After 16 long years at the Oranje coal face, Wesley Sneijder made his 134th and final appearance for the Netherlands in a friendly against Peru on Thursday evening.
A couple of Memphis Depay goals ensured a 2-1 victory at the Johan Cruijff Arena but the real drama came in the 62nd minute when Ol’ Wes was subbed off for the final time.
In appreciation of his stellar career, the 34-year-old received a rapturous standing ovation from everyone inside the stadium and even a big hug from manager Ronald Koeman on the way off…
Un #WesleySneijder ovacionado por todo el Johan Cruyff Arena es substituido en el último partido con su selección. ¡#WesleyBedankt! 👏
15′ ST #Perú 🇵🇪 1 – 1 🇳🇱 #Holanda
Sigue el minuto a minuto ► https://t.co/vvmVaMbHyT#Incondicionales ❤ #PERHOLxMovistar pic.twitter.com/RArgtqyWwL
— Movistar Deportes (@MovistarDeporPe) 6 September 2018
The festivities didn’t end there though – oh no.
Indeed, the KNVB also prepared a very unorthodox farewell ceremony in which they made Sneijder sit down with his family in a mock ‘living room’ (complete with tea pots) set up in the middle of the pitch.
They then watched some of the veteran midfielder’s career highlights back on the television, coupled with pre-recorded video messages from some of his former teammates…
Lovely.