rudolf jozef krol (born 24 march 1949) is a retired dutch footballer who was capped 83 times for the netherlands national team. most of his career he played for his home town club, ajax, and he became a coach after retirement. regarded as one of the best defenders of all time, krol mainly played as a sweeper or left-back, however he could play anywhere across the back line, or in midfield as a defensive midfielder, due to his range of passing with both feet, temperament, tactical intelligence, and ability to start attacking plays after winning back the ball.