Wesley Sneijder facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Wesley Sneijder

Sneijder with the Netherlands in 2014

Personal information

Full name

Wesley Sneijder

Date of birth

9 June 1984 (age 41)

Place of birth

Utrecht, Netherlands

Height

1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)

Position(s)

Attacking midfielder

Youth career

1990–1991

DOS

1991–2002

Ajax

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2002–2007

Ajax

126

(58)

2007–2009

Real Madrid

(11)

2009–2012

Inter

(22)

2012–2017

Galatasaray

124

(46)

2017

Nice

(0)

2017–2019

Al-Gharafa

(19)

Total

405

(134)

International career

2000–2001

Netherlands U17

(2)

2001–2002

Netherlands U19

(3)

2003

Netherlands U21

(0)

2003–2018

Netherlands

134

(31)

Medal record

FIFA World Cup

Men's football
Representing Netherlands
Runner-up	2010 South Africa
Third	2014 Brazil
UEFA European Championship
Bronze	2004 Portugal

*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Wesley Sneijder (born 9 June 1984) is a Dutch former professional footballer. He was known for his amazing ability to create goals for his team. Many people thought he was one of the best midfielders in the world.

Sneijder grew up in the famous Ajax Youth Academy. He started his professional career at Ajax, where he won four trophies. In 2004, he won the Johan Cruyff Trophy as the best young player. In 2007, he moved to Real Madrid and won La Liga in his first year. Then, in 2009, he joined Inter Milan. At Inter, he had a fantastic time, winning Serie A, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and two Coppa Italia cups. In 2010, he was named the best midfielder in the Champions League.

After Inter, Sneijder played for Galatasaray. He helped them win the Süper Lig in his first season. He also played for Nice and Al Gharafa before he stopped playing football in 2019.

Wesley Sneijder also played a lot for the Dutch national team. He made his first appearance for the senior team in April 2003 when he was just 18. He played in the FIFA World Cup in 2006, 2010 (where the Netherlands reached the final), and 2014. He also played in the UEFA European Football Championship in 2004, 2008, and 2012. He won the 2010 Bronze Boot and Silver Ball at the World Cup. With 134 games played, he is the player with the most appearances for the Dutch national team. He retired from international football in March 2018.

Early Life and Family

Wesley Sneijder was born in Utrecht, Netherlands. He came from a family that loved football. His father and his older brother, Jeffrey, were both football players. His younger brother, Rodney, is also a professional footballer.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Ajax

Sneijder during his time with Ajax

Sneijder joined Ajax's famous youth academy when he was seven years old. He had started playing football at a local club called DOS. He quickly showed how talented he was.

He made his first team debut for Ajax on 2 February 2003. It was a big 6–0 win against Willem II. He soon became a regular player. On 5 March 2003, he scored his first goal for Ajax in a cup match. He scored his first league goal on 13 April.

In the next season, 2003–04, he scored nine goals. Ajax won the Eredivisie title that year. Because of his great performances, he won the Johan Cruijff Prijs. This award is for the best young player in the Netherlands.

He also scored his first Champions League goal in September 2005. In May 2006, he helped Ajax win the KNVB Cup. He set up the first goal in their 2–1 win. In the 2006–07 season, he scored 18 league goals. Ajax won the KNVB Cup again in May 2007.

On 12 August 2007, Ajax agreed to sell Sneijder to Real Madrid. It was a big transfer for €27 million.

Time at Real Madrid

Sneijder warming up for Real Madrid in 2009

Sneijder joined Real Madrid in the 2007–08 season. He was given the number 23 shirt. In his very first league game for Real, he scored the winning goal against Atlético Madrid. In his second game, he scored two goals.

He finished his first season in Spain with nine goals. Real Madrid also won the league title that season. In September 2008, he was given the number 10 shirt, which is often worn by the team's main playmaker.

Success with Inter Milan

Winning the Treble in 2010

On 27 August 2009, Sneijder moved to Inter Milan for €15 million. He was given the number 10 shirt. He made his debut the very next day in a big 4–0 win against Milan. He quickly became a key player for Inter.

He scored his first goal for Inter on 3 October 2009. He also scored his first Champions League goal for Inter in a dramatic 2–1 win. Sneijder was known for his powerful free kicks. He scored two amazing free kicks in one game in January 2010.

In the Champions League semi-final, he scored a goal against Barcelona. Inter won that game 3–1 and went on to reach the final. The media called him "The Sniper" because of his accurate passes and long-range shots.

On 22 May 2010, Inter won the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich 2–0. Sneijder provided an assist for the first goal. This Champions League win was Inter's third trophy of the season. They had also won the Coppa Italia and Serie A titles.

More Success and Challenges

Sneijder playing for Inter in 2010

Sneijder started the 2010–11 season by winning the 2010 Supercoppa Italiana. A few days later, he was named the best club midfielder in the Champions League. He signed a new five-year contract with Inter in October 2010.

