Frank De Boer

Birth Date: May 15 1970
Birth Place: Hoorn
Birth Nation: Netherlands
Height: 179
Weight: 79
Nationality: Dutch
Position: Defender

Both the De Boer brothers came through the kindergarten system that Ajax made famous throughout the world as the finest initiation a boy could have in the game.

They are also products of Ajax' grooming off the field, articulate in more than one language, expressive and patient with the media and fans. The de Boer brothers had a contract dispute with Ajax and they sued Ajax and its president, Michael van Praag

The de Boer brothers fought for the right to walk out on a contract that still had six years to run. The case before a Dutch tribunal opened in Zeist. The brothers claimed that their employer broke an oral agreement.

The brothers said that they signed the long term contract in good faith but that Ajax agreed orally that if an offer that could transform the life and earning capacity of one of the brothers came along, he would be released provided the other stayed.

It appears Ajax backed down on that agreement after floating the club on the stock market and pledging to share- holders that it would hold the de Boers and build around them a team to recapture the UEFA Champions Cup.

It was European football's longest running transfer saga and ended when FC Barcelona signed both brothers. Barca had a long standing interest in the pair and they paid out million for both of them on the Spanish transfer deadline in January 1999

But Ronald had a disagreement with the way Barcelona were treating him so in September 2000 Ronald left and signed for Glasgow Rangers for around million while Frank stayed at Camp Nou

The brothers are regulars in the Dutch national squad. Frank is regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe and Ronald plays wide on the right of attack.

Frank De Boer