Wesley Sneijder (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈʋɛsliˈsnɛidər]ⓘ; born 9 June 1984)[4] is a Dutch former professionalfootballer. Noted for his playmaking ability, he was considered one of the bestmidfielders in the world during his prime.[5]
He appeared for the Netherlands in various youth squads and for theDutch national team, making his debut in the senior squad in April 2003 at the age of 18. He then represented his country at theFIFA World Cup in2006; in2010, when they reachedthe final; and in2014; and at theUEFA European Football Championship in2004,2008 and2012. He was awarded the2010 Bronze Boot, the2010 Silver Ball, and was named to the team of the tournament for Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, and as man of the match in six out of eleven games played by theOranje at these two tournaments.[6] With 134 caps, he is the most capped Dutch player of all time. He announced his international retirement in March 2018.[7]
Wesley Sneijder was born inUtrecht into a football family: his father and his older brotherJeffrey were both football players. His younger brotherRodney is currently also a professional football player.[8][9]
Sneijder moved toAjax's famousyouth academy at age seven after beginning as a youth player with localUtrecht clubDOS.[10] 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 first made the bench as an unused substitute for Ajax in a 2–0 win atSBV Excelsior on 22 December 2002 when managerRonald Koeman, troubled by an injury-filled squad, called him up, advised byDanny Blind, the then-coach of the Ajax youth squad. On 2 February 2003, Sneijder made his official Ajax debut againstWillem II in a 6–0 win.[11] He quickly established himself in the first team, starting in theChampions Leaguequarter-final match againstA.C. Milan on 23 April 2003.[12]
On 12 August 2007, Ajax agreed to sell Sneijder toReal Madrid for€27 million, according to the club's website, making him thesecond most expensive Dutch football player at the time.
Sneijder was the second of three Dutchmen to sign for Real Madrid during the2007–08 season, joiningRoyston Drenthe andArjen Robben. He also was given the number 23, which had been previously worn byDavid Beckham for four seasons at Real. In his firstLa Liga match for Real, he scored the winner in theMadrid Derby againstAtlético Madrid. On the second matchday, he scored two goals againstVillarreal 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 againstLevante UD at theSantiago Bernabéu, taking his goal tally to nine in theLa Liga season, a season which also saw Real retain theirleague title.
On 3 August 2008, Sneijder was stretchered off in a pre-season friendly at theEmirates Stadium, againstArsenal with a suspectedcruciate ligament injury after a collision withAbou Diaby. Sneijder had anMRI 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.[20] He managed, however, to recover in time and was included in the starting XI for theChampions League clash againstJuventus inTurin.
On 2 September 2008,AS reported that afterRobinho's departure toManchester City for €42 million, Sneijder would now be Real Madrid's new number 10.[21] One day later, Real Madrid confirmed on their website that Sneijder would wear 10. His previous number, 23, was taken over by his fellow Dutchman and former Ajax teammateRafael van der Vaart,[22] whose preferred number is 23.[citation needed]
On 27 August 2009, Sneijder was bought byInter Milan from Real Madrid for a reported fee of€15 million.[23][24] He was given the number 10 shirt and made his debut a day after he signed the contract, making an immediate impact by being on the winning side in theMilan Derby (4–0) againstMilan.[25] On 3 October 2009, he scored his first goal in the 92nd minute againstUdinese in a 2–1 win.[26][27] His second goal was scored on 24 October 2009 againstCatania, directly from a free kick, and he scored his first Champions League goal for Inter in a dramatic 2–1group stage win againstDynamo Kyiv in the 89th minute. His next goal was also scored off a hard-swerving free kick in aCoppa Italia game againstLivorno.
