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History repeats as Blind and Kluivert star on the European stage again

Daley Blind and Justin Kluivert are both following in their fathers' footsteps by playing in this season's Europa League final
Daley Blind and Justin Kluivert are both following in their fathers’ footsteps by playing in this season’s Europa League final

Rewind 22 years to the 1995 Champions League final in Vienna.

33-year-old Danny Blind had just captained Ajax to a 1-0 victory over European giants AC Milan. Coming off the bench, 18-year-old substitute, Patrick Kluivert popped up with five minutes to go to score the only goal of the game.

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After coming on with 20 minutes remaining, he took a pass from Frank Rijkaard and stabbed the ball past Sebastiano Rossi. Now, two decades later the children of that Ajax side face-off for another chance at European glory.

Daley Blind, the 27-year-old versatile defender, will be hoping to help Manchester United lift their only missing piece of major silverware and secure a place in the Champions League next season.

However, on the other side, he will have to play a part in stopping one of football’s latest prodigies.

24 May 1995: Patrick Kluivert (centre left) of Ajax robs Franco Baresi (left) of AC Milan of the ball during the European Cup Final in Vienna, Austria. Ajax won the match 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill/Allsport
24 May 1995: Patrick Kluivert (centre left) of Ajax robs Franco Baresi (left) of AC Milan of the ball during the European Cup Final in Vienna, Austria. Ajax won the match 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill/Allsport

18-year-old Justin Kluivert has exploded on the scene during the second half of the current campaign, emerging as the latest wonderkid from the Ajax youth academy.

He started the season playing for Ajax’s reserves and starring for the club in the UEFA Youth League. The Dutch side lost to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals but the winger finished the tournament with five assists and one goal.

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That was enough to convince coach Peter Bosz to hand him his first-team debut against PEC Zwolle. It took him some time to find his feet, playing mostly off the bench, but against Excelsior in March he scored his first goal for the Amsterdam club.

Nothing about the goal was special, a simple back post finish after a cross from the left, but it would give the youngster, feeling the pressure of following in his father’s footsteps, the confidence to spark into life.

“Every advantage has his disadvantage and every disadvantage has his advantage,” he told The Guardian when asked about the burden of having a famous surname.

Assists against AZ Alkmaar, Go Ahead Eagles and two against Willem II would follow, plus another goal against GAE – this one worth waiting for.

After a failed corner, the ball would break to the edge of the box and Kluivert was there to take a touch and drive a right-footed effort beautifully into the corner.

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Unlike his father, Justin is not a tall, rangy striker. He is short – standing 175cm tall – but is blessed with excellent pace and a fearlessness to take on defenders at will.

Unlike a lot of modern-day wingers, especially younger players, there’s no real showmanship to his play. Rather than attempt multiple step-overs, fancy tricks and a desire to overplay the situation, everything he does seems measured and to cause the maximum damage.

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“I just take the shortcut to the goal and I am more a team player,” he continued. “My dad tells me to be sometimes more selfish in front of the goal.”

Kluivert very often makes sure he reaches the byline, then rather than just drive crosses into the box an he’s constantly playing with his head up, looking for a team-mate.

Demonstrating superb balance, with a low centre of gravity, he can change direction at will, using a burst of pace to create space between him and his markers.

Ajax's Justin Kluivert plays the ball during the first leg semi final soccer match between Ajax and Olympique Lyon in the Amsterdam ArenA stadium, Netherlands, Wednesday, May 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Ajax’s Justin Kluivert plays the ball during the first leg semi final football match between Ajax and Olympique Lyon in the Amsterdam ArenA stadium. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Able to play on both sides of the attack, he has had to show that versatility in order to find minutes this season, fighting with Amin Younes on the left and Chelsea loanee Bertrand Traoré on the right.

Ajax have been keen on Kluivert for a while, nurturing him as he featured for the Netherlands youth teams from Under-15 to Under-19 level. The winger hasn’t let them down.

Against Schalke in the Europa League, he showed patience and calmness. Taking on two defenders, he stood them up, waited, then picked a great pass to Davy Klassen, for the Spurs and Manchester United transfer target to score his second goal of the game.

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So far during Ajax’s European run, Kluivert has only featured in 176 minutes of action, but his brilliant end to the Eredivisie campaign will put him in contention for a start against United.

“At PSV there is a big billboard saying: ‘Working hard beats talent, if talent doesn’t work hard.’”

It’s refreshing to see a young player with such maturity and it’s that old head on young shoulders that will help him fulfil his promise as a Kluivert.

“My wish is to become the best player in the world,” he says. “You have to pick up everything you come across, put it in your backpack, get it out when needed, train hard and show your class at every opportunity. And don’t talk about it but really mean it and do everything for it.”

On Wednesday night, the young pretender may get the chance to let his feet do the talking.

Just like his father, he will play in his first European final as an 18-year-old. But with the early promise he has shown, it will surely not be Kluivert’s last.