View source for Richard Witschge

{{Short description|Dutch footballer (born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Richard Witschge
| image = Richard Witschge 2013.jpg
| caption = Witschge in 2013
| full_name = Richard Peter Witschge<ref name="wf.net">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/richard-witschge/|title=Richard Witschge: Profile|website=worldfootball.net|publisher=HEIM:SPIEL|access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|9|20|df=y}}<ref name="wf.net"/>
| birth_place = [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands<ref name="wf.net"/>
| height = 1.82 m<ref name="wf.net"/>
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = SDW
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| years1 = 1986–1991 | clubs1 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] | caps1 = 87 | goals1 = 3
| years2 = 1991–1993 | clubs2 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] | caps2 = 40 | goals2 = 2
| years3 = 1993–1996 | clubs3 = [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]] | caps3 = 77 | goals3 = 9
| years4 = 1995 | clubs4 = → [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] (loan) | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1996–2003 | clubs5 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] | caps5 = 139 | goals5 = 12
| years6 = 2001–2002 | clubs6 = → [[Deportivo Alavés|Alavés]] (loan) | caps6 = 26 | goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2003 | clubs7 = [[ADO '20]] | caps7 = | goals7 =
| years8 = 2004 | clubs8 = [[Oita Trinita]] | caps8 = 9 | goals8 = 0
| totalcaps = 379 | totalgoals = 27
| nationalyears1 = 1990–2000 | nationalteam1 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] | nationalcaps1 = 31 | nationalgoals1 = 1
}}
'''Richard Peter Witschge''' (born 20 September 1969) is a Dutch former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]]. He was known for his technique and passing ability.

In an 18-year professional career he played mainly for [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], but also represented, amongst other clubs, [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]. In 11 seasons in the [[Eredivisie]], he amassed totals of 226 matches and 15 goals.

Witschge represented the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro 1996]].

==Club career==
===Ajax===
Witschge was born in [[Amsterdam]], [[North Holland]]. A product of local club [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]'s prolific youth ranks under [[Johan Cruyff]], he first appeared in the [[Eredivisie]] on 26 October 1986 at the age of 17, and scored his first league goal approximately a year later. His older brother [[Rob Witschge|Rob]] was already playing for the club.

===Barcelona===
After becoming established in the first team, Witschge signed for Cruyff's [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in 1991. The manager later admitted to deliberately overpaying for him, as a favour to Ajax's incoming board of directors headed by his associate [[Michael van Praag]].<ref>{{cite book|title=My Turn: The Autobiography|last=Cruyff|first=Johan|publisher=Pan Macmillan|page=137}}</ref>

Witschge featured sparingly during his tenure, as the [[Catalonia|Catalans]] won back-to-back [[La Liga]] championships.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1992/06/08/108.html|title=Treinta y siete días laborales y uno festivo|trans-title=Thirty-seven working days and one festive|newspaper=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]]|language=es|date=8 June 1992|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1992/11/27/MD19921127-009.pdf|title=Witschge o Salinas es la duda|trans-title=Doubting between Witschge and Salinas|newspaper=[[Mundo Deportivo]]|last=Serra|first=Josep María|language=es|date=27 November 1992|access-date=9 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1993/06/21/090.html|title=El Barcelona, campeón de Liga|trans-title=Barcelona, League champions|newspaper=ABC|language=es|date=21 June 1993|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref> He made his debut in the competition on 14 September 1991, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 home win against [[Real Zaragoza]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1991/09/15/pagina-5/1246832/pdf.html#|title=El Barça sólo respira al final|trans-title=Barça can only breathe in the end|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|last=Astruells|first=Andrés|language=es|date=15 September 1991|access-date=3 October 2019}}</ref> He faced intense competition for playing time as the three allotted slots for foreign players were usually taken up by [[Michael Laudrup]], [[Hristo Stoichkov]] and his compatriot [[Ronald Koeman]], and an injury ruled him out of the [[1992 European Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eumd.es/2016/04/richard-witschge-en-el-dream-team-de-cruyff/|title=El holandés que no estuvo en Wembley|trans-title=The Dutchman who did not go to Wembley|publisher=En Un Momento Dado|language=es|date=26 April 2016|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref>

