Ruud Krol

Ruud Krol was one of the greatest defenders in the history of Dutch football and a key piece of Ajax's three-time European champion team and the Clockwork Orange of the 1970s. Versatile, he played as a left-back and libero with equal excellence. Trained at Ajax, Krol joined the legendary team of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels that revolutionized football with "Total Football", winning three consecutive European Cups between 1971 and 1973. For the Netherlands national team, he competed in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, reaching both finals — defeats to West Germany and Argentina, respectively. In 1978, already as captain and libero, he was one of the tournament's great names. After leaving Ajax in 1980, he played for Napoli in Italy, where he also became beloved by the fans, ending his career as one of the most complete center-backs of his generation.