Association: Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbal Bond
First match: 1905
Nickname: Oranje

HONOURS:
World Cup
Appearances: 8 (First in 1934)
Best results: Finalist 1974 and 1978, semifinalist 1998.

European Championship
Appearances: 8 (First in 1976)
Best results: Winners 1988, semifinalists 1976, 1992, 2000 and 2004.

Olympics
Appearances: 7 (First in 1908)
Best results: Bronze medals in 1908, 1912 and 1920.

Website: www.knvb.nl

When Wesley moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2007 for an estimated transfer fee of 27 million euros, he broke the Ajax transfer record, and became the second most expensive player in Dutch football history (after Ruud van Nistelrooy who cost 30 million euros when he moved from PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United in 2001).

Wesley is one of three footballing brothers, all of whom have come through the Ajax academy. Old brother Jeffrey now plays for Dutch club Elinckwijk. Younger brother Rodney, 17 is still with the Amsterdam club, and waiting to make his breakthrough at senior level.

Wesley is one of five Dutchmen currently at Real Madrid, the others are Rafael van der Vaart, wingers Royston Drenthe, Arjen Robben and centre forward Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Wesley is one of the few genuinely two-footed players at the top level. He started out as a right-footed player, but worked hard as a kid to develop his left foot. He can now shoot, dribble and pass with both feet… but he still always takes free kicks with his right!

Wesley has played in the centre, defensive midfield, left and right wing, but his favourite position is in a more central role, ‘in the hole’ behind the strikers.

Wesley scored the winning goal on his Real Madrid debut in the clasico against local rivals Atletico. In all, he scored four goals in his first three games for Los Merengues.

Wesley’s favourite footballer growing up was Spanish striker Raul, who is now his colleague and captain at Real Madrid.

Wesley’s senior debut for Holland, against Portugal on 30 April 2003, came when he was only 18, just one month after his first appearance for the U-21 side.

In his final season with Ajax, Wesley scored 20 goals in all competitions (including 18 in the league), his best tally so far.

In the past, while still at Ajax, Wesley attracted interest from a number of top clubs including AC Milan, Valencia, Chelsea and Spurs.

In 2004, Wesley was given the Ajax Talent of the Year Award, based on a vote by the club’s supporters. And three years later, in 2007, he was named the club’s Player of the Year.

Wesley developed his fighting spirit and his close control playing in the crowded and competitive confines of ‘cage’ football against older kids in his local neighbourhood, Ondiep. “I had to be psychologically strong and I believe that experience made me the player I am today: competitive and anxious to be successful,” he says.

As of 1 November 2008, Wesley had played 50 times for Holland, scoring eight goals. Holland have never lost a match when Wesley has found the net.