===Bordeaux===
Witschge's frustration with this state of affairs at the [[Camp Nou]] led him to take a substantial pay cut in joining [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]] for 18&nbsp;million francs in 1993. Initially, the move was unsuccessful, as he was unhappy with his accommodation and clashed with his coaches over their tactics. Amidst ineffectual performances, he was booed by his own supporters, and eventually dropped from the squad.<ref name=Liberation>{{cite news|url=https://www.liberation.fr/sports/1996/04/02/witschge-enfant-gate-et-gache-de-la-ballele-neerlandais-trouve-a-bordeaux-un-standing-qu-il-avait-cr_169878|title=Witschge, enfant gâté et gâché de la balle – Le Néerlandais trouve à Bordeaux un standing qu'il avait cru atteindre trop tôt|trans-title=Witschge, spoiled kid and wasted talent – Dutchman found at Bordeaux status he thought he had reached too soon|newspaper=[[Libération]]|last=Villepreux|first=Olivier|date=2 April 1996|access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref>

Witschge moved to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] on [[Loan (sports)|loan]] just ahead of the [[Transfer window|transfer deadline]] in March 1995, featuring against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], as his team [[1994–95 FA Premier League|won]] the [[Premier League]] title. He had been intended as a replacement for injured [[Midfielder#Winger|left winger]] [[Jason Wilcox]], but manager [[Kenny Dalglish]] preferred the more conservative option of pushing [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|left-back]] [[Graeme Le Saux]] forward, bringing [[Jeff Kenna]] into the defence. An unimpressed Witschge later made an outspoken attack on [[Blackburn]], branding the [[Lancashire]] town and its inhabitants "poor and ugly".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/26-the-strange-case-of/2725-richard-witschge|title=Richard Witschge|publisher=When Saturday Comes|last=Farrell|first=Ian|date=November 2002|access-date=5 October 2018|issue=189}}</ref>

Upon his return to Bordeaux, Witschge found conditions under new coach [[Slavoljub Muslin]] much more congenial, resulting in a sharp upturn in his form. He scored seven league goals and figured prominently in the team which reached [[1996 UEFA Cup Final|the final]] of the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]], after qualifying for the competition through the [[1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup]].<ref name=Liberation/>

===Later years===
In May 1996, Witschge agreed a return to Ajax, who wanted his experience to bolster the team which had begun to break up in the aftermath of their [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|1995 European Cup win]]. In his second spell he played more than 150 matches, helping the club win two leagues and consecutive [[KNVB Cup|domestic cups]]. After falling into dispute with veteran coach [[Co Adriaanse]], who preferred the younger [[Rafael van der Vaart]] in his role, he was loaned to Spanish top-flight side [[Deportivo Alavés|Alavés]] for the [[2001–02 La Liga|2001–02 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2001/08/17/deportes/997999209_850215.html|title=Un '10' en toda regla|trans-title=A '10' like no other|newspaper=[[El País]]|last=Besa|first=Ramón|language=es|date=17 August 2001|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref>

After leaving Ajax for a second time in 2003, Witschge had short spells with amateurs [[ADO '20]] in [[Heemskerk]] and [[Oita Trinita]] in Japan. After a failed trial at [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], he retired in June 2004, at nearly 35 years of age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/3569146.stm|title=Witschge extends Gers trial|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=20 August 2004|access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref>

Witschge returned to the [[Johan Cruyff Arena|Amsterdam Arena]] as a youth coach in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajax.nl/Ajax-nieuws/Ajax-nieuwsarchief/Ajax-nieuwsartikel/Overzicht-trainers-jeugdopleiding.htm|title=Overzicht trainers jeugdopleiding|trans-title=Youth coaches overview|publisher=AFC Ajax|language=nl|date=23 May 2013|access-date=31 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609084018/http://www.ajax.nl/Ajax-nieuws/Ajax-nieuwsarchief/Ajax-nieuwsartikel/Overzicht-trainers-jeugdopleiding.htm|archive-date=9 June 2013}}</ref>

==International career==
Witschge earned 31 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] for the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]], in which he scored one goal. He made his debut on 21 February 1990 in a 0–0 [[Exhibition game|friendly]] draw against [[Italy national football team|Italy]], and was picked for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] under manager [[Leo Beenhakker]].

