Maarten Stekelenburg
Maarten Stekelenburg (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmaːrtən ˈsteɪkələnˌbʏrx]; born 22 September 1982 in Haarlem) is a professional Dutch football goalkeeper who currently plays for Ajax and the Netherlands national football team.
Michel Vorm
Michel Vorm (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmiʃɛl ˈvɔrm]; born October 20, 1983 in Nieuwegein) is a Dutch football goalkeeper, currently playing for FC Utrecht. He spent some time on loan at FC Den Bosch.
Advertisement: Valentine Day Shopping, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
Sander Boschker
Sander Bernard Jozef Boschker (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsɑndər ˈbɔskər]; born 20 October 1970 in Lichtenvoorde, Oost Gelre) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for FC Twente, as a goalkeeper.
Gregory van der Wiel
Gregory Kurtley van der Wiel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣrɛɣɔri vɐn dər ˈʋil]; born 3 February 1988 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch international footballer who plays professionally for Ajax and the Netherlands national football team.
A more recent product of the renowned Ajax youth system, he is an attacking right back known for his speedy runs down the flank. In 2010, Van der Wiel was awarded the Johan Cruijff Award for "Young Player of the Year" in the Netherlands.
He made his debut for the Dutch national team in February 2009, and is participating at the2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Dutch team-mate John Heitinga has labeled him the spiritual successor of Michael Reiziger for the Netherlands.
John Heitinga
John Gijsbert Alan "Johnny" Heitinga (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdʒɔn ˈɦɛitɪŋɣɐ]; born 15 November 1983 in Alphen aan den Rijn) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a defender for English Premier League side Everton and the Dutch national team.
A product of the Ajax Academy, he previously played for AFC Ajax and Atlético Madrid, before signing for Everton in 2009. In 2008, Heitinga was named Dutch Footballer of the Year.
Heitinga previously represented various Youth squads for the Netherlands. He is now a regular player for the Dutch national team, having made his debut in April 2003, and having represented his country at the 2006 World Cup and at two European Championships (2008and 2004). He will be representing the Netherlands at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Joris Mathijsen
Joris Mathijsen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjɔːrɪs mɐˈtɛisən]; born 5 April 1980 in Goirle, North Brabant) is a professional Dutch footballer. He plays for Hamburger SV and the national team as a centre back, usually on the left side as he is left footed.
Advertisement: Valentine Day Shopping, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni Christiaan van Bronckhorst (Dutch pronunciation: [dʒoʊˈvɑni vɐn ˈbrɔŋkhɔrst]; born 5 February 1975 in Rotterdam), known as Gio for short, is a Dutch footballer of Indonesian descent who plays for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Dutch national team.
Van Bronckhorst signed a three-year contract with Feyenoord in June 2007, leaving FC Barcelona as a free agent. Prior to joining Barcelona, Bronckhorst played for RKC Waalwijk (1993–94), Feyenoord (1994–98), Rangers (1998–2001), and Arsenal (2001–03).
He has earned 100 caps for the Dutch national team, and played for his country in threeWorld Cups (1998, 2006 and 2010), as well as three European Championships (2000,2004, and 2008).
Khalid Boulahrouz
Khalid Boulahrouz (born 28 December 1981, in Maassluis, Netherlands) is a Dutchfootballer of Berber Moroccan Rif descent, who plays for the Netherlands and VfB Stuttgart. His nickname is "Khalid the Cannibal" for his ability to "eat up" his opposition.
André Ooijer
André Antonius Maria Ooijer (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈoːi.jər]; born 11 July 1974 inAmsterdam) is a Dutch international football player who is currently unattached.
Edson Braafheid
Edson René Braafheid (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɛtsɔn ˈbraːfhɛit]; born 8 April 1983 inParamaribo) is a Surinamese-born Dutch footballer who currently plays as a left back forGerman Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.
Mark van Bommel
Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɑrk vɐn ˈbɔməl]; born 22 April 1977 in Maasbracht) is a Dutch footballer who plays for and captainsBayern Munich in the German first division. He is also the son-in-law of the coach of the Dutch national team, Bert van Marwijk.
