RONALD DE BOER
CLUBS
1988-91 Ajax
1991-93 Twente
1993-99 Ajax
1999-2000 Barcelona
2000-04 Rangers
2004-05 Al-Rayyan
2005-08 Al-Shamal
COUNTRY
1993-2003 Netherlands
For a man with 67 Netherlands caps, Ronald de Boer’s choice of location for our interview is very on-brand. The 49-year-old asks FFT if we can meet in Edam, a village just outside Amsterdam and home to the famous Dutch cheese. We briefly wonder if he’ll arrive wearing clogs, picking tulips and pointing at a windmill.
Like Edam cheese, De Boer became a popular Dutch export, winning the Champions League with Ajax and more silverware with Barcelona and Rangers. Having flourished thanks to the Dutch philosophy of attacking football, he is now part of Ajax’s academy, inspiring and nurturing the next generation.
Ronald is also half of one of football’s best-known double acts. He is a whole 10 minutes older than his twin brother, Frank. The pair played together for many years, not just for the Netherlands but at five different club sides.
He also works as a straight-talking TV pundit these days, and hasn’t turned up today to talk about cheese. He’s ready to reminisce with FFT about a playing career that brought trophies, chances to join Arsenal or Manchester United, and even a meeting with James Bond...
Did you and Frank have a competitive sibling rivalry that drove you both to improve? Who was the better player?
Chris Jess, via Instagram
Growing up together definitely improved us. We loved playing all kinds of games, and we always did everything to beat each other. We both had that intrinsic motivation to win. When Frank achieved something, I wanted to equal and then better it. Being together day and night helped us to reach a higher level. We’d have big arguments, too – our friends would wonder when we’d be speaking to each other again! But usually we had forgotten about it after 30 seconds. The underlying brotherly love was stronger.
Frank was probably the better player technically when we were young. But as I progressed in my career, turning from a forward into a midfielder, I improved a lot and became much better at certain things, such as dribbling.
How does it feel to have played with your brother for six different teams?
Charlie Edwards, via Instagram
It’s very special. He has always been my best friend. We speak very often, even though he is coaching in the US at the moment. I think we phone each other three or four times a
