Wesley Sneijder

At 39 years old, Wesley Sneijder has this physical status:

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

He was named UEFA midfielder of the season and one of the three best midfielders in the world for 2010 by FIFA.

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

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.

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.

After an unsuccessful stint with Nice, he concluded his footballing career at Qatar Stars League team Al Gharafa. Sneijder 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.

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.

He announced his international retirement in March 2018.

Because of his status as most capped player he was granted a farewell match played against Peru on 6 September 2018.

Early life

Wesley Sneijder was born on 9 June 1984 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.

Personal life

Sneijder has been married to Dutch-Spanish actress and presenter Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen since July 2010, although the couple are no longer together; he has two sons one of them from his first marriage. Inspired by his wife and by Inter teammate Javier Zanetti, Sneijder converted to Roman Catholicism and was baptized in Milan.

Sneijder has two brothers: Jeffrey, a former footballer, and Rodney, a former Eredivisie player who now plays for DHSC, an amateur club from Utrecht. In May 2008, it was reported that Sneijder had blocked a summer transfer of Rodney to his own club at the time, Real Madrid. Wesley Sneijder said, "Real Madrid wanted him and Rodney was very happy about that. But when I heard [of it], I stopped the discussions. I am not in favour of juniors increasingly going to top clubs. I've told him that he first must make a breakthrough at Ajax."

During an interview in a radio station in Thessaloniki, Sneijder's brother Rodney confirmed that he and Wesley Sneijder (along with their other brother Jeffrey) have part-Greek descent, since their paternal grandmother was a Greek woman born in Kavala who moved to Utrecht before World War II.

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Club career

After starting as a youth player with local Utrecht club DOS, Sneijder moved to Ajax's famed youth academy at age seven. He signed for Ajax on trial but later on, he was inspired enough to commit to a permanent basis. In a 2–0 victory over SBV Excelsior on December 22, 2002, the Ajax youth squad's then-coach, Danny Blind, advised him that he first appeared on the bench as an unplanned substitute. Sneijder made his official Ajax debut against Willem II on February 2, 2003, winning 6–0. He quickly settled in the first team, beginning in the Champions League quarter-final match against A.C. Milan on April 23, 2003.

In a 4–1 victory over FC Groningen in the KNVB Cup on March 5, 2003, Sneijder scored his first goal for Ajax. He scored his first Economisie goal against NAC Breda on 3–0 victory on April 13th. In victories over Roda JC, RKC Waalwijk, and De Graafschap, he scored three more goals in league victories. As Ajax defeated the 2003–04 Ejax, he scored nine league goals during the following season. Sneijder's success earned him the Johan Cruijf Prijs for the season's top young talent in the Netherlands.

In a group match against AC Sparta Praha on September 14, 2005, he scored his first Champions League goal. With Sneijder scoring again in a 4–2 victory over FC Thun, Ajax qualified for the knockout stage.

Sneijder was in the starting lineup for Ajax in the KNVB Cup final on May 7, 2006, kicking off Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's first goal in a 2–1 victory over PSV at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, setting up Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's first goal.

Sneijder scored 18 goals in the Ethnic and 20 overall during the 2006-07 season. Sneijder was a member of Ajax in the final of the KNVB Cup on May 6th, 2007, as the team defeated Arizona on a penalty shootout.

According to Ajax's website, the team agreed to sell Sneijder to Real Madrid for €27 million on August 12, making him the second most expensive Dutch football player.

Sneijder was the second of three Dutchmen to sign for Real Madrid in the 2007-08 season, after joining Royston Drenthe and Arjen Robben. David Beckham had worn the number 23, which had previously been used by him for four seasons at Real. He scored the winner in the Madrid Derby against Atlético Madrid in his first La Liga match for Real. He scored two goals against Villarreal CF on the second matchday, one coming from a direct free-kick. Sneijder captained a fine first season in Spain by scoring a spectacular free-kick against Levante UD at the Santiago Bernabéu's last game of the season, raising his La Liga record to nine goals.

