Sneijder to Man United? The best and worst Dutch players in the Premier League

As Man United close in on Netherlands star Wesley Sneijder, we took a look back at some other Dutch imports in the Premier League…

PIERRE VAN HOOIJDONK (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)
The big Dutchman had already proved his eye for goal in Holland with prolific spells at RBC and NAC Breda when he joined Celtic in 1995. He continued to find the onion bag for fun in two years in Scotland (admittedly not that difficult) and repeated the trick when he moved south to join Nottingham Forest in 1997. So far, so good. And so it would have stayed had the stroppy Dutchy not chosen to go on strike at the start of the 1997/98 season, claiming Forest had broken promises to him. By the time he realised, in November, that no-one was going to come in for a bloke refusing to play, Forest were deep in the mire. And they stayed there, going down at the end of the season. Still, Van the man probably didn’t care. He got a move to Vitesse. Good riddance…
Verdict: Clog

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY (MAN UNITED)
Fergie was made to wait for the Dutchman when a knee injury scuppered his move to United in the summer of 2000. But when he arrived a year later, he proved very much worth the wait. He scored 160 goals in a little over 200 games, bagged a stack of medals and was then sold to Real Madrid five years later for £5m more than United had paid for him. A true thoroughbred.
Verdict: Shexy football

Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)
There’s no doubt Van Persie has been a success and, on his day, he’s one of the most dangerous front men in the Premier League. And who knows how good he’d be if the perma-crocked Dutchman wasn’t as fragile as a tulip in the winter!
Verdict: Shexy football

JAN VANNEGOOR OF HESSELINK (HULL CITY)
Clearly a big name (!), but what of his prowess in front of the sticks? A record of a goal every other game in Holland (give or take) suggested good things, and that trend continued in three years with Celtic in the SPL. A year in the Premier League with Hull, however, rather burst his bubble as he managed just three goals in 31 games. Still, at least the club shop made a few quid sticking his moniker on the back of replica shirts.
Verdict: Clog

Ryan Babel (LIVERPOOL)
The man who was dubbed the ‘new Thierry Henry’ when he sealed a £9m move to Anfield in 2007, sadly for Reds fans, turned out to be more like the ‘new Lenny Henry’ as far as Kopites were concerned – no one was laughing. He managed only a dozen goals in more than 90 Premier League appearances and made more headlines for his off-field tweets than his on-field treats.
Verdict: Clog

Dirk Kuyt (LIVERPOOL)
The man who could give the Duracell bunny a run for his money had smashed in 71 goals in 101 games for Feyenoord before making the move to Merseyside. His goal record has been far less prolific (averaging one in four), but as he’s played most of his games out on the right wing, in truth, that ain’t too bad at all. He's no Johann Cruyff, but you always got 100 per cent from Kuyt and he has a knack for making decisive contributions when it counts.
Verdict: Shexy football

Arjen Robben (CHELSEA)
OK, not strictly a striker, but the man with magic in his left foot has proved he’s got an eye for goal, as Fergie would testify after his strike helped Bayern knocked Man United out of Europe in 2010. A key part of Jose Mourinho’s 4-3-3 attacking plan during his time at Chelsea, with Damien Duff bombing down the other flank, the man who arrived in west London as the oldest looking 21-year-old in the history of the world proved he had the class that belied his tender years.
Verditc: Shexy football

MARCO BOOGERS (West Ham)
Possibly the worst Dutch import to these shores of all-time. After a decade in his native Holland, West Ham forked out a full £1m to entice him to Upton Park. Talk about money well spent! He was sent off in his second appearance as a sub against Man United and banned for four matches). Boogers then made three more brief appearances before picking up a knee injury and that was the end of his ‘glorious’ career in the East End. Not one of ‘Arry’s better buys!
Verdict: Clog

DENNIS BERGKAMP (ARSENAL)

One of the greatest players to grace English football in the past 20 years, Bergkamp symbolised Arsenal's most successful years under Arsene Wenger – great football with a killer end product. It wasn't Wenger who signed Bergkamp, however. Instead, Bruce Rioch was in charge when the Dutch international was lured to Highbury after a difficult period with Milan giants Inter. From his sublime take down and finish against Leicester, to that unforgettable spin and shot at Newcastle, Bergkamp may have hailed from the lowlands, but he scaled some very impressive heights.

Verdict: Shexy football

RUUD GULLIT (CHELSEA)

Probably the best player in the world at his peak, Gullit was past his best when he joined Chelsea in 1995 on a free transfer from Sampdoria. He was still top class, however, and he helped turn Chelsea from mid-table mediocrity to trophy winners. After his first season in the Premier League, Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle quit to take the England job, leaving Gullit to take over the reigns as Stamford Bridge player-manager. By the end of his first season, Gullit had won the Blues' first major silverware since 1970, lifting the FA Cup at Wembley. Lest we forget, it was in fact Gullit who first pioneered the phrase 'sexy football', which he used as a pundit when describing a Euro '96 quarter-final between Portugal and Czech Republic.

Verdict: Shexy football

Who's your favourite Dutch player from the Premier League era? Let us know by commenting below…