Nigel de Jong
Nigel de Jong (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈnɑjdʒəl də ˈjɔŋ]; born 30 November 1984) is a Dutchfootballer who plays for Manchester City and the Netherlands national team. The defensive midfielder joined the famous Ajax youth academy as a youngster and worked his way through the ranks to make his first team at age seventeen. Two years later, he made his international debut. His father is former Dutch international Jerry de Jong.
Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Benjamin Sneijder (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɛsli ˈsnɛidər] ; born 9 June 1984, in Utrecht) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Italian Serie A club Internazionale as a midfielder. In 2004, Sneijder was awarded the Johan Cruijff Award for "Young Player of the Year" in the Netherlands.
A product of the Ajax Academy, he previously played for AFC Ajax and Real Madrid, before signing for Internazionale in 2009. In his first season at the Italian club, Sneijder won theEuropean Treble, consisting of Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League.
Sneijder previously represented various Youth squads for the Netherlands. He is now a regular player for the Dutch national team, having made his debut in April 2003 at the age of 18, and having represented his country at the 2006 World Cup and at two European Championships (2008 and 2004). He is representing the Netherlands at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Demy de Zeeuw
Demy Patrick René de Zeeuw (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdeːmi də ˈzeːu]; born 26 May 1983 inApeldoorn, Netherlands) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Eredivisie club Ajaxand the Netherlands national football team. He is a defensive midfielder described as a good tackler and a gifted passer of the ball. He previously played for AGOVV, Go Ahead Eagles, and AZ. While at AZ he was a key player in the squad that won the 2008–09 Dutch league, the club's first championship victory in 28 years. Following this success he was rewarded with a move to Dutch giants Ajax.
Stijn Schaars
Stefanus Johannes "Stijn" Schaars (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈstɛin ˈsxaːrs]; born 11 January 1984 in Gendt, Gelderland) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Eredivisie club AZand the Dutch national team as a midfielder. He also captains his club.
Ibrahim Afellay
Ibrahim Afellay (born 2 April 1986 in Utrecht) is a Dutch footballer of Moroccan descent (Rifregion) playing for PSV in the Dutch Eredivisie. He has played for the Dutch national youth team and is now part of the senior Dutch national team, who he will be representing at the2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He usually plays as the centre attacking midfielder for PSV but can also play at the right or left side due to his creative qualities. In 2007, Afellay was awarded the Johan Cruijff Award for "Young Player of the Year" in the Netherlands.
Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈraːfɐ.ɛl vɐn dər ˈvaːrt] ; born 11 February 1983) is a Dutch footballer who plays for La Liga club Real Madrid and theNetherlands national team. His preferred position is central midfield as playmaker but is capable of operating on both sides of the midfield. Van der Vaart began his career at Ajax's famous youth academy and worked his way into the first team debuting as a 17-year-old. He moved to Bundesliga side Hamburg, then to Real Madrid.
Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuijt, commonly known as Dirk Kuyt (Dutch pronunciation: [dɪrk kœyt] ; born 22 July 1980) is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays for English club Liverpool. His primary position is as a striker, but now he is more often deployed as a winger for both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.
Kuyt began his professional career with FC Utrecht in 1998 and quickly became part of their first team. He spent five years at the club and in his final season he won his first senior honour, the Dutch Cup, and was chosen as the season's Dutch Golden Shoe Winner. Following this, he left Utrecht in a €1 million transfer to Feyenoord. He became the clubcaptain in 2005 and was a prolific goalscorer at the Rotterdam club; he was the club's top scorer for three consecutive seasons, the top goalscorer in the 2004–05 Eredivisie season, and the 2005–06 Dutch Footballer of the Year. Kuyt missed only five games over seven seasons from 1999 until 2006 and appeared in 179 consecutive matches between 2001–06.
He left Feyenoord after three years, having scored 71 league goals in 101 appearances, and joined Premier League side Liverpool for £10 million. He made his Premier League debut late in 2006 and immediately became part of the first team squad. He scored in his first everUEFA Champions League final with Liverpool against AC Milan, with Kuyt offering late hope for Liverpool although eventually losing 2–1.
