Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Maxim Gullit.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Maxim Gullit
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Maxim Gullit (born 20 May 2001) is a former Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender.
Key Information
His father is former professional footballer Ruud Gullit and his mother is socialite Estelle Cruijff, a niece of Ajax and Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff.
Club career
[edit]Born in Zaanstad,[1] Gullit was a youth player with Amsterdamsche FC from 2005 to 2017 before joining the academy of AZ Alkmaar, before making his debut with Jong AZ on 22 April 2019 as a 71st-minute substitute for Joris Kramer in a 0–0 draw with FC Twente.[2] He made his debut for the senior team on 29 October 2020 as a 90th-minute substitute for Bruno Martins Indi in a 4–1 victory over Rijeka in the Europa League.[3] On 27 August 2021, Gullit joined newly-promoted Eredivisie side Cambuur on a two-year deal with the option of a third.[4]
International career
[edit]Eligible to play for the Netherlands, Suriname and Croatia,[5] Gullit has played for the Netherlands under-19 team.[6]
Personal life
[edit]His father is former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit. His mother Estelle Cruijff is the daughter of Henny Cruijff, Johan Cruyff's brother.[2] His maternal grandmother, Jadranka Lokas, is an ethnic Croat from Šibenik.[5]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 29 October 2020
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Jong AZ | 2018–19[6] | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[6] | 20 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21[6] | 8 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 21 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||||
| AZ Alkmaar | 2020–21[6] | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
- ^ Includes KNVB Cup
- ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Maxim Gullit". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Zoon van Ruud Gullit maakt debuut voor Jong AZ in kampioensduel Twente". AD.nl (in Dutch). 22 April 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ UEFA.com. "History: AZ Alkmaar 4-1 Rijeka". UEFA. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ^ "DUBBELKLAPPER: GULLIT EN KRASTEV PER DIRECT NAAR SC CAMBUUR" (in Dutch). SC Cambuur. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ a b Bauer, Dean (31 October 2020). "Nevjerojatna priča: Sin slavnog Ruuda Gullita i rođak Johana Cruyffa mogao bi zaigrati za Vatrene!?". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
- ^ a b c d e Maxim Gullit at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
External links
[edit]- Career stats - Voetbal International
- Maxim Gullit at WorldFootball.net
- Maxim Gullit at Soccerway
Maxim Gullit
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and background
Family heritage
Maxim Gullit was born on 20 May 2001 in Zaanstad, Netherlands, to his father Ruud Gullit, a renowned former Dutch international footballer and Ballon d'Or winner, and his mother Estelle Cruijff, a Dutch model and actress.[1][8][9] Through his mother's side, Gullit is the great-nephew of Johan Cruyff, the iconic Dutch footballer, coach, and three-time Ballon d'Or recipient, whose brother Henny Cruijff was Estelle's father; this lineage ties Maxim directly to the storied Cruyff family, often regarded as Dutch football royalty for their profound influence on the sport's philosophy and success.[10][2] Gullit's multicultural background stems from his paternal Surinamese-Dutch roots—his grandfather George Gullit emigrated from Suriname—and his maternal Croatian heritage via his grandmother Jadranka Lokas, affording him eligibility for Dutch, Surinamese, and Croatian nationalities.[11][12][1] From a young age, Maxim was exposed to football's elite circles through his parents' legacies, growing up in the Netherlands amid the cultural blend of his family's international influences, which shaped his early identity and passion for the game.[13]Youth development
Maxim Gullit's passion for football was ignited early, influenced by his father Ruud Gullit's storied professional career. At the age of four, in 2005, he joined the youth team of Amsterdamsche Football Club (AFC) in Amsterdam, where he developed his foundational skills over the next 12 years until 2017, reaching the age of 16.[1] In 2017, Gullit was scouted and recruited into the youth academy of AZ Alkmaar, one of the Netherlands' most acclaimed development programs known for producing technically proficient and tactically astute players.[1][14] During his two-year tenure there from 2017 to 2019, he honed his abilities as a centre-back, with the academy's emphasis on defensive discipline, ball-playing proficiency, and positional awareness shaping his growth. Gullit's physical development during this period was notable; he grew to a height of 1.93 meters, enhancing his suitability for the centre-back role through improved aerial presence and physicality.[1] In 2019, at age 17, he gained his first taste of senior-level exposure by appearing for Jong AZ, AZ Alkmaar's reserve team in the Eerste Divisie, though he continued training primarily with the youth squads until signing his initial professional contract.[2][10]Club career
AZ Alkmaar
Maxim Gullit joined the AZ Alkmaar youth academy in 2017 after spending his early years at AFC Amsterdam. Following a successful progression through the youth ranks, he signed his first professional contract with the club on 10 May 2019, shortly after turning 18.[1] Gullit made his senior debut for Jong AZ, AZ Alkmaar's reserve team in the Eerste Divisie, on 22 April 2019, entering as a substitute in a match against Twente II.[10] Over the 2019–2021 period, he went on to make 55 appearances for Jong AZ, all as a centre-back, contributing 5 assists but no goals, and played a key role in anchoring the reserve team's defense.[15][16] In the summer of 2020, Gullit was promoted to the AZ Alkmaar first team amid high competition in the defensive line.[1] His only senior appearance came on 29 October 2020, when he substituted into the UEFA Europa League group stage match against HNK Rijeka in the 90th minute, during AZ's 4–1 home victory.[17][18] Despite training with the senior squad, he received no opportunities in the Eredivisie due to the depth in central defense.[16][19] His contract with AZ ran until the end of the 2020–2021 season.[1]SC Cambuur