An injury sustained with Barcelona ruled him out of [[UEFA Euro 1992]] and he did not make another major tournament until [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro 1996]], held in England. During this time, his place in the national team was taken by his older brother.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1992/05/26/feyenoorder-rob-witschge-neemt-plaats-in-van-geblesseerde-7144625-a689631|title=Feyenoorder Rob Witschge neemt plaats in van geblesseerde broer Richard; Oranje zoekt scherpte in oefencampagne|trans-title=Feyenoord man Rob Witschge takes the place of injured brother Richard; Orange seek sharpness in practice campaign|newspaper=[[NRC Handelsblad]]|language=nl|last=Serné|first=Marc|date=26 May 1992|access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref>

Witschge's initial spell in the national team yielded 19 appearances and one goal, between February 1990 and March 1992. As he subsequently dropped out of contention there was a perception that he had failed to fulfill his early talent, with Beenhakker attributing laziness and immaturity when he bracketed the player alongside contemporaries including [[Bryan Roy]] in the 'Patat Generatie' ({{langx|en|French Fries Generation}}), the implication being that they ate junk food instead of focusing on improvement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1992/06/13/ik-schop-ik-word-gemener-ik-groei-het-chagrijn-van-7146509-a343647|title=Ik schop, ik word gemener, ik groei'; Het chagrijn van Richard Witschge|trans-title='I kick, I become meaner, I grow'; Richard Witschge's misery|newspaper=NRC Handelsblad|last=Van der Linden|first=Frenk|language=nl|date=13 June 1992|access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref>

After an upturn in his fortunes at club level, Witschge was recalled in September 1995 during the nation's faltering [[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying|Euro 1996 qualifying campaign]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.trouw.nl/home/als-je-faalt-in-oranje-dan-is-de-volgende-aan-de-beurt~aedf8e16/|title=Als je faalt in Oranje, dan is de volgende aan de beurt|trans-title=If you fail in Orange, it's the next guy's turn|newspaper=[[Trouw]]|last=Verkammen|first=Matty|language=nl|date=6 September 1995|access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref> He attended the [[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying play-off|play-off tie]] against the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] in [[Liverpool]], but was not ultimately selected. In the finals, he was preferred over [[Edgar Davids]] by [[Guus Hiddink]], contributing to his teammate's frustration and eventual expulsion from the squad.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.trouw.nl/home/-van-de-coach-kun-je-het-toch-nooit-winnen-~ae6bd1ba/|title='Van de coach kun je het toch nooit winnen'|trans-title=One can never win against the coach|newspaper=Trouw|last=Verkammen|first=Matty|language=nl|date=18 June 1996|access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref>

In September 2000, Witschge returned to the national team after a three-year absence due to an injury crisis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/detalhe/van-gaal-prepara-holanda-possivel|title=Van Gaal prepara Holanda possível|trans-title=Van Gaal prepares possible Netherlands|newspaper=[[Record (Portuguese newspaper)|Record]]|language=pt|date=2 September 2000|access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref> He won his final cap in a 2–2 home draw with the Republic of Ireland, which dented the Netherlands' [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualification]] prospects for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]].

