The Legend
Ajax and Holland legend Sjaak Swart shares his views on a player who first caught his eye a decade ago
“There are three sons in the Sneijder family, Jeffrey, Rodney and Wesley, and all of them very good footballers. But Wesley is fantastic. He just has terrific technique. He might not be so tall, but he is very strong. And he reads the game very well. On top of that, he can play with two feet, I don’t think there are many players in the world who can shoot as well as he can with both their left and their right foot.
“Wesley and his brothers all came through the youth system at Ajax, which is, in my view, the best in the world. They teach the youngsters everything they need to become professionals. Ajax graduates are always very skilled technically and tactically.
“I remember watching Wesley for the first time when he was in the junior teams at Ajax and being amazed by how many goals he managed to score.
“He became a very important player for Ajax, and for Holland, and it doesn’t surprise me at all to see him now at a club like Real Madrid.
“I think he could also have done very well if he had chosen to move to England. He’s so quick – with his feet and his brain - and when you are as technically gifted as him, you can cope very well in a league where they play at that tempo. He is very good at dribbling and deceiving defenders – making to go one way and then going the other way instead. And he delivers a fantastic free-kick.
“I would say there are similarities to Rafael [van der Vaart]. Wesley is another player who you can compare to Denis Bergkamp. He is at his most dangerous when playing in between the midfield and the strikers.
“Actually, it’s amazing, but in Holland we now have three players who can play in that the same position. We’ve got Wesley, Rafael and then there is van Persie. All of them can play out wide – Wesley can play on the right, while Rafael can play on the left for example, but they all prefer a more central role. And it is when they are in the role of the Number 10 that they are at their best.
“Wesley is part of a very talented group of players in the Oranje squad right now. I’ll say this: when the Netherlands play, I mean when they play as a team, they can beat anyone and become champions. If you saw how they played recently, against Croatia, beating them 3-0, you would think the same. That’s Holland for you. They can make an easy game difficult, but can win a difficult game with ease! But when all the players are there, and on form, they are as good as anyone.
“I must say that I’m really looking forward to seeing Wesley in action during the Euro2008 finals. Being in the same group as France and Italy will be a challenge, but I think that’s a good thing. Holland always raise their game when they play against the best opposition.”
“Wesley and his brothers all came through the youth system at Ajax, which is, in my view, the best in the world. They teach the youngsters everything they need to become professionals. Ajax graduates are always very skilled technically and tactically.
“I remember watching Wesley for the first time when he was in the junior teams at Ajax and being amazed by how many goals he managed to score.
“He became a very important player for Ajax, and for Holland, and it doesn’t surprise me at all to see him now at a club like Real Madrid.
“I think he could also have done very well if he had chosen to move to England. He’s so quick – with his feet and his brain - and when you are as technically gifted as him, you can cope very well in a league where they play at that tempo. He is very good at dribbling and deceiving defenders – making to go one way and then going the other way instead. And he delivers a fantastic free-kick.
“I would say there are similarities to Rafael [van der Vaart]. Wesley is another player who you can compare to Denis Bergkamp. He is at his most dangerous when playing in between the midfield and the strikers.
“Actually, it’s amazing, but in Holland we now have three players who can play in that the same position. We’ve got Wesley, Rafael and then there is van Persie. All of them can play out wide – Wesley can play on the right, while Rafael can play on the left for example, but they all prefer a more central role. And it is when they are in the role of the Number 10 that they are at their best.
“Wesley is part of a very talented group of players in the Oranje squad right now. I’ll say this: when the Netherlands play, I mean when they play as a team, they can beat anyone and become champions. If you saw how they played recently, against Croatia, beating them 3-0, you would think the same. That’s Holland for you. They can make an easy game difficult, but can win a difficult game with ease! But when all the players are there, and on form, they are as good as anyone.
“I must say that I’m really looking forward to seeing Wesley in action during the Euro2008 finals. Being in the same group as France and Italy will be a challenge, but I think that’s a good thing. Holland always raise their game when they play against the best opposition.”
