Giovanni van Bronckhorst Profile

Born in Rotterdam, he came up through the academy ranks at local giants Feyenoord, progressing into the youth team before signing professional terms at De Kuip. He would start off as a midfielder, leaving Feyenoord in 1998 to join Dick Advocaat at Rangers. He'd have three seasons at Ibrox before moving south of the border to Arsenal. Barcelona's new coach, Frank Rijkaard, came calling in 2003, with a dream move to the Nou Camp, initially on a year loan, before a permanent deal for a further three years. Whilst he'd mainly been played as a midfielder up to this point, at Barcelona he'd be deployed as an attacking left-back. He'd finish his career where he started, back at his hometown club of Feyenoord, playing another three seasons there before hanging up his boots in 2010. On the international scene, he'd have a great career with De Oranje, earning 106 caps, mainly as a left-back, his final appearance being the biggest game of his career- the World Cup Final against Spain in 2010. Unfortunately, they'd come up against that incredibly strong Spanish side and would just miss out on the ultimate prize.