On 9 January 2010, he scored two stunning free kicks againstSiena in the game which Inter won 4–3. On 24 January, he received a straightred card in the Milan derby. On 6 April, Sneijder scored a free kick againstCSKA Moscow in theChampions Leaguequarter-final in the sixth minute, to give Inter a 2–0 aggregate win. On 20 April, he scored Inter's equalising goal during their Champions Leaguesemi-final first leg against defending championsBarcelona. He leveled the game by firing in right-footed from aDiego Milito pass. Inter went on to win the game 3–1 and the tie 3–2 on aggregate. Sneijder was given the nickname "The Sniper" by the media for his ability to deliver perfect passes and score from impressive distances.[28]
He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–2 draw againstTwente in theChampions League on 14 September, and followed that up with another goal in Inter's second game againstWerder Bremen in a 4–0 win at theSan Siro on 29 September.[33][34] On 26 October, Sneijder was shortlisted for the2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or award, eventually finishing 4th which Barcelona'sLionel Messi won.[35] Only two days later, Sneijder signed a five-year contract extension with Inter, tying him to the club until 2015.[36] PresidentMassimo Moratti expressed his delight for the new deal, stating for the club's official website: "Sneijder became a key player for Inter last season and will be this year and for many years to come."[37]
Inter finished second inGroup A of the Champions League and were drawn against Bayern Munich (whom they had beaten in the previous season's final) in theround of 16. In the first leg, Sneijder and Inter were uninspired and lost 1–0 to a lateMario Gómez goal at the San Siro.[38] On 15 March 2011, Sneijder helped Inter turn it around, scoring in the 63rd-minute leading to a 3–2 win (3–3 on aggregate, Inter progressing on away goals)[39] at theAllianz Arena,[40] booking a place in thequarter-final against Germany'sSchalke 04.[41] The first leg of that quarter-final ended 5–2 to Schalke.[42] Sneijder also played in the second leg of the tie but could not prevent his team from losing 2–1 and 7–3 on aggregate.[43]
Sneijder begun his third season in Inter colours in strong fashion, netting the opener with a free kick in the2011 Supercoppa Italiana match againstMilan. The match however ended in a 2–1 win forRossoneri.[44] In September, he injured his left thigh during the 3–1 away loss to newcomersNovara.[45]
The Dutchman returned in action one month later, playing 66 minutes againstChievo and assistingThiago Motta's header for a 1–0 win at home, the first of the season.[46] His first championship goal came in the very next game where he scored the opener in an eventual 1–1 draw atAtalanta.[47]
Sneijder suffered another injury later in November 2011 when he damaged his right knee'srectus femoris muscle during the warm-up before the start of the match againstCagliari.[48] He was replaced by the youngsterPhilippe Coutinho who scored in the match.[49] The injury forced Sneijder to miss the rest of 2011, returning in the field on 15 January as a late substitute for goalscorer Diego Milito in the derby victory over Milan.[50]
Sneijder made his 100th Inter appearance on 26 February by playing the first half of a 1–0 defeat toNapoli.[51] He then scored a brace againstUdinese atStadio Friuli to lead his team to a 3–1 win, also marking his first goals since October 2011.[52] Sneijder concluded his third season as Inter playing by making only 20 league appearances, with the injuries making a big impact. The team finished sixth, conceding 55 goals, just five goals short of equalling their all-time worst concession in a single Serie A campaign.[53] In Coppa Italia, he played two times as Inter were eliminated by Napoli,[54] while in Champions League appeared five times in a round of 16 exit byMarseille.[55]
Sneijder's season begun on 2 August by playing againstHajduk Split in the first leg of2012–13 UEFA Europa Leaguethird qualifying round. He scored the team's first goal of the season which contributed in a comfortable 3–0 away win.[56] He was on the score-sheet again twenty-four days later in the season opener againstPescara (3–0).[57]
Sneijder suffered another misfortune on 26 September as he was taken off after 26 minutes in the league game against Chievo.[58] It turned out to be his last appearance for the team as he and the club didn't find a mutual agreement for the new contract.[59] Despite recovering from the injury, Sneijder wasn't called up in the squad, with president Massimo Moratti describing it as a "technical decision" of the coach.[59] The club offered him a contract running until 2016 with a wage of €6 million plus bonuses to €4 million which Sneijder, who earned around €14,7 million, turned down.[60]