He made his international debut in 2004 and has represented the Netherlands at three major international tournaments, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɔbɪn vɐn ˈpɛrsi] ; born 6 August 1983) is aDutch footballer. He currently plays for Arsenal, where he is vice-captain, and is a member of theDutch national team as a forward.
The son of two artists, van Persie was encouraged to follow in his parents' footsteps, but he instead preferred football and joined SBV Excelsior's youth squad. He made his breakthrough at his hometown club Feyenoord, where he spent three seasons and won the 2002 UEFA Cup. Disagreements with coach Bert van Marwijk culminated in a change of club and Van Persie moved to Premier League side Arsenal for £2.75 million in 2004. He won the FA Community Shield and the FA Cup in his first season with the London club and went on to win the 2006Rotterdam Sportsman of the year award.
Van Persie has 49 caps and 19 goals with the Netherlands and made his senior international debut in 2005. He has participated in the 2006 World Cup, the Euro 2008, and the 2010 World Cup.
Advertisement: Valentine Day Shopping, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑrjən ˈrɔbən]; born 23 January 1984) is a Dutch footballerwho plays for the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards as a winger. He is also a part of theNetherlands national team and has appeared at Euro 2004, the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008and at the 2010 World Cup.
Robben first came to prominence with Groningen, for whom he was player of the year for the2000–01 Eredivisie season. Two years later he signed for PSV, where he became the Netherlands' Young Player of the Year and won an Eredivisie medal. The following season Robben's signature was pursued by leading English clubs, and after protracted transfer negotiations he joined Chelsea in the 2004 close season.
Robben's Chelsea debut was delayed through injury, but upon returning to fitness he helped Chelsea to consecutive Premier League titles, and was the FA Premier League Player of the Month in November 2005. After a third season in England which was punctuated by injury, Robben moved to Spanish club Real Madrid for €35 million. In August 2009, Robben transferred to Bayern Munich for a fee of around €25 million,scoring two goals on his debut. In his first season in Munich, Bayern won the league title, Robben's fifth league title in eight years, and got to the Champions League Final.
Eljero Elia
Eljero George Rinaldo Elia (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɛldʒəroʊ ˈeːliɐ]; born 13 February 1987 inVoorburg) is a Dutch footballer of Surinamese descent, who currently plays for GermanBundesliga club Hamburger SV and the Netherlands national team. Prior to joining HSV in 2009, Elia played for ADO Den Haag and FC Twente. He made his debut for the Dutch national team in September 2009, scoring on his debut, and participated at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. In 2009, Elia was awarded the Johan Cruijff Award for "Young Player of the Year" in the Netherlands. His trademark characteristics are his blistering pace and speed.
Ryan Babel
Ryan Guno Babel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɑjɐn ˈbaːbəl]; born 19 December 1986) is a Dutchprofessional footballer who currently plays for Liverpool. He is right footed and plays as a leftwinger, but can also play as a striker. Babel began his career at AFC Ajax in 1998, working his way up through the youth team and into the senior squad. He played three seasons for the first team before he was transferred to Liverpool in mid-2007. He has been part of theDutch national football team since 2005 and has represented his country at all youth team levels. In 2010 he had his first child, a boy, named Riley.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈklaːs ˈjɑn ˈɦʏntəlaːr] ; born 12 August 1983), nicknamed The Hunter,is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Serie A club A.C. Milan and internationally for theDutch national team. Huntelaar is a prolific striker with technique and athleticism and has been compared in style to players such as Marco van Basten and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Former Netherlands and FC Barcelona, and current FC Bayern manager Louis van Gaal has been quoted saying about the player "in the penalty area, he is the best player in the world, bar none."