Sneijder was stretchered off in a pre-season friendly against Arsenal against Arsenal on August 3rd, with a suspected cruciate ligament injury arising from a collision with Abou Diaby. Sneijder's MRI revealed the severity of the fracture was not as bad as first expected. He was predicted that he would be out for at least three months. He managed to return in time and was inserted in the starting XI for the Champions League match against Juventus in Turin, but he was not able to recover in time.

AS announced on September 2, 2008, that Sneijder will now be Real Madrid's new number 10 after Robinho's departure to Manchester City for €42 million. Real Madrid revealed on their website that Sneijder would wear 10. Rafael van der Vaart, a former Ajax colleague and his new number, 23, was taken over by his older brother and former Ajax teammate Rafael van der Vaart, whose new number is 23.

Inter Milan acquired Sneijder from Real Madrid for €15 million on August 27, 2009. He was given the number 10 shirt and made his debut the day after he had signed the deal, making a dramatic difference by being on the winning team in the Milan Derby (4–0) against Milan. In a 2–1 victory over Udinese on October 3, 2009, he scored his first goal in the 92nd minute. In a dramatic 2–1 group stage victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the 89th minute, his second goal was scored against Catania, directly from a free kick, and he scored his first Champions League goal for Inter. In a Coppa Italia game against Livorno, his next goal was also scored off a hard-swerving free kick.

He made two spectacular free kicks against Siena on January 9, 2010 in the game that Inter won 4–3. In the Milan derby on January 24, he was issued a straight red card. Inter eijder defeated Inter in the Champions League quarter-finals on the sixth minute on Monday after scoring a free kick against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League quarter-finals on Sunday, giving Inter a 2–0 aggregate victory. He scored Inter's equalizing goal during their Champions League semi-finals against defending champions Barcelona on April 20th. He boosted the game by firing in right-footed from a Diego Milito pass. Inter won the game 3–1 and tied 3–2 on aggregate. By the media, Sneijder was given the nickname "The Sniper" for his ability to give flawless passes and scores from far stretches.

Inter defeated Bayern Munich by a score of 2–0 on May 22nd. Diego Milito scored both goals, with Sneijder providing the assist for the first goal. After winning the Coppa Italia and Serie A titles, Inter's third trophy of the 2009–10 season was crowned.

Sneijder opened the 2010 Supercoppa Italiana with a 3–1 victory over Roma on August 21. He was named by UEFA as the best club midfielder of the 2009-10 Champions League five days later. Inter lost at UEFA Europa League winners Atlético Madrid in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup, the day after, with Sneijder playing 79 minutes.

In a 2–2 draw against Twente in the Champions League on September 14th, he scored his first goal of the season, and after that, he scored another goal in Inter's second game against Werder Bremen, a 4–0 victory at the San Siro on September 29. Sneijder was shortlisted for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or award on October 26th, finishing fourth, which Barcelona's Lionel Messi won. Sneijder joined Inter for a five-year contract extension, tying him to the team until 2015. "Sneijder became a key player for Inter last season and will continue to do so for many years to come," President Massimo Moratti expressed his admiration for the new contract on Inter's official website.

Inter finished second in Group A of the Champions League and were drawn against Bayern Munich (who had been defeated in the previous season's final) in the round of 16. Sneijder and Inter were uninspired and lost 1–0 to a late Mario Gómez goal at the San Siro in the first leg. Inter's Interneijder helped Inter turn it around by scoring in the 63rd minute, securing a spot in the quarter-final against Germany's Schalke 04. Schalke defeated Schalke 5–2 in the first leg of the quarter-finals. Sneijder also participated in the second leg of the tie, but he was unable to prevent his team from losing 2–1 and 7–3 on aggregate.

Sneijder opened his third season with a bang in the 2011 Supercoppa Italiana match against Milan. Rossoneri won by 2–1 on the match, but Rossoneri was still winless 21-0. During the 3–1 away loss to newcomers Novara in September, he injured his left thigh.

One month later, the Dutchman returned to action, playing 66 minutes against Chievo and assisting Thiago Motta's header for a 1–0 victory at home, the first of the season. In the upcoming game where he scored the opener in an eventual 1–1 draw at Atalanta, his first championship goal came in the very next game.