Sneijder left the club officially on 20 January in favour of signing with Turkey's Galatasaray, concluding his Inter spell with 116 games and 22 goals, also winning six trophies.[61]
After reportedly falling out of favour with Inter due to contract renewal issues, Sneijder agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Turkish giantsGalatasaray on 20 January 2013 for a fee of €7.5 million.[62] Thousands of Galatasaray fans welcomed the Dutch international at theIstanbul Atatürk Airport as soon as Sneijder's exact arrival time was announced by the club on their official website.[63] Sneijder signed the official contract on 21 January at theTürk Telekom Arena, home of Galatasaray. During the press conference, regarding the questions about Gala legendGheorghe Hagi, Sneijder said, "He was a legend, and I want to become a legend."[64] Later, he appeared on the club's official TV stationGalatasaray TV, where he answered several questions about his transfer to Galatasaray and personal life. He also sent out a message addressing the Galatasaray fans: "Thank you for the support. I'm really proud, and I will make you guys even more proud. I'm happy to be here, and I can't wait to play my first game for you guys."[65]
On 27 January, Sneijder made his debut, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 win against rivalsBeşiktaş.[66] Sneijder received a warm reception when he replacedUmut Bulut. He scored his first goal on 25 February in a 4–2 home win againstOrduspor, where he produced a finesse shot from the edge of the box, turning the game back on for the home side as Galatasaray were down by two goals.[67]On 9 April 2013, Sneijder scored Galatasaray's second goal in a 3–2 win over his former club Real Madrid in thequarter-final stage of theChampions League.[68] On 5 May 2013, Galatasaray beatSivasspor 2–1 to win the2012–13 Süper Lig, this gave Sneijder a league title in a fourth different country.[69]
After using the number 14 shirt in his debut season with Galatasaray, Sneijder was given the number 10 shirt previously worn byFelipe Melo for the2013–14 Süper Lig season following a squad number reshuffle.On 1 December 2013, when Galatasaray drew withKasımpaşa Spor Kulübü,[70] Galatasaray managerRoberto Mancini, in response to the question "where is Sneijder?" asked by reporters during a post-match interview answered, "Sneijder has left and I do not know where he has gone,"[71] while Galatasaray's official website had earlier informed the media on the reason for Sneijder's absence.
Sneijder during pre-match training at Galatasaray in 2015
On 6 April 2014, he scored his firstderby goal against rivalsFenerbahçe, in a 1–0 home win.[74] On 7 May 2014, Sneijder played a major part in theTurkish Cup final againstEskişehirspor, scoring the only goal of the game in the 70th minute and receiving the Man of the Match award for his performance.[75]
Sneijder scored ten goals throughout the season during the2014–15 Süper Lig campaign. By almost single-handedly winning many games for his team, he has been the man in the spotlight for Galatasaray in securing the league title. On 25 May, Sneijder celebrated the championship alongside Gala fans at the front yard of his residence[76] afterBaşakşehir drew with Fenerbahçe,[77] which brought Galatasaray the triumph. During the official title ceremony,[78][79] Sneijder sang the famous Gala chant "Don't cry Fener"[80] into the microphone in front of 52000 Gala fans.[81]
Since his arrival, Sneijder has become the most efficient agent for the Lions regarding theFenerbahçe-Galatasaray rivalry. 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 a club legend. In the home game against Fenerbahçe, which was played on matchday 6,[82] Sneijder sent out two long-range rockets in the 88th and 90th minutes, where Galatasaray claimed the victory against their bitter rivals. Overall, he has scored six long-range goals and three free kicks in league and cup games. In his 100th game for Galatasaray, he also scored the only goal againstGençlerbirliği on matchday 32,[83] which helped the Lions stay at the top of the league table for the time being.
In the2014–15 Turkish Cup, he also helped his team reach the final by providing three goals and three assists. Galatasaray won the final 3–2 againstBursaspor[84] which was held inBursa Atatürk Stadium on 3 June. Sneijder assisted the first goal[85] off of strikerBurak Yılmaz's hat-trick.
During Galatasaray's2014–15 UEFA Champions League campaign, where they were knocked out at thegroup stage, Sneijder scored one goal–a late free kick againstArsenal at home–and made one assist. Sneijder was madevice captain of Galatasaray.
Sneijder began the season scoring the only goal for his team in the 35thTrofeo Santiago Bernabéu, where Galatasaray visited Real Madrid on 18 August.[86] The game ended with a 2–1 victory for Real Madrid.