He continued to score important goals, including one against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. However, he faced some injuries in the 2011–12 season. These injuries limited his playing time.

In August 2012, he scored his first goal of the new season. However, he later had disagreements with the club about his contract. He stopped playing for Inter in January 2013. He had played 116 games and scored 22 goals for Inter, winning six trophies.

Moving to Galatasaray

Sneijder and teammate Didier Drogba playing in 2013 against his former team Real Madrid in Champions League quarter finals game.

On 20 January 2013, Sneijder joined Turkish club Galatasaray. Thousands of fans welcomed him at the airport. He signed a three-and-a-half-year deal. He said he wanted to become a legend at the club, just like Gheorghe Hagi.

He made his debut on 27 January. He scored his first goal for Galatasaray on 25 February. On 9 April 2013, he scored against his old club, Real Madrid, in the Champions League. On 5 May 2013, Galatasaray won the Süper Lig title. This meant Sneijder had won a league title in four different countries!

For the 2013–14 season, he was given the number 10 shirt. On 11 December 2013, he scored a late winning goal against Juventus in the Champions League. This goal helped Galatasaray move to the next stage of the competition. In February 2014, he scored three goals in one game.

Wesley Sneijder during pre-match training at Galatasaray

Sneijder during pre-match training at Galatasaray in 2015

On 6 April 2014, he scored his first goal in the big derby against Fenerbahçe. In May 2014, he scored the only goal in the Turkish Cup final. He was named Man of the Match.

In the 2014–15 season, he scored ten goals. He was a very important player as Galatasaray won the league title again. He scored two amazing long-range goals against Fenerbahçe in one game. He also helped his team win the Turkish Cup again.

He became a vice-captain for Galatasaray. In October 2015, he signed a new contract with the club. On 14 July 2017, Sneijder left Galatasaray.

Later Clubs and Retirement

On 7 August 2017, Sneijder joined French club Nice. He played 8 games for them. After Nice, he moved to Qatari club Al-Gharafa in January 2018. He captained the team in his debut.

On 12 August 2019, Wesley Sneijder announced that he was retiring from playing football. He then started working for FC Utrecht.

International Career for the Netherlands

Sneijder first played for the Netherlands under-21 team in March 2003. His first game for the senior Dutch national team was in April 2003. He was only 18 years old. On 9 June 2017, he became the player with the most games for the Netherlands. He played his 131st game, beating the old record.

Euro 2008 Performance

Before Euro 2008, Sneijder scored a great free kick in a friendly game. He celebrated his 24th birthday during Euro 2008 by scoring an amazing goal against Italy. He volleyed the ball into the net from outside the box. This goal helped the Netherlands win 3–0. Many fans thought it was one of the best goals of the tournament. He scored another fantastic goal against France. Even though the Dutch team lost in the quarter-finals, Sneijder was named in the Team of the Tournament.

2010 FIFA World Cup Journey

Sneijder the day before the Dutch team's departure to South Africa

Sneijder played in all the games for the Netherlands at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He scored the winning goal against Japan. He was named man of the match in the first two group games. In the knockout stage, he scored against Slovakia.

In the quarter-finals against Brazil, he scored two goals. One was a header from a corner kick! This helped the Netherlands win 2–1. He was again named man of the match. In the semi-final against Uruguay, Sneijder scored another goal. This brought his total to five goals in the tournament. The Netherlands won 3–2 and reached the final.

In the World Cup Final, the Netherlands lost 1–0 to Spain after extra time. Sneijder was a key player throughout the tournament.

2014 FIFA World Cup and Retirement

Sneijder was part of the Netherlands squad for the 2014 World Cup. He played his 100th international game in the first match, a big 5–1 win against Spain. In the round of 16, he scored a late goal against Mexico to help the Netherlands win 2–1.

In the quarter-final, he scored a penalty in a shootout win against Costa Rica. The semi-final against Argentina also went to a shootout, but the Netherlands lost.

Sneijder announced his retirement from international football on 4 March 2018. He had played a record 133 games for his country. He played his 134th and final international game in a friendly match against Peru in September 2018.

How He Played

Wesley Sneijder was a very creative and flexible midfielder. He was known as a "playmaker" because he could create many chances for his teammates. He was excellent at taking free kicks and could score from long distances with either foot. He was quick and strong on the ball, even though he was not very tall.

He had great vision and technical skills. He usually played as an attacking midfielder, right behind the forwards. But he could also play in other midfield positions or even as a second striker.

Personal Life

Sneijder was married to Dutch-Spanish actress and presenter Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen. He has two sons. He became a Roman Catholic and was baptized in Milan.

His brothers, Jeffrey and Rodney, also played football. His family has some Greek background, as their grandmother was from Kavala, Greece.