During the warm-up against Cagliari, Sneijder sustained another injury later in November 2011. Philippe Coutinho, a youngster who scored in the game, was brought to him. Due to the injury, Sneijder was forced to miss the remainder of 2011 before returning to the field on January 15 as a late replacement for goalscorer Diego Milito against Milan.

Sneijder played the first half of a 1–0 loss to Napoli on February 26th in his 100th Interneijder appearance on February 26th. He then played a brace against Udinese at Stadio Friuli to lead his team to a 3–1 victory, marking his first goals since October 2011. Sneijder's third season as Inter, but he made only 20 league appearances this season, with the injuries having a huge effect. The team finished sixth, conceding 55 goals, just five goals shy of equaling their all-time lowest concession in a single Serie A campaign. He appeared twice in Coppa Italia as Inter were eliminated by Napoli, as well as five times in the Champions League, when Marseille defeated Marseille five times in a round of 16 exits.

Sneijder's season began on August 2nd in the first leg of the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round. He scored the team's first goal of the season, leading to a convincing 3–0 away win. In the season opener against Pescara (3–0), he was on the scoresheet twenty-four days later.

In a league match against Chievo, Sneijder suffered another misfortune on September 26th as he was dismissed after 26 minutes. It was his last game for the club as the club and the club didn't find a mutual deal for the new contract. Despite recovering from the injury, Sneijder was not called up to the squad, with coach Massimo Moratti referring to it as a "technical call" of the coach. Sneijder, who made more than €6 million in wages, declined to €4 million, but Sneijder, who earned around €14,7 million, turned down a deal that would have been in effect until 2016.

Sneijder officially decided against joining Galatasaray in Turkey on January 20th, capping his Inter spell with 116 games and 22 goals while also winning six trophies.

Sneijder negotiated a three-and-a-half agreement with Turkish giants Galatasaray on January 20, 2013, after apparently falling out of favour with Inter due to employment reform issues, Sneijder agreed to a three-and-a-year contract with the Turkish giants Galatasaray on January 20, 2013 for a fee of €7.5 million. Thousands of Galatasaray supporters cheered the Dutch international at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport as soon as Sneijder's exact arrival time was announced on the club's official website. Sneijder signed a formal contract with the Türk Telekom Arena, home of Galatasaray, on January 21. "He was a hero, and I want to be a hero," Sneijder said during a press conference on Gala legend Gheorghe Hagi's questions about him. He appeared on Galatasaray TV later that night, answering several questions about his move to Galatasaray and personal life. "Thank you for the help, Alan!" He wrote a note to the Galatasaray supporters. I'm really proud, and I'm sure I'll make you guys even more proud. I'm thrilled to be here, and I can't wait to play my first game with you guys."

Sneijder made his debut on January 27th, winning 2–1 over rivals Beşiktaş on a first-time basis. When Sneijder replaced Umut Bulut, he received a warm reception. He scored his first goal against Orduspor on February 25, where he made a finesse shot from the edge of the box, turning the game back to the home team as Galatasaray were down by two goals. Sneijder scored Galatasaray's second goal in a 3–2 victory over his former club Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final stage on September 9, 2013. Galatasaray won the 2012-13 Süper Lig by a margin of 2–1.

Sneijder's number 14 shirt from his debut with Galatasaray was given the number 10 shirt, which had been worn by Felipe Melo in the 2013-14 Süper Lig season, after a squad number was changed. Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini asked "where is Sneijder?" on the first day of December 1, 2013. "Sneijder has left and I don't know where he has gone," she replied as a reporter during a post-match match, although Galatasaray's official website had earlier warned the media on the reason for Sneijder's absence.

Sneijder scored a late winning goal against Juventus in a 1–0 UEFA Champions League win over Galatasaray on December 11, 2013 to qualify Galatasaray for the knockout phase. Sneijder won by 6–0 over Bursaspor on February 2, 2014, earning a hat-trick.