On matchday 3 of the2015–16 Süper Lig[87] in which Galatasaray visitedKonyaspor, Sneijder scored two goals in the second half[88] and led his team to a 1–4 away win,[89] despite his side being down to ten men afterLionel Carole's 67th-minute red card, receiving prior to Sneijder's double.[90]
On 3 October, Sneijder signed a three-year contract extension with Galatasaray. He immediately received a €1.3 millionsigning bonus, and his basic salaries in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons would be €3.2 million, plus various bonuses.[91]
On 14 July 2017, Sneijder and Galatasaray terminated his contract resulting in him becoming a free agent. Sneijder was reported to have released himself from the contract by buying himself out of the remaining period for €4.5 million[92]
On 7 August 2017, Sneijder joinedLigue 1 sideNice on a free transfer.[93] During his five-month stay at the club, he made 8 appearances and provided one assist to aMario Balotelli goal in aUEFA Europa League match againstLazio.
Sneijder made his debut for theNetherlands under-21 side against theCzech Republic on 28 March 2003.[97] His first game with thesenior Dutch side was againstPortugal on 30 April that same year[98] when he became the eighth-youngest player to play for the Netherlands in the first team's history.[citation needed] On 9 June 2017, he became the nation's most capped player of all-time when he made his 131st appearance in a 5–0 win overLuxembourg, surpassing the record which had previously held byEdwin van der Sar for 4002 days.[99]
Sneijder reached theUEFA Euro 2004 semi-finals with the Netherlands. He began the competition mainly on the bench, and was subbed into two group stage matches: his team's first match against Germany and their third match against Latvia. He had also contributed two goals in thequalifying tournament.
Sneijder started all four games for the Netherlands at the2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He received one of the record 16 yellow cards doled out during the infamous Round of 16 clash with Portugal (titled the "Battle of Nuremberg") after pushing the Portuguese midfielderPetit to the ground during a brawl between Portuguese and Dutch players; Portugal went on to win 1–0.
In the build-up toEuro 2008, Sneijder scored a free kick in a friendly againstWales on 31 May, making it his second strike from a direct free kick in a row. The game ended 2–0 with a goal from fellow Real Madrid teammateArjen Robben.
Sneijder marked his 24th birthday in style by scoring one of the goals of the tournament; the second goal in the 31st minute of the Euro 2008 match against the World Cup champions,Italy. FollowingGiovanni van Bronckhorst's goal-line clearance and subsequent run into the Italian half, Sneijder received a headed ball fromDirk Kuyt and volleyed it with an acrobatic strike pastGianluigi Buffon. This brought the score to 2–0 afterRuud van Nistelrooy's opener five minutes prior. The match finished with a 3–0 victory to the Dutch after a third goal was scored by van Bronkhorst after another run by him, following a crucial save fromEdwin van der Sar. Sneijder's goal contributed to the Netherlands' first victory over Italy in 30 years, which was the biggest defeat Italy had suffered sinceSweden beat them by the same margin in 1983. Many fans and pundits agreed that this goal was one of the best of the tournament. On 13 June, he scored another goal for theOranje in the Euro 2008 group stage match againstFrance: in the 92nd minute, from outside the box, Sneijder struck the ball into the corner of the net, bouncing off the crossbar on its way in. The match finished 4–1 for the Netherlands. Although the Dutch lost to theRussians in the quarter-final, Sneijder was named in the Team of the Tournament for his strong performances.
Sneijder the day before the Dutch team's departure to South Africa
Sneijder was in the starting line-up for their first match in the competition, a 2–0 victory overDenmark.[100] He scored the winning goal in a 1–0 victory overJapan.[101] In the first two matches of the group stage at theFIFA World Cup, he was selected as the man of the match in both.[102][103][104] In the Netherlands' round of 16 match againstSlovakia, Sneijder scored in a 2–1 victory.[105] He also provided what was at first thought to be anassist for the first goal againstBrazil in the quarter-finals, but was later credited with the goal.[106] He then scored the first header of his career direct from a corner and consigned Brazil to a 2–1 defeat, bringing his goal total in the tournament to four. Sneijder was again namedman of the match onFIFA's website.[107]
In thesemi-final againstUruguay, Sneijder scored in the 70th minute, taking his total in the competition to five, raising him at the time to first place in terms of goals scored, along withSpain'sDavid Villa.[108] The Netherlands won the match 3–2 and progressed to the final. Sneijder was yet again named on FIFA's website as theBudweiser man of the match according to the public online vote.[109] In theWorld Cup Final, the Dutch lost to Spain 1–0 after extra time, conceding the only goal of the match after 116 minutes toAndrés Iniesta.[110]
ForEuro 2012, the Netherlands were inGroup B, also known as the "group of death," alongside Portugal,Germany, and Denmark. Sneijder was deployed as an attacking midfielder as the Netherlands lost 1–0 and 2–1 to Denmark and Germany, respectively. Against Portugal, they lost again 2–1, with Sneijder playing on the left wing to see the Netherlands have an early exit from Euro 2012.
