One of the best Dutch players in recent history, the 34-year-old Wesley Sneijder has decided to hang up his boots and retire from professional soccer. Sneijder signed a contract with FC Utrecht, the team from his home town until the end of the season but he will not play a single match in the following season.
A product of the Ajax Youth Academy, Sneijder made his first steps in the most popular club in The Netherlands, signing a trial contract with the club. He impressed the coaches and was given a permanent contract.
Sneijder made his debut for Ajax in 2003 against Willem II in a 6-0 win. In that very same year, Sneijder established himself in the first team, starting against AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals.
He was sold to Real Madrid for a fee of $27 million in 2007, winning the La Liga title in his first season with the club, only to be sold to Inter Milan in 2009 for $15 million. That transfer to Inter made Sneijder one of the best midfielders after winning the Serie A, Italian Cup and the UEFA Champions League title in one season.