The Pitbull — the most ferocious and technically exceptional defensive midfielder of the 1990s, famous for his dreadlocks, distinctive goggles and relentless energy.
Edgar Stevron Davids was born in Paramaribo, Suriname in 1973 and is the most recognisable midfield player of the late 1990s — as much for his distinctive protective goggles (worn following a glaucoma diagnosis) as for his fierce, irreplaceable style of play. He joined Ajax and won the Champions League in 1995. He moved to AC Milan and then Juventus (1996–2004), where he won four Serie A titles and reached two Champions League finals. His Juventus partner Zinedine Zidane described him as the engine that made the team work. He was named the Dutch footballer of the year in 1995. He joined Barcelona in 2004 and later played for Inter Milan, Tottenham, Ajax again and Crystal Palace. He earned 74 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 6 goals. He was part of the Dutch teams that reached the World Cup semi-final in 1998 and the European Championship final in 2000. He later became player-manager at Barnet and AJax. His tenacity, pressing and ability to win the ball back in tight spaces made him unique.
Champions League 1995 (Ajax)
Career Honours
- Champions League 1995 (Ajax)
- Serie A 2x
- UEFA Cup
- 74 Netherlands caps