Sneijder was named in the Netherlands' squad for the2014 World Cup and made his100th international appearance in the team's opening match, a 5–1 demolition of world champions Spain on 13 June. In theround of 16, Sneijder scored an 88th-minute equaliser, as the Netherlands recovered from a 0–1 deficit to overcomeMexico 2–1 inFortaleza.
In thequarter-final, Sneijder scored the Netherlands' third penalty kick in a 4–3penalty shootout defeat ofCosta Rica.[113] Thesemi-final match againstArgentina was also decided by a shootout, with Sneijder one of two Netherlands players to have his kick saved by goalkeeperSergio Romero in a 4–2 defeat.[114] Sneijder was originally part of the Dutch starting line-up in the bronze game against Brazil, but he was replaced byJonathan de Guzmán after an injury during the pre-match warm-up prevented him from playing.
Sneijder appeared in all of the 10 matches of theUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and in six of the2018 FIFA World Cup campaign, which both ended in failure for the Netherlands. He announced his retirement from international football on 4 March 2018, holding a record 133 appearances for the national team.[115] He made his 134th and final international appearance in a friendly match againstPeru, at theJohan Cruyff Arena, on 6 September 2018; the match ended in a 2–1 home victory for the Dutch.[116]
A creative and versatilemidfielder,[117][118] Sneijder was recognised as one of theclassic playmakers of the 2010s.[119][120][121] From his impeccable placement and confirmed ability to score fromfree kicks, Sneijder earned the reputation as a dead-ball specialist.[122][123] Because of his short stature, he was quick and strong on the ball, and his passing range was enhanced by hisambidexterity;[124] he was also renowned for his powerful striking ability from long range, with either foot.[117] In addition to his vision and ability to create chances for teammates, Sneijder was also noted for his intelligence and great technical ability.[117][125][126][127] Although he began his career in his preferred role as anattacking midfielder behind the forwards, he was capable of playing in several midfield positions and was also deployed on thewings or on occasion evenup front as asecond striker or mainstriker;[118][120][127] in later seasons, he was usually played in thecentre,[118] as adeep-lying playmaker, due to his ability to dictate the tempo of his team's play in midfield with his passing, although he had stated that he did not favour this position.[118][128] During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he was also deployed in a new role which was later described as afalse-10 or central winger, due to Sneijder's tendency to drift from the centre into a wide position when in possession of the ball.[129][130] Despite his talent, he also drew criticism at times for his limited defensive work-rate as well as his lack of pace, and was also known to be prone to injury.[118][127]
Sneijder has been married to Dutch-Spanish actress and presenterYolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen since July 2010, although the couple are no longer together; he has two sons, one of them from his first marriage.[citation needed] Inspired by his wife and by Inter teammateJavier Zanetti, Sneijder converted toRoman Catholicism and was baptized inMilan.[131]
Sneijder has two brothers:Jeffrey, a former footballer,[132] andRodney, a formerEredivisie player. In 2008, Sneijder 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 atAjax."[133][134]
During an interview in a radio station inThessaloniki, 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 inKavala who moved toUtrecht beforeWorld War II.[135]
In October 2008, Dutch magazineVoetbal International conducted a poll to decide who was the best Dutch free kick taker. Sneijder received an overwhelming 70% of the votes, whileRobin van Persie came second with 21% and strikerKlaas-Jan Huntelaar was third with 3% of the vote.[136] He was voted as the best player of the 2009–10 season by Goal.com.[137]
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