Wesley Sneijder

Wesley Sneijder (born 9 June 1984) is a Dutch former professional footballer.

Due to his playmaking ability, Sneijder was considered one of the best midfielders in the world during his prime.

He first made the bench as an unused substitute for Ajax in a 2–0 win at SBV Excelsior on 22 December 2002 when manager Ronald Koeman, troubled by an injury-filled squad, called him up, advised by Danny Blind, the then-coach of the Ajax youth squad.

Having previously represented various youth squads for the Netherlands, he was a regular player for the Dutch national team, making his debut in April 2003 at the age of 18, and representing his country at the 2006, 2010 (where the Netherlands were defeated 1–0 in the final) and 2014 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2004, 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Football Championships.

On 2 February 2003, Sneijder made his official Ajax debut against Willem II in a 6–0 win.

He quickly established himself in the first team, starting in the Champions League quarter-final match against A.C. Milan on 23 April 2003.

On 5 March 2003, Sneijder scored his first goal for Ajax in a 4–1 win over FC Groningen in the KNVB Cup.

On 13 April, he scored his first Eredivisie goal against NAC Breda in a 3–0 win.

He scored three further league goals in wins against Roda JC, RKC Waalwijk and De Graafschap.

The following season, he scored nine league goals as Ajax won the 2003–04 Eredivisie title.

Sneijder's performances saw him awarded the Johan Cruijff Prijs for the season's best young player in the Netherlands.

A product of the Ajax Youth Academy, Sneijder started his professional career playing for Ajax, with whom he won four trophies and was awarded the Johan Cruyff Trophy in 2004.

On 14 September 2005, he scored his first Champions League goal in a group match against AC Sparta Praha.

Ajax qualified for the knockout stage, with Sneijder scoring again in a 4–2 win over FC Thun.

On 7 May 2006, Sneijder was in the starting line-up for Ajax in the KNVB Cup final, setting up Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's opening goal in a 2–1 win over PSV at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.

During the 2006–07 season, Sneijder scored 18 goals in the Eredivisie and 20 goals overall.

He was sold to Real Madrid for €27 million in 2007, winning La Liga in his first season with the club, and transferred to Inter Milan for €15 million in 2009.

At Inter, he won Serie A, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and two Coppa Italia.

On 6 May 2007, Sneijder played for Ajax in the final of the KNVB Cup as the team defeated AZ on a penalty shootout.

On 12 August 2007, Ajax agreed to sell Sneijder to Real Madrid for €27 million, according to the club's website, making him the second most expensive Dutch football player.

Sneijder was the second of three Dutchmen to sign for Real Madrid during the 2007–08 season, joining Royston Drenthe and Arjen Robben.

He also was given the number 23, which had been previously worn by David Beckham for four seasons at Real.

In his first La Liga match for Real, he scored the winner in the Madrid Derby against Atlético Madrid.

On the second matchday, he scored two goals against Villarreal CF, one coming from a direct free-kick.

Sneijder capped a fine first season in Spain by hitting a stunning free-kick in the last game of the season against Levante UD at the Santiago Bernabéu, taking his goal tally to nine in the La Liga season, a season which also saw Real retain their league title.

On 3 August 2008, Sneijder was stretchered off in a pre-season friendly at the Emirates Stadium, against Arsenal with a suspected cruciate ligament injury after a collision with Abou Diaby.

Sneijder had an MRI which confirmed the extent of the injury to be not as bad as first feared.

It was expected that he would be out for at least three months.

He managed, however, to recover in time and was included in the starting XI for the Champions League clash against Juventus in Turin.

On 2 September 2008, AS reported that after Robinho's departure to Manchester City for €42 million, Sneijder would now be Real Madrid's new number 10.

In 2010, Sneijder was named UEFA midfielder of the season, and one of the three best midfielders in the world by FIFA.

Individually, he was awarded the 2010 Bronze Boot, the 2010 Silver Ball, and included in the team of the tournament for Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, as well as named man of the match for six out of eleven games played by the Oranje at these two tournaments.

With 134 caps, he is the most capped Dutch player of all time.

After being sold to Galatasaray for €7.5 million in 2013, he helped the club win the Süper Lig in his first season, following with the capture of the Turkish Super Cup, after a 1–0 win against rivals Fenerbahçe.

He announced his international retirement in March 2018.

Wesley Sneijder was born in Utrecht into a football family: his father and his older brother Jeffrey were both football players.

His younger brother Rodney is currently also a professional football player.

Sneijder moved to Ajax's famous youth academy at age seven after beginning as a youth player with local Utrecht club DOS.

Following his older brother's footsteps, he signed for Ajax, initially on trial but subsequently impressed enough to be signed on a permanent basis.

He had brief stint with Nice and Al Gharafa before retiring in 2019.