20-05-2004 - Daniel de Ridder: Future Star, Transfer Rumours

De Ridder looks more like Sexy Becks' mysterious mainland cousin with a hair band's worth of brown locks,
dark eyebrows, an extreme Euro tan and big brown eyes we hope never glaze over. Usually playing the right, Daniël shows
-according to European soccer news- "little hesitation to take on defenders and the versatility to man three positions."

(NY SPORTS)

About Daniel de Ridder. Since watching his debut I have tried to monitor his performances as he looks like a player great potential.
It is his technique that is most intriguing. As a Man Utd fan i have grown up watching David Beckham.
to my knowledge no-one crossed a ball the same way. Arcing the back and twisting your left ankle (standing foot).
It's very similar to his free kicks.

This is whats special about Daniel.
He crosses the same way. Havent seen any free kicks so its hard to judge.
Interesting, has been linked with a move to Utd. I would be delighted if this were true.

(Man Utd Site)

After watching England u21's v Holland u21's, I must praise Ajax starlet, Daniel de Ridder.
The 19 year-old is a younger version of Inter's Andy van der Meyde, who also came up through Ajax's superb youth system.

With great flair, vision, technique + dazzling skills, it surely won't be long till a top European club such as Real Madrid,
Inter, Bayern, Man U, or Roma come in for him. Although ajax will be desperate to keep onto him for as long as possible.
This player has the potential to become a world class player!!!

(UK transfer site)

Another transfer rumour doing the rounds is that either Chelsea or Deportivo are going to land Holland U21 starlet Daniel De Ridder.
De Ridder (19) may be reluctant to leave Ajax and the Amsterdam Arena so early in his career though.
His mate Raphael Van der Vaart has been linked with moves all over the place.
Liverpool, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Roma, Lazio, Inter, Valencia, Chelsea and Newcastle are all said to be interested.

(Rumours Galore)

16/5/2004 - Ajax finish season in style

AIn the last match of the season Ajax did what the champions are supposed to do: win. Willem II was defeated 5-2 in Tilburg.
Anthony Obodai made his first goals for Ajax 1 and Daniël de Ridder also closed off his season with a first goal.
Not much was at stake in the last match of the season in Tilburg. Ajax were already the champions and Willem II could not go up or down.

As he had announced before, Ajax coach Ronald Koeman started with Maarten Stekelenburg on goal,
to give the young talent a chance to join the Holland squad as third goalkeeper in Euro 2004.
In the first half hour of the match it showed that both teams knew the match had hardly any meaning.
Just when it was really getting dull, Ajax scored.

Daniël de Ridder, who played his third match in a week, made a good move on the right flank.
Nobody seemed to expect his cross from the baseline as there was little movement before the goal of De Vlieger.
Tom Soetaers, standing at the second post, only had to put his head behind the ball: 0-1.

Until the final minute of the first half Stekelenburg barely had an opportunity to show why he should be added to the national squad.
But all of a sudden, referee Oskam decided that Zdenek Grygera was holding on to the shirt of Romano Dennboom
too much and awarded the home side a penalty. Stekelenburg reacted well to the spot kick of Tom Caluwé and saved it.
But Caluwé was the first to react and put in his own rebound: 1-1.

In the second half Ronald Koeman brought on Anthony Obodai for captain Rafael van der Vaart.
Obodai made his presence felt immediately, first on the defensive end and a few minutes later on the other side.
The Ghanese midfielder gave Ajax the lead again when he took a pass from Daniël de Ridder and scored calmly.

After Willem II had equalised through a header by Bart van der Eede it was again Obodai who put Ajax up. Koeman:
,,Obodai gave us more depth with his speed and we needed that. It freed him a couple of times and that is a quality that other midfielders lack.
Rafael van der Vaart for instance does not possess his acceleration and therefore we could not reach Ibrahimovic in the first half.''

Ajax combined quickly and the swift passing delighted the supporters from Amsterdam.
Willem II did their part as well but in the final 10 minutes the home team had no more energy.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 13th goal of the season and Daniël de Ridder closed off the season in style
when he lobbed the ball over goalkeeper De Vlieger in the final minute: 2-5.

(ajax.nl)

23/2/2004 - United After Dutch Wonderkid

According to newspaper reports, Sir Alex Ferguson is keeping tabs on another Dutch wonderkid:
Daniel de Ridder, a young bright talent that has risen from the well known Ajax Youth Academy.
.
De Ridder, 20, is in the similar mold to David Beckham but isn't the only Dutchman linked with a move to Old Trafford.
PSV Eindhoven starlet Arjen Robben has also been linked.
The forward's contract at Ajax expires in the summer and has been watched by top clubs in Europe such as Juventus and Barcelona.

The young prodigy has only recently broken into the Ajax first-team, making his debut against JC Roda just last month.
It was his pace, tricky skills and ability to pass that impressed players and critics alike.
Amsterdam born, De Ridder has represented Holland at U19 and U18 level
and has been touted to have a glittering senior international career.

(sportnetwork.net)


26/1/2004 - Koeman impressed With De Ridder

Ajax boss Ronald Koeman was quite proud after teen phenom Daniël De Ridder was voted man of the match
by the fans for his showing in a 1-0 win against NEC Nijmegen.

Making his first start, and his home debut, the De Toekomst product showed little hesitation to take on defenders
and the versatility to man three positions. ”He started well and was quick in the early stages and towards the end of the match,” gauged Koeman.
“Because of all the injuries it was possible to play those young lads.”

”They are talented, but we had to bring them sooner than you would normally do - It was good that the fans
voted De Ridder man of the match.” Koeman also told the club website that Rafael van der Vaart toughed it out with a stomach virus.
”Normally, Rafael would not have played,” he stated. “He wasn't fit, but he took one for the team.”

(soccer european news)