The Tijjani Reijnders Appreciation Post

Two years ago, Milan's football-clueless management did the unthinkable and fired a club legend, opting to try to run the club their own way. The freefall into dark times has had very few positives, but one bright light in the darkness has been Tijjani Reijnders. Few people knew much about this modern midfielder who hailed from the Netherlands, yet he came into the squad and immediately earned a starting spot, never looking back. With his brilliant performances, his humble confidence, and his winning smile, he won our hearts as well as a number of matches for Milan. Now, he has chosen to move up to a club that still has Champions League football, with one of the best managers in the world, for the chance to play alongside some of the best players in the world. With the state our club is in, I cannot begrudge that, I am truly happy for him. Yet I would also be remiss if I did not take a moment to appreciate all that Tijjani Reijnders did for Milan.

Two years of brilliance and fun, so grateful for every minute of it.

The first thing we learned about Tijjani was that he is grounded and centered by his beautiful family. From his Dutch father and agent, Martin, who is a former footballer himself, to his beautiful mother, Angelina, from Indonesia, his younger brother Eliano who is also a footballer playing for PEC Zwolle at home in the Netherlands, and his younger sister, they supported him and were a big part of his life. We also got to know his beautiful Iraqi wife, Marina, who also gave birth to their adorable son, Xavién, during their time in Milano. She documented Tijjani's Milan journey and so much more through her amazing social media videos that helped us see how wholesome and fun Tijjani and his family truly are.

The Power Reijnders Family on Halloween. Wholesome.

With love and support like that, Tijjani immediately became a great teammate, particularly during a time when the players needed someone like him who was professional, yet kind, and above all, ambitious. Moncada said earlier this season that it was Pioli who chose Reijnders, and Tijjani repaid that by becoming the highest scoring midfielder Milan have seen since Kaká–after Pioli left. (They had a good laugh about that in Saudi Arabia in January.) During his time at Milan, he had the most appearances of any player (104) and the most starts (97,) as well as the third highest goal tally, which is impressive for a midfielder. He led his teammates by example and hard work, always playing with passion and intensity, no matter the opponent.

Reijnders with Pulisic, Milan's top two scorers the past two years.

Upon his arrival, Tijjani was one of the highlights of the U.S. tour, playing his first three friendlies for Milan. Then he won his first trophy demonstrating his skills in the amazing Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi, which Milan won vs. Monza on penalties. In his first official match, vs. Bologna, he made his first assist on Giroud's opening goal. He scored his very first Milan goal vs. Lecce in November. That was followed by a UEFA Player of the Match performance in the Champions League away to Newcastle. He also scored in the Europa League in the 4-2 win over SK Slavia Praha. In all, he would only score four goals and three assists his first season at Milan, but he was a quintessential part of Pioli's midfield, whether he was played deeper in the double pivot, or in more of an attacking role.

Demonstrating his prowess against two former top midfielders in Serie A.

He said he was here to win trophies, so obviously he scored vs. Monza to win another illustrious Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi, probably the largest trophy awarded for a friendly. Tijjani definitely understood what the Derby meant. In September, he assisted Gabbia's winner and was given the Player of the Match award from Serie A. He also scored the only Milan goal in our draw with Inter in the February Derby, which was also his 10th Serie A goal of the season. Then he scored again in the big 3-0 win vs. Inter, the Derby win knocked them out of the Coppa Italia as well.

Tijjani actually became a Dutch Master with this piece of art scored in the February Derby.

He scored his first brace in the league vs. Empoli, and then he also had a brace in the Champions League vs. Club Brugge, where he earned UEFA's Player of the Match award. Some of his other important goals included the only goal in the draw vs. Roma that was Fonseca's last match. He assisted and then scored the winning goal in our comeback win vs. Como. (He probably has enough of those POTM trophies that he lets Xavién just use them as toys now.) This season, in all, he he was our second highest scorer, with 15 goals and also 4 assists in 54 appearances in all competitions.

UEFA's Player of the Match vs. Club Brugge with a brace in the Champions League.

Tijjani also received his first callup for the Netherlands just before coming to Milan because of his breakout year at AZ Alkmaar. However, it was his regular appearances for Milan that saw him get his first starts for his national team, and his first goals, as well. He showed gratitude to Milan and his family for helping him reach the Euro 2024 tournament with the Netherlands. Now he has scored four goals and has two assists for his country, and has established himself as an integral player for Holland.

Tijjani's "X" celebration he does for his son Xavién when he scores.

He had wanted to win a lot of trophies at Milan, and unfortunately, the Supercoppa was his only "real" trophy with the team. But he also has a shelf full of individual awards, including plenty of POTM awards in both Serie A as well as the two in the Champions League. Last year, at the Gentleman Awards in Milano, he won the Revelation Player award. This season, he was Serie A's Best Midfielder. For Milan, in the two years he was here, he was first in the team in successful passes in the opposition's half of the pitch, with 2,443, as well as top in passes in the final third, with 535 passes, a testament to his ability to attack and create chances. He renewed his contract earlier this season, which was deserved, only for the club to immediately accept Manchester City's offer for him. Which tells you so much about where Milan is right now.

Reijnders got a taste of silverware and now he wants more.

To say that he is irreplaceable is an understatement. While this management strangely stocked up on box-to-box midfielders and forgot other positions, Tijjani is no ordinary number eight. He is an incredibly intelligent player with excellent dribbling skills and an ability to see the game and to make runs and passes forward that is truly a gift. And that is to say nothing of his innate hunger for goals. I am not sure how much he improved on his defense here at Milan, which he has said and always will admit is his weakest part of his game.

May your star continue to shine bright wherever you go in life.

To find someone with so much talent, who is also so mature, so chill, such a good teammate, and with such a great family and values off the pitch... it is highly unlikely that we will ever find a player anything like him again. His father has been quoted as saying, "Always keep your head up, but never look down on anyone," and it is clear that Tijjani embodies that philosophy. I wish he could stay at Milan forever and continue to build his legend here, but I am also happy that he is getting out of the toxic environment this management has created right now. So I can only wish him the best success at Manchester City and in life, and be grateful for the two best years of his career... so far.

This post inspired by the music of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World"