Maxim Gullit transferred to SC Cambuur from AZ Alkmaar on 27 August 2021, signing a two-year contract until 30 June 2023 with an option for an additional year. This move, building on his experience in AZ's reserve team, marked his step into regular senior football at the newly promoted Eredivisie club. Gullit made his Eredivisie debut for SC Cambuur on 11 September 2021, entering as a substitute in the 79th minute during a 5–2 home win against Go Ahead Eagles.[20] In the 2021–22 season, he accumulated seven league appearances, all as a substitute totaling 109 minutes played, without scoring any goals. He also featured in two KNVB Cup matches that season, starting both and contributing to defensive efforts in a 5–0 second-round victory over Ajax Amateurs. Despite showing promise in providing defensive solidity during his limited outings, Gullit's playing time was hampered by injuries and competition within the squad.[5] A severe knee injury, specifically an ACL tear, sustained on 26 February 2022 against Fortuna Sittard sidelined him for 519 days.[5][21] The injury recovery extended into the 2022–23 season, preventing any appearances following Cambuur's relegation to the Eerste Divisie. Across all competitions during his tenure at SC Cambuur, he totaled nine appearances (seven in the Eredivisie and two in the KNVB Cup), emphasizing his role as a reliable left-footed defender when fit.[15]Retirement
Maxim Gullit retired from professional football on 1 July 2023, at the age of 22, coinciding with the expiration of his contract with SC Cambuur.[1] Over the course of his brief professional tenure, spanning spells at AZ Alkmaar and SC Cambuur, Gullit accumulated fewer than 70 senior appearances across all competitions, during which he did not score any goals.[7] His time at Cambuur was marked by limited opportunities, with 7 appearances in the Eredivisie.[15] Since his departure from Cambuur, Gullit has not returned to competitive football, and as of November 2025, he remains officially listed as retired on major player databases.[1][22]International career
Youth international career
Maxim Gullit received his first call-up to the Netherlands U19 national team in 2019.[1] He made his debut on 9 June 2019 against Italy U19 in a friendly match, where he came on as a substitute in the 78th minute.[23] Over the course of his youth international tenure, Gullit earned a total of seven caps for the U19 side, all in 2019 in friendlies or UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers, without scoring any goals; his final appearance came on 19 November 2019 versus Mexico U20.[23] Despite earning praise for his physical presence in defense during these outings, Gullit did not progress to the U21 or senior levels, largely due to inconsistent domestic form limiting further opportunities.[1] His involvement reflected the broader Dutch youth system, which emphasizes total football principles of versatility, technical proficiency, and tactical awareness from an early age.National team eligibility
Maxim Gullit was eligible to represent the Netherlands at the international level by virtue of his birth in Zaanstad on 20 May 2001.[1] His paternal lineage further supported this eligibility, as his father, Ruud Gullit, is a Dutch citizen despite his own Surinamese heritage. Through this same paternal connection—specifically via his paternal grandfather, George Gullit, who was born in Suriname—Maxim Gullit was also eligible to play for the Suriname national team under FIFA regulations allowing representation based on grandparental nationality.[24] On his maternal side, Gullit held eligibility for Croatia due to his grandmother, Jadranka Lokas, an ethnic Croat originally from Šibenik.[25] Despite these options, he received no call-ups to any senior national team and was never capped at any level for either Croatia or Suriname.[1] His international experience was limited to the youth level, where he represented the Netherlands U19 team in 2019, playing in seven matches. Gullit did not progress to senior international opportunities following his U19 appearances, partly due to his early retirement from professional football in July 2023 at age 22, which effectively ended any potential for further national team consideration.[1] During 2019, media outlets in Croatia highlighted his multi-nationality options, speculating on whether family ties to Dutch football—through both his father's legacy and his mother Estelle Cruijff's connection to the Cruyff family—would influence him to pursue opportunities beyond the Netherlands.[25]Career statistics and style
Professional statistics
Maxim Gullit amassed a total of 65 club appearances across his professional career, all without scoring a goal, with 5 assists, which aligns with his role as a centre-back focused on defensive duties. These include 55 matches for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie, 1 appearance for AZ Alkmaar's senior team in the UEFA Europa League, and 9 games for SC Cambuur (7 in the Eredivisie and 2 in the KNVB Cup).[26] He received 6 yellow cards and 1 red card during his club tenure.[19] On the international stage, Gullit earned 7 caps for the Netherlands U19 team in 2019, without goals, assists, or disciplinary actions. His overall career totals thus stand at 72 appearances, 0 goals, and 5 assists.[27] The following table summarizes his professional statistics on a season-by-season basis, highlighting key periods of activity:| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–2019 | Jong AZ | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019–2020 | Jong AZ | Eerste Divisie | 20 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2020–2021 | Jong AZ | Eerste Divisie | 33 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020–2021 | AZ Alkmaar | UEFA Europa League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021–2022 | Jong AZ | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021–2022 | SC Cambuur | Eredivisie | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021–2022 | SC Cambuur | KNVB Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–2023 | SC Cambuur | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |