Rep was left off since a handful of younger players emerged after the 1970's. Liked Keizer and Rensenbrink, he was the most successful name not on this team.  

-- Beb Bakhuys scored 28 goals in 23 international matches, but he was from the amateur era. 

Netherlands 2010 World Cup Finals

Starting lineup
I am using the classic 4-3-3 formation from Netherlands 1974.  However, tactics would be very different.  On paper, Cruyff was moved to the wing, but he would move around the field so it did not matter where he lined up.  Netherlands 1974 did not have a classic striker in Marco Van Basten.  So I am playing with a target man.  In 1974, Wim Jensen played in the midfield.  I replaced him with Ruud Gullit, a more offensive player than Jensen. This formation would probably reduce Neeskens' movement. He would drop back more often.