Awards and Recognition

Wesley Sneijder won many awards during his career:

In 2008, a Dutch magazine poll voted him the best Dutch free kick taker.
He was named the best player of the 2009–10 season by Goal.com.
He was part of the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in 2008.
He was the top assist provider in the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League.
He won the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year award in 2009–10.
At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he won the Silver Ball (second best player) and the Bronze Boot (third highest goal scorer).
He was included in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team and FIFA World Cup Dream Team for 2010.
He was part of the FIFA FIFPro World XI and UEFA Team of the Year in 2010.
He was named the Süper Lig Best Foreign Player in 2014–15.
In 2021, he was inducted into the Inter Milan Hall of Fame.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ajax	2002–03	Eredivisie	17	4	3	1	3	0	—		23	5
	2003–04	Eredivisie	30	9	1	0	7	1	—		38	10
	2004–05	Eredivisie	30	7	3	1	7	0	1	1	41	9
	2005–06	Eredivisie	19	5	3	2	7	4	2	1	31	12
	2006–07	Eredivisie	30	18	4	1	9	1	4	2	47	22
	Total		126	43	14	5	33	6	7	4	180	58
Real Madrid	2007–08	La Liga	30	9	2	0	5	0	1	0	38	9
	2008–09	La Liga	22	2	2	0	4	0	0	0	28	2
	Total		52	11	4	0	9	0	1	0	66	11
Inter Milan	2009–10	Serie A	26	4	4	1	11	3	—		41	8
	2010–11	Serie A	25	4	2	0	9	3	3	0	39	7
	2011–12	Serie A	20	4	2	0	5	0	1	1	28	5
	2012–13	Serie A	5	1	0	0	3	1	—		8	2
	Total		76	13	8	1	28	7	4	1	116	22
Galatasaray	2012–13	Süper Lig	12	3	—		4	1	—		16	4
	2013–14	Süper Lig	28	12	6	3	7	2	1	0	42	17
	2014–15	Süper Lig	31	10	6	3	6	1	1	0	44	14
	2015–16	Süper Lig	25	5	6	1	8	0	1	0	40	6
	2016–17	Süper Lig	28	5	4	0	—		1	0	31	5
	Total		124	35	22	7	25	4	4	0	175	46
Nice	2017–18	Ligue 1	5	0	0	0	3	0	—		8	0
Al-Gharafa	2017–18	Qatar Stars League	11	9	0	0	6	2	—		17	11
	2018–19	Qatar Stars League	11	6	2	2	—		—		13	8
	Total		22	15	2	2	6	2	—		30	19
Career total			405	117	50	15	104	19	16	5	575	156

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Netherlands	2003	3	2
	2004	14	3
	2005	3	0
	2006	10	0
	2007	11	3
	2008	10	3
	2009	7	1
	2010	15	7
	2011	7	4
	2012	10	1
	2013	6	2
	2014	15	2
	2015	9	1
	2016	6	1
	2017	7	1
	2018	1	0
Total		134	31

Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sneijder goal.

List of international goals scored by Wesley Sneijder
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	11 October 2003	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Moldova	2–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
2.	19 November 2003	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Scotland	1–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
3.	18 August 2004	Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden	Sweden	1–1	2–2	Friendly
4.	8 June 2005	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Finland	1–1	3–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.	17 August 2005	Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain	Andorra	3–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.	24 March 2007	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Russia	2–0	4–1	Friendly
7.	8 September 2007	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Bulgaria	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
8.	17 October 2007	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Slovenia	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
9.	1 May 2008	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Wales	2–0	2–0	Friendly
10.	9 June 2008	Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland	Italy	2–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2008
11.	13 June 2008	Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland	France	4–1	4–1	UEFA Euro 2008
12.	9 May 2009	Grolsch Veste, Enschede, Netherlands	Japan	2–0	3–0	Friendly
13.	1 June 2010	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Ghana	3–1	4–1	Friendly
14.	5 June 2010	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Hungary	2–1	6–1	Friendly
15.	19 June 2010	Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa	Japan	1–0	1–0	2010 FIFA World Cup
16.	28 June 2010	Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa	Slovakia	2–0	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup
17.	2 July 2010	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Brazil	1–1	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup
18.	2 July 2010	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Brazil	2–1	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup
19.	6 July 2010	Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa	Uruguay	2–1	3–2	2010 FIFA World Cup
20.	9 February 2011	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Austria	1–0	3–1	Friendly
21.	29 March 2011	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Hungary	2–2	5–3	UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
22.	3 September 2011	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	San Marino	2–0	11–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
23.	3 September 2011	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	San Marino	10–0	11–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
24.	2 June 2012	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Northern Ireland	2–0	6–0	Friendly
25.	11 June 2013	Workers Stadium, Beijing, China	China	2–0	2–0	Friendly
26.	15 October 2013	Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey	Turkey	2–0	2–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
27.	29 June 2014	Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza, Brazil	Mexico	1–1	2–1	2014 FIFA World Cup
28.	12 November 2014	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Mexico	1–1	2–3	Friendly
29.	10 October 2015	Astana Arena, Astana, Kazakhstan	Kazakhstan	2–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
30.	6 September 2016	Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden	Sweden	1–1	1–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
31.	9 June 2017	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Luxembourg	2–0	5–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification