Marciano Vink

Early years

Born a few months after the 1970 FIFA World Cup into a family of football fans in Paramaribo, Suriname, Vink thanks his middle names to the feats of the Brazil national football team that year, as he was named after its captain Carlos Alberto Torres. The Vink family moved to the Netherlands, and it was there that young Marciano learned his trade at TOS Actief and ADE in Amsterdam. A prolific young player, Vink's talents were soon noticed by the Ajax scouts and it wasn't before long he was admitted to play a notable side (in European football history).

Career with Ajax

He swiftly rose through ranks of Ajax's youth Academy with a number of extremely talented players such as: Dennis Bergkamp, Frank de Boer, Ronald de Boer, Richard Witschge, Bryan Roy, and Michel Kreek. Vink was deemed to be a huge prospect and was heralded to become the next Frank Rijkaard. His rise through the youth ranks and his debut at the age of 18 in 1988 were, however, no indication of how his career would ultimately unfold. He would play 108 matches in his five-year stint with Ajax until coach Louis van Gaal decided to dismantle the team that won the UEFA Cup in 1992 to make way for a younger generation of players such as Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf, Michael Reiziger, and Edgar Davids. In 1993, Vink therefore opted for Italian side Genoa.

Career continued

Vink's spell with Genoa turned out to be a disappointment. He played only 13 matches (2 goals), in a…

Marciano Vink has capped twice for the Netherlands in 1991, at the height of his career. At the age of 20 he was called up by national team coach Rinus Michels for the European Championship qualifier matches for Sweden 1992, against Malta and Finland. He earned two caps in one month, but was never called up again, mostly due to injuries.

Ajax

Eredivisie: 1989–90 KNVB Cup: 1992–93 UEFA Cup: 1991–92 PSV

Eredivisie: 1996–97 KNVB Cup: 1995–96 Johan Cruyff Shield: 1996, 1997, 1998