Named Dutch Football Talent of the Year and Ajax "Player of the Year" in 2006, Huntelaar was a part of the Dutch side that won the 2006 UEFA U-21 Championshipwhere he became the tournament's leading goalscorer. He was also named as one of two strikers in the UEFA Team of the Tournament. He is the all-time top scorer of theNetherlands U-21 national team with 18 goals in 22 appearances. In domestic competition he finished top scorer in the Eredivisie 2005–06 and 2007–08 seasons.
Huntelaar played previously for PSV, De Graafschap, AGOVV Apeldoorn, SC Heerenveen, AFC Ajax and Real Madrid C.F., before joining A.C. Milan in August 2009.
Source:Netherlands football team
Advertisement: Valentine Day Shopping, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
------------------------------------------------------------
Uruguay national football team
Néstor Fernando Muslera Micol Sponsor:Click2.info
Néstor Fernando Muslera Micol (born 16 June 1986 in Montevideo, Uruguay) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Italian Serie A club Lazio and the Uruguayan national team, where he is first choice goalkeeper.
Juan Guillermo Castillo
Juan Guillermo Castillo Iriart (born 17 April 1978 in Durazno) is a Uruguayan goalkeeper. He currently plays for Deportivo Cali in the Colombian Primera A and the Uruguay national football team.
Martín Silva
Martín Andrés Silva (born March 25, 1983) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Primera División Uruguaya side Defensor Sporting and the Uruguay national football team. He is currently Defensor Sporting's first choice goalkeeper.
Diego Lugano
Diego Alfredo Lugano Moreno (born November 2, 1980 in Canelones) is a Uruguayan international football central defender who currently plays for Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Super League. He has previously played for Plaza Colonia, Nacional and São Paulo. He is also captain of the Uruguayan natio.
Advertisement: Valentine Day Shopping, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
Diego Roberto Godín Leal (born 16 February 1986 in Rosario) is an Uruguayan footballer currently playing with Villarreal CF, as a central defender.
A fast and composed defender, he combines physical presence with an ability to play the ball comfortably from behind.
Jorge Fucile
Jorge Ciro Fucile Perdomo (born 19 November 1984 in Montevideo) is an Uruguayan footballer currently playing for Portuguese club F.C. Porto.
A defender, he is equally at ease on the right or left flank.
Mauricio Victorino
Mauricio Bernardo Victorino Dansilio (11 October 1982 in Montevideo) is a Uruguayan football defender. He played for Plaza Colonia, Nacional, Veracruz, and he currently plays for Universidad de Chile. He scored his first goal as a Universidad de Chile player, after a left-footed shot, on August 30th, in a game against Audax Italiano.
He made his debut for Nacional in a Copa Libertadores match against Argentine River Plate on 3 March 2005.
Victorino played on the Uruguayan national team in the 2010 World Cup. In the shoot out against Ghana, he scored the second penalty kick for Uruguay in the World Cup quarterfinals on July 2, 2010. The goal was one of four that sent Uruguay to the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.
Maximiliano Pereira
Victorio Maximiliano "Maxi" Pereira Páez (born 8 June 1984 in Montevideo) is an Uruguayan footballer who currently plays for Benfica in the Portuguese Liga, as well as in the Uruguay national football team.
Mainly a right back, he can occasionally appear as a midfielder.
Andrés Scotti
Andrés Scotti Ponce de León (born 14 December 1975 in Montevideo) is a Uruguayan football midfielder/defender, who plays for Colo Colo of Chile.
Martín Cáceres
José Martín Cáceres Silva (born April 7, 1987 in Montevideo) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for Juventus F.C. in the Italian Serie A on loan from FC Barcelona. His primary position is central defender, but has also featured at right back and left back.
Walter Gargano
Walter Alejandro Gargano Guevara (born 23 July 1984) is a Uruguayan footballer midfielder. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club Napoli.
On 30 June 2007, Gargano agreed a transfer from Uruguayan club Danubio, to newly promoted Napoli for a fee of £2m.[1] Gargano has established himself in midfield for both his national team and Napoli.
Sebastián Eguren
Álvaro Pereira
Álvaro Daniel Pereira Barragán (born November 28, 1985 in Montevideo) is an Uruguayan footballer who currently plays for F.C. Porto in the Portuguese first division.