In a 1–0 home win, he scored his first derby goal against Fenerbahçe on April 6, 2014. Sneijder scored the only goal of the game against Eskişehirspor in the 70th minute on May 7, 2014 and was given the Man of the Match award for his effort.

During the 2014-to-date Süper Lig campaign, Sneijder scored ten goals in a row. He has been the man in the spotlight for Galatasaray in winning the league championship by almost single-handedly winning numerous games for his team. After Başakşehir drew with Fenerbahçe, which gave Galatasaray the victory, Sneijder celebrated the championship with Gala supporters outside his house on May 25th. Sneijder yelled "Don't cry Fener" into the audience in front of 52,000 Gala supporters during the official title ceremony.

Sneijder has been the Lions' most effective agent in terms of the Fenerbahçe-Galataray feudy since his arrival. He has scored three goals against Fenerbahçe in league matches in a year, which is more than enough for Galatasaray society to name a player as a team legend. Galatasaray won the match against Fenerbahçe, who was played on matchday 6 in the 88th and 90th minutes. In league and cup games, he has scored six long-range goals and three free kicks. He scored his only goal against Gençlerbirli on matchday 32, helping the Lions remain at the top of the league table for the time being.

He also helped his team win by supplying three goals and three assists in the 2014-15 Turkish Cup. Galatasaray beat Bursaspor 3–2 in the final 3–2 match, which was held in Bursa Atatürk Stadium on June 3rd. Sneijder assisted with the first goal off of striker Burak Ylmaz's hat-trick.

Sneijder scored one goal – a late free kick against Arsenal at home – during Galatasaray's 2014-15 Champions League campaign, where they were knocked out on the group stage. He also provided one assist. Sneijder was elected vice captain of Galatasaray.

Sneijder scored his only goal for his team in the 35th Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu, where Galatasaray visited Real Madrid on August 18th. Real Madrid won by 2–1 over the game.

Sneijder scored two goals in the second half of the 2015–16 Süper Lig, where Galatasaray's victory in Konyaspor had him towed a 1–4 away victory, despite his team's 67th-minute red card being received prior to Sneijder's double.

Sneijder signed a three-year contract extension with Galatasaray on October 3rd. He immediately received a €1.3 million signing bonus, and his starting salary in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons would be €3.2 million, plus various bonuses.

Sneijder and Galatasaray's employment ended on July 14, 2017, resulting in him becoming a free agent. Sneijder was said to have withdrawn himself from the deal by purchasing himself out of the remaining time for €4.5 million.

Sneijder joined Nice on a free transfer on August 7th. He made eight appearances and contributed one assist to a Mario Balotelli goal in a UEFA Europa League match against Lazio during his five-month stay at the club.

Sneijder joined Qatari side Al-Gharafa after being released by Nice. In the league 2–1 victory over Al Ahli Doha at the Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium, he made his debut on January 12, 2018, captaining the team and giving an assist.

On August 12, 2019, Sneijder revealed that he had dropped out of football and began working for FC Utrecht.

International career

On March 28, 2003, Sneijder made his Netherlands under-21 debut against the Czech Republic. He made his first game with the Dutch side against Portugal on April 30th, the eighth-oldest player to play for the Netherlands in the country's history. With a 5–0 win over Luxembourg on June 9, he became the nation's most capped player of all time, shattering the record held by Edwin van der Sar for 4002 days.

Sneijder and the Netherlands qualified for the UEFA Euro 2004 semi-finals. He began the game mainly on the bench and was later subbed into two group stage matches: his team's first match against Germany and their third match against Latvia. In the qualifying tournament, he had also scored two goals.

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Sneijder appeared in all four games for the Netherlands. During Portugal's infamous Round of 16 clash (called the "Battle of Nuremberg"), he suffered one of the world's best ever yellow cards after dragging Portuguese midfielder Petit to the ground during a brawl between Portuguese and Dutch players; Portugal defeated Portugal 1–0; Portugal won 11-0.

Sneijder scored a free kick against Wales on May 31 in a friendly, his second strike in a row from a direct free kick. Arjen Robben, a teammate of Real Madrid, scored a goal.

