• Edgar Davids was a top midfielder known for his distinctive dreadlocks and goggles.

• He played for clubs like Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona, and Inter Milan.

• Nicknamed "The Pitbull" for his aggressive style by Louis van Gaal.

• Helped Ajax win multiple titles, including the Champions League.

• Had significant stints in Italy and England, influencing major clubs.

There are certain personalities in football who became popular due to their unique looks, rather than playing abilities. Edgar Davids is a special exception though, as he was one of the best midfielders of his generation and one of the most recognizable players in the game’s history due to his unique look. The Dutch international stood out on the football field with his dreadlocked hair and the protective goggles that he wore due to glaucoma. In a career that spanned for more than 2 decades, Davids played for several legendary clubs like Ajax, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Juventus. He was also named as “ The Pitbull “ by legendary manager Louis van Gaal due to his aggressive style of play. Let us now look back at the magnificent career of Edgar Davids.

A legendary stint at Ajax

Edgar Davids is one of the many legendary players that came through their youth academy, and he got into the first-team by 1991. He went on to have the most successful phase of his career with the Dutch Club, as Davids helped them win 3 Eredivisie titles during his 5 years with the club. Their biggest achievements came in the European competitions, as Ajax ended up winning the UEFA Cup, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup. Edgar Davids and the club had the chance to become European Champions once again as well in 1996, as Ajax reached that season's Champions League finals. The Dutch club however, went on to lose the match by penalty shootout vs Juventus. Davids had also missed Ajax's first penalty in that shootout. That was the end of Davids's first stint at Ajax, as it was time for the player to showcase his talents in another country.

Life at Italy

The beginning of the 1996–97 season saw Edgar Davids join Milan on a free transfer along with his teammate Michael Reiziger. Milan went on to have a terrible season, and this affected David's performance as well. He was unable to recover his place in the team and was allowed to join league rivals Juventus for a £3 million transfer fee.

Davids went on to have a magnificent 6 year stint at Juventus with the Dutchman forming a brilliant midfield partnership with Zinedine Zidane. The Pitbull won 3 Serie A titles, 2 Supercoppa Italiana titles, and a UEFA Intertoto Cup. Heartbreak once again followed Davids in the Champions League though, as he lost yet another final by a penalty shootout in the 2002–03 Champions League. League rivals Milan were the team that beat the Bianconeri to become the Champions of Europe.

Loan move to Barcelona

Davids joined Barcelona on loan in January 2004 from Juventus. He came to the club when they were struggling in mid-table and recently appointed manager Frank Rijkaard was under considerable pressure to deliver. Davids went on to play a massive role in Barca's resurgence that season, which saw them finish second to Valencia in La Liga. Even though he only spent a short period with the Blaugrana, Davids has been credited as a catalyst for the club's rise in the years that followed.

A return to Italy and move to England

Pitbull was back to Italy, this time as an Inter Milan player. However, Davids did not have a successful stint with the Nerazzurri and his contract was terminated early. That was the end of his career in Italian football.

Edgar Davids went on to join Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer, and he became a fan-favorite during his 2 seasons with the club. His short time with the club was successful, and Spurs finished 5th on both seasons.

Return to Ajax and one final stint at England

Edgar Davids returned to his boyhood club Ajax on 28th January 2007. Even though his short second stint was nowhere near the legendary time he previously had , Davids was still an instrumental part of the side and was able to win the KNVB Cup with them. After more than a year with Ajax, Davids left the club after his contract expired.

His final club in professional football was Crystal, for whom he played on a pay-as-you-play. The Dutch international had a very short stint with the club, and only lasted for around 2 months. That was the end of Davids's career as a professional footballer, even though he had taken a player-manager role later in his career.

The Dutchman will always be regarded as one of the best in his position, and remain as one of the most familiar faces in football.

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