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Live from Abu Dhabi Connect the World takes you on a journey across continents, investigating the stories that are changing our world.
Thursday's Connector: Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Seedorf is one of the most decorated footballers of all time.
The articulate Dutchman has won Europe’s top club honour, the Champions League, with three different teams: Ajax, Real Madrid and twice with current club, AC Milan.
He has also won 89 international caps for the Netherlands, though he has not been selected for national duty since Euro 2008.
Off the pitch, the 33 year-old, who was born in Dutch-speaking Suriname in South America, works tirelessly for humanitarian causes.
Last year, he was named one of the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Legacy Champions for the work done by his charity, Champions for Children.
The non-profit foundation was established to protect and support the conditions in which children and young people grow up around the world -– particularly in developing countries.
We’ll put your questions to Clarence during Thursday’s program. And please let us know from where you are writing.
On Twitter
You are a damn tough player. I like your style ! Do you think AC Milan will win the Champions League this year, with Ronaldinho being in good form and with Beckham? If not, who do you favour?
You are one of the most decorated footballers of all time, but in the Netherlands they don't see it that way, does that annoys you?
Do you feel misunderstood?
Do you find it difficult to remain a steady guy in the face of all the fame?
why is it that footballers are becoming sleazes now?
Once your football days are up, what do you hope to do?
If AC milan will not win this champions league which will u tick for finals
What are your thoughts on the way many black players are targeted in Italy during matches with racist jeers? I know that it occurs quite often and more recently with Balotelli. Is the problem with Italian society in general, the clubs not being able to control their fans, or is it just few ignorant fans trying to aggravate players? Did you experience this in other countries – Spain, Holland ...?
Which teammate or opponent do you respect the most...based on their football skills on the pitch?
In Suriname there is so much young football talent, but also much poverty, especially in the rural and interior districts. What can you do (more) to develop football talents and give these youngsters a way to break the poverty cycle?
Hi,
It's allowed to "answer" the ball with your head in football, is there any jargon for this? (and real life expectancy 🙂
Seedorf, there is no doubt u are one of the most successful footballers of all time.And you are still going strong
1-what makes you thick?
2-What do you think is wrong with this current Milan team?
Your goal agains Man Utd. Seems like a greatest goal you have ever scored, because of the passion in your celebration..i think the goal is one in a hundred, what you think?
Without a doubt, you are definitely the most decorated football player of all times as far as i am concerned!
Mu question is, do you think the reason that you are not selected to play for Holland is because of what we all think or know, which is envy and ignorance from the Dutch football association?
Thank you
Tell me how many staffmembers do you have to do all the good things together with you
What is more important to you at this point of your tremendously successful career, football or your charity work and humanitarian causes?
Zou je nog mee willen naar het Wk met Oranje?
Would you like to be selected by the Netherlands for the World Cup in South Africa ? If you are not selected will you be going to South Africa anyway as a spectator or in some other role ? (I am an Interista and I'm sorry that you left Intermilan.....).
Clarence,
You are one of the few intelligent players in the this World.. No matter what, You are the Best.. We knows, And ofcourse the whole World knows..
We will be missing you Dude...Remember–Your Fantastic Goal when played for Real Madrid???? It was Amazing!!!
Hi, whats the best team youve played in and who's the best player you have played with?
Clarence
Have you any thoughts on the current cash crisis clubs are having in the premiership? There are a number of US and Middle East investors trying to buy the clubs, do you think this is good for the game?
What's the real story behind you not playing for your national team? Do you and the manager not see eye-to-eye?
(1) When are you likely to hang on your boot?
Reasons why your national team did not invite you for the world cup in south Africa:-
(1) As one of the most decorated footballers in the world you need to give way to younger ones to achieve atleast half of what you have achieved.
(2) Yes you are in the class of Ronaldinho, you can agree with me that Brazillian team did not invite him as well, despite his current form, So why do you think your national team will invite you?
The way the world of football is commonly seen is very commercial and opportunistic, with absurd amounts of money being paid for players, agents etc., resulting in destructive or over-the-top behaviour of people involved. Do you feel comfortable in that world and how do you manage to stay both true to your values as well as very respected among your football peers?
Yu ben gebore srananman. Yu sabi fa fu taki sranan??
The Dutch have had historically bad luck in the World Cup Finals. What's the answer to a successful finish this year?
Seedorf by far the most succesfull dutch player ever. What do you think is the real reason you haven't been invited for the dutch national team? Because your qualities are outspoken. Another point is that almost the whole dutch staff are formal teammates of yours. Apperently they also accept the dismiss of Seedorf.
what is your opinion on trhe economoic crisis that the entire world is going through not even excluding the football teams?
Is it effecting all the game, are the ripples reaching the players pockets aswell?
Will that effect the valur of players in the next trading season?