Sneijder celebrated his 24th birthday in style by scoring one of the tournament's goals; his second goal in the 31st minute of the Euro 2008 match against the World Cup champions, Italy. Sneijder received a headed ball from Dirk Kuyt and volleyed it past Gianluigi Buffon following Giovanni van Bronckhorst's goal line clearance and subsequent run into the Italian half. After Ruud van Nistelrooy's opener five minutes earlier, the score was tied to 2–0. Following another vital save from Edwin van der Sar, the match came to a 3–0 victory for the Dutch. Sneijder's goal gave the Netherlands their first victory over Italy in 30 years, the first defeat Italy had suffered after Sweden defeated them by the same margin in 1983. Several followers and pundits agreed that this goal was one of the best of the tournament so far. In the 92nd minute of the Euro 2008 group stage match against France, Sneijder scored another goal for the Oranje, bouncing off the crossbar on its way in. The Netherlands won by 4-1. Despite the fact that the Dutch lost to the Russians in the quarter-finals, Sneijder was named in the Team of the Tournament for his outstanding results.

Sneijder was in the starting lineup for their first match in the tournament, a 2–0 victory over Denmark. In a 1–0 victory over Japan, he scored the winning goal. In the first two matches of the FIFA World Cup, he was voted man of the match in both directions. Sneijder won by 2–1 in the Netherlands' round of 16 matches against Slovakia. He was also expected to be assisting with the first goal against Brazil in the quarter-finals but later announced with the goal. He went from corner and condemned Brazil to a 2–1 loss, bringing his tournament total to four. On FIFA's website, Sneijder had been named man of the match once more.

Sneijder scored in the 70th minute, taking his total number in the tournament to five, taking him first place in terms of goals scored, as well as Spain's David Villa. The Netherlands won the match 3–2 and advanced to the final. According to the public online vote, Sneijder was still named on FIFA's website as the Budweiser man of the match. The Dutch lost 1–0 after extra time, conceding the match's only goal after 116 minutes to Andrés Iniesta.

The Netherlands were included in Group B, also known as the "group of death," alongside Portugal, Germany, and Denmark, for Euro 2012. Sneijder was deployed as an attacking midfielder when the Netherlands lost 1–0 and 2–1, respectively, to Denmark and Germany. They lost 2–1 against Portugal, with Sneijder playing on the left wing, resulting in the Netherlands losing the Netherlands early in 2012 after the Netherlands suffered a premature departure from Euro 2012.

Sneijder was appointed as the Netherlands captain in August 2012, following Mark van Bommel's retirement. He was recalled by coach Louis van Gaal less than a year later, but not for a year.

Sneijder was named in the Netherlands' squad for the 2014 World Cup and made his 100th international appearance in the team's first game, a 5–1 defeat of world champions Spain on June 13. Sneijder scored an 88th-minute equalizer in the round of 16, as the Netherlands recovered from a 0–1 deficit to defeat Mexico 2–1 in Fortaleza.

Sneijder scored the Netherlands' third penalty kick in a 4–3 penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica in the quarter-finals. Goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved goalkeeper Sneijder's kick in a 4-2 loss, determining the semi-final match against Argentina by a shootout. Sneijder was part of the Dutch starting line-up in the bronze match against Brazil, but Jonathan de Guzmán was forced to return after an injury during the pre-match warm-up prevented him from participating.

Sneijder appeared in all ten games of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and six of the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign, both ending in disappointment for the Netherlands. On March 4, 2018, he announced his retirement from international football, making his national team appearances for the first time in a record 133 appearances. On September 6, 2018, he made his 134th appearance in a friendly match against Peru at the Johan Cruyff Arena, ending in a 2–1 home victory for the Dutch.

Career statistics

1 includes Coupe de la Ligue, Qatari Stars Cup matches.

2 The UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and AFC Champions League qualifiers are included in the package.

3 includes Johan Cruijf Shield, Eivisie playoffs, Supercopa de Espaa, Supercopa Italiana, TFF Süper Kupa, FIFA Club World Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup fixtures.

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