==Personal life==
Witschge's older brother, [[Rob Witschge|Rob]], was also a footballer and a midfielder.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/footballs-best-brothers-nevilles-reunited-6945526|title=Football's best brothers: As the Nevilles are reunited, we rank 30 of soccer's most celebrated sets of siblings|newspaper=[[Daily Mirror]]|last=Lang|first=Jack|date=3 December 2015|access-date=9 February 2016}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
|[[1986–87 Eredivisie|1986–87]]<ref name="wf">{{cite web |title=Richard Witschge » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/richard-witschge/2/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=30 November 2024}}</ref>
|rowspan="5"|[[Eredivisie]]
|2||0
|-
|[[1987–88 Eredivisie|1987–88]]<ref name="wf"/>
|10||1
|-
|[[1988–89 Eredivisie|1988–89]]<ref name="wf"/>
|14||0
|-
|[[1989–90 Eredivisie|1989–90]]<ref name="wf"/>
|28||2
|-
|[[1990–91 Eredivisie|1990–91]]<ref name="wf"/>
|33||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!87!!3
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|[[1991–92 FC Barcelona season|1991–92]]<ref name="bdfutbol">{{BDFutbol|42352}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"|[[La Liga]]
|23||0
|-
|[[1992–93 FC Barcelona season|1992–93]]<ref name="bdfutbol"/>
|17||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!40!!2
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]]
|[[1993–94 French Division 1|1993–94]]<ref name="wf"/>
|rowspan="3"|[[Ligue 1]]
|27||1
|-
|[[1994–95 French Division 1|1994–95]]<ref name="wf"/>
|17||1
|-
|[[1995–96 French Division 1|1995–96]]<ref name="wf"/>
|33||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!77!!9
|-
|[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] (loan)
|[[1994–95 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|1994–95]]<ref name="wf"/>
|[[Premier League]]
|1||0
|-
|rowspan="7"|Ajax
|[[1996–97 AFC Ajax season|1996–97]]<ref name="wf"/>
|rowspan="6"|Eredivisie
|21||3
|-
|[[1997–98 AFC Ajax season|1997–98]]<ref name="wf"/>
|29||2
|-
|[[1998–99 AFC Ajax season|1998–99]]<ref name="wf"/>
|32||2
|-
|[[1999–2000 AFC Ajax season|1999–2000]]<ref name="wf"/>
|20||2
|-
|[[2000–01 AFC Ajax season|2000–01]]<ref name="wf"/>
|15||2
|-
|[[2002–03 AFC Ajax season|2002–03]]<ref name="wf"/>
|22||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!139!!12
|-
|[[Deportivo Alavés|Alavés]] (loan)
|[[2001–02 La Liga|2001–02]]<ref name="bdfutbol"/>
|La Liga
|26||1
|-
|[[ADO '20]]
|2003–04
|[[Topklasse]]
|||
|-
|[[Oita Trinita]]
|2004<ref name="wf"/>
|[[J1 League]]
|9||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!379!!27
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=22990|title=Richard Witschge|publisher=European Football|access-date=18 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="11"|[[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
|1990||11||0
|-
|1991||6||1
|-
|1992||2||0
|-
|1993||0||0
|-
|1994||0||0
|-
|1995||3||0
|-
|1996||7||0
|-
|1997||1||0
|-
|1998||0||0
|-
|1999||0||0
|-
|2000||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!31!!1
|}

:''Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Witschge goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Richard Witschge
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 16 October 1991 || [[De Kuip]], Rotterdam, Netherlands || {{fb|POR}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 6|UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Barcelona'''
*[[La Liga]]: [[1991–92 La Liga|1991–92]], [[1992–93 La Liga|1992–93]]
*[[European Cup]]: [[1991–92 European Cup|1991–92]]
*[[European Super Cup]]: [[1992 European Super Cup|1992]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1993/02/11/pagina-2/1275596/pdf.html|title=El Barça encarrila otro euro-título|trans-title=Barça all but win another euro-title|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|last=Galindo|first=Jesús|language=es|date=11 February 1993|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref>

'''Bordeaux'''
*[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]: [[1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup|1995]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/51955--bordeaux-vs-karlsruhe/|title=Bordeaux 2–2 Karlsruhe|publisher=UEFA|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref>

'''Ajax'''
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[1997–98 Eredivisie|1997–98]]<ref name=AJAX>{{cite web|url=https://www.afc-ajax.info/en/season/1997-98|title=Season 1997–98|publisher=AFC Ajax|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref>
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[1997–98 KNVB Cup|1997–98]],<ref name=AJAX/> [[1998–99 KNVB Cup|1998–99]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afc-ajax.info/en/season/1998-99|title=Season 1998–99|publisher=AFC Ajax|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.vi.nl/Spelers/Speler/Richard-Witschge.htm Stats at Voetbal International] {{in lang|nl}}
*{{wvo|1069}}
*{{BDFutbol|2337}}
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{NFT|14155}}
*{{FIFA|44761}}
*{{J.League player}}

{{AFC Ajax Board}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Netherlands squads
| bg = #F1771D
| fg = white
| bordercolor = blue
| list1 = 
{{Netherlands squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Netherlands squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
}}
{{Dutch Football Talent of the Year}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witschge, Richard}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dutch men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona players]]
[[Category:Deportivo Alavés players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:FC Girondins de Bordeaux players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:J1 League players]]
[[Category:Oita Trinita players]]
[[Category:Netherlands men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
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[[Category:AFC Ajax non-playing staff]]
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[[Category:20th-century Dutch sportsmen]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]