On the left side, he can play as either a defender or midfielder.
Nicolás Lodeiro
Nicolás Lodeiro (born 21 March 1989) is a Uruguayan footballer playing for Dutch Eredivisie club Ajax Amsterdam.
Advertisement: Valentine Day Shopping, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
Diego Pérez (footballer)
Diego Fernando Pérez Aguado (born May 18, 1980, in Montevideo) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for AS Monaco in Ligue 1 after signing in 2004 from Peñarol. He played for Uruguay at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
At the age of 19, Pérez joined one of the clubs of his hometown, Defensor Sporting, soon becoming a first-team regular. He joined a larger club from Montevideo, CA Peñarol, in 2003 but only played 13 games with them before being shipped off to play for Didier Deschamps' AS Monaco. During his time at Monaco he has had to battle for his place in the defensive midfield spot against Lucas Bernardi, Akis Zikos and Gerard López and was especially favored by the manager Francesco Guidolin during the Italian's reign in the 2005–06 season.
Egidio Arévalo
Egidio Arévalo Ríos is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for C.A. Peñarol and the Uruguay national football team.
Arévalo previously played for Monterrey and San Luis in the Primera Division de Mexico.
Ignacio María González
Ignacio 'Nacho' María González Gatti (born 14 May 1982 in Montevideo) is an Uruguayan footballer currently playing for Valencia CF, as a midfielder.
Álvaro Fernández
Álvaro Fernández (born 11 October 1985 in Uruguay) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as a midfielder. He currently plays for Uruguay football side Nacional and the Uruguay national football team.
Edinson Cavani
Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez (born February 14, 1987 in Salto) is a Uruguayan football striker. He currently plays for Serie A club U.S. Città di Palermo.
Luis Alberto Suárez
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz (born 24 January 1987 in Salto) is a Uruguayan footballer who currently plays as a striker for AFC Ajax, where he is captain, and for the Uruguayan national team.
Suárez began his career at Nacional. He moved to Groningen in 2006, before transfering to Ajax in 2007. At Ajax he mainly played as a supporting striker with the main striker initially being Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and later Marko Pantelić. Following the arrival of manager Martin Jol at Ajax in 2009, Suárez was made the club captain, succeeding the departed Thomas Vermaelen. In 2010, Suárez was named Dutch Footballer of the Year, having ended the season as top scorer in the league with 35 goals (49 goals in all competitions).
Diego Forlán
Diego Martín Forlán Corazo (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo foɾˈlan]; born 19 May 1979 in Montevideo) is a Uruguayan footballer who currently plays for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Uruguayan national team, as a striker. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe.
Forlán was born into a family of footballers, his father Pablo having played for Uruguay in the 1966 and 1974 FIFA World Cups and his grandfather, Juan Carlos Corazo, for Independiente in Argentina. Forlán joined Independiente after rising through their youth team, and after a successful four year spell signed for Manchester United. Forlán's two-year stint in the Premier League saw him fail to achieve the form he held at Independiente, and he was signed by La Liga side Villarreal.
In his first season in Spanish football, Forlán scored 25 league goals and won the Pichichi Trophy. After two more successful seasons with Villarreal, Forlán joined Atlético Madrid, where he once again became the league's top scorer, and became the first player to win the Pichichi Trophy twice since Ronaldo achieved this feat in 2003-04.
Forlán also has a successful international career, in which he has scored 27 times for his country. He has scored at both the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, in which he scored twice against the host nation and once against Ghana.
Sebastián Abreu
Washington Sebastián Abreu Gallo (born 17 October 1976 in Minas, Lavalleja Department), is an Uruguayan footballer who plays with Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas in Brazil, as a striker.
Best known by his nickname El Loco (Madman in Spanish), the prolific goalscorer – for club and country – has played for more than 20 teams during his professional career, in six different countries.
Sebastián Fernández
Sebastián Bruno Fernández Miglierina(born 23 May 1985 in Montevideo) is an Uruguayan football striker who plays for Club Atlético Banfield in Argentina.