wesley sneijder

Wesley Sneijder is one of the few players who can claim to have won the top domestic league in four different countries. During his 17-year playing career, he reached the summit of Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and Turkish football. He appeared in over 700 domestic and international games and is the Netherlands’ most-capped player, with 134. He captained his national team and helped them to reach the 2012 World Cup Final.

Born in Utrecht, Sneijder began his professional career with Ajax in 2002 and spent five seasons with them, winning the Eredivisie once and KNVB Cup twice. In 2007, he became the second-most expensive Dutch player of all-time when Real Madrid bought him for €27 million. Taking predecessor David Beckham’s old squad number, Sneijder immediately made an impact, making 30 appearances and scoring nine times as Real won La Liga. A move to Inter Milan in 2009 was similarly fruitful, as he became part of the team that won Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the greatest club football prize of all, the Champions League, in one season — UEFA naming Sneijder the latter tournament’s best midfielder. In 2013, he moved again, this time to Turkey and Galatasaray. His arrival made headlines, and he became the club’s star player.

During his five years with Turkey’s most successful club, he helped guide them to two Super Lig titles and three consecutive Turkish Cups.
Sneijder’s playing career wound down with brief spells in France and Qatar. He retired at the end of the 2018/19 season, but his knowledge of and enthusiasm for the sport that made him a household name will ensure he remains an active presence in world football.