What do players think about that? does it concern them? i mean divaluation
Jo Clarence Jonge!, You are crazy on the pitch!...absolutely a great player!...If the frikking NL Coach doesnt call you for the word cup, he has some serious mental issues man. (go figure he was from feyenoord)..all the best!!..mazzel
Hello,
I'm a huge fan of yours, both on the pitch and off. I was born in Surinam, like you. You are a clear example of how much football talent there is in Surinam, but there just isn’t enough money to fund all this.
My question is; after you career as an active player, do you want to become coach of the Surinamese national football team?
And btw the reason why you aren’t selected for the Dutch national team is that players will respect you more then they will Van Marwijk.
Don't you think?
Is't it better to canalize youre wisdom and energy towards the development of a good Suriname soccer team, endure and everlasting development of the complete suriname football(or commercial sports in general) than to use it against the Dutch wrong thinking and doing, over and about you, member of the selection, etc?.
Clarence , plse go on a higher level, leave the stupid Dutchis for what they are.....
I hope you'll somehow understand that and handling conform this....
Hey Clarence,
When nearing the end of a great career do you ever consider playing for a club in Holland before 'throwing in the boots'? It would be great seeing you play on a Dutch soccerpitch again (haha... allthough preferably not in a Ajax shirt).
Cheers...
I'll always be grateful for your contributions to Milan's successes in recent years.
How far do you agree with my opinion that with your current pace you can contribute the most when playing as a playmaker in front of the defence? You gave an awesome performance in Pirlo's absence during the victorious derby of 29/9/2008 (1-0).
[I know you prefer playing in a more advanced position, but I think that currently you can be more useful when playing as a playmaker]
i agree with de nl coach becouse there are better players in holland and i know becouse i am from holland.i see every match in de european leags.but he is a good person. are you going to south afrika to watch te world cup.
Clarence, you have played with so many great players through the years, on so many different teams. Every player has their most memorable laugh-up that happened during their career, whether it be publicized or not. What is the most humorous thing that you have seen during your times, which team was it on, and who did it involve?
It seems everyone is talking about your retirement, you are almost 34. But you are still in very good form, you can easily keep up with players 10 years younger than you. I think you will play for many years to come and on the highest level. But when the day comes when you’ll leave AC Milan, don’t go to play in England. Go play in Brazil with Clube de Regatas do Flamengo. I think you once said that that was you favourite club in the world. A man with your passion for football belongs in a club where passion is written.
Clarence any regrets at not in in the English Premier League?
hi seedorf do you think milan ac has been affected badly by the departure of kaka???
You are the most decorated player in the world but who was the best player in the world: Pele, Cruijff, Maradona or somebody else?
i am AC Milan fan very strong one my own questions is are we going to win the champions league? and second did you have are child?
I think it's great you are using your famous name/money to support your charity work.If we want to change the world we have to start with ourselves. I hope a lot of big names will follow your example.
I wish you a lot of succes with your carreer.
With love from Holland
Leslie Adriaanse from Vlaardingen, Holland
hi clarence,what does d dutch team need to do to be successful team at the world cup with all the potential it has.
hi, a lot of black players encounter the issue of racism, do that ever happened to you, that you decide to qiut.
Hallo, Seedorf
What do you want kind of things do you still want to achieve in life?. because you have already won the Champions League with 3 different clubs, you are co-owner of a club and you have met Nelson Mandela.
Greetings from Holland ( Venray)
Why do you think that surinam players where so succeful in the Netherlands?
I find Clarence is still te most experienced and gifted midfielder on the actual european fields. Especially Mr. van Basten and recently mr. van Marwijk have shown their shortcomings in soccerknowledge to ignore Seedorf his topskills which still are a great need for the dutch squad. Like during the EC2008, the dutch also will be just too fragile on the midfield in the topgames they have to play during the WC2010 in Southafrica. Now that's an everlasting shameless deed from these two recent coaches. Everywhere abroad Clarence still has many admirors and fans and outside Holland everyone is wondering why he's not selected all these years. Coming from Holland I have just one answer to this: Clarence Seedorf is too intellect for man like van Basten en van Marwijk, that they can't deal with that. My dream that our dutch squad will win a second big Cup after 1988, will again not coming true for this lost chance.
Hi Clarence! I'll take my hat off for your personality on and off the pitch. So many examples of respectful and skillful activity you have as long I can remember. You have grown all these years as a super humansportsman. Then why the hell weren't you playing on the european championships in 2008 and coming worldchampionships? Do you think like every sportsminded (wo)man, that the unbelievable neglaction of vBasten and vMarwijk is their own shortcoming by neglacting the best dutch midfielder/teamplayer whose still playing in the top of worldsoccer?
I have cried my eyes out when first vBasten humiliated you several times in public while you couldn't defend yourself. And still I cry every time vMarwijk ignores your almost weekly performed skills, while several dutch midfielders are sitting for a long time on the bench at their clubs! If you think it over it's a discrace and I wonder if such coaches can sleep well at night when their squads loses their games especially on midfield!!! I wish you all the happiness and keep up the good games and work!