Mario Melchiot
Personal information
Date of birth	November 4, 1976 (1976-11-04) (age 33)
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Right-back
Club information
Current club	Wigan Athletic
Number	25
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1996–1999 1999–2004 2004–2006 2006–2007 2007–	Ajax Chelsea Birmingham City Rennes Wigan Athletic	073 (1) 130 (4) 056 (2) 030 (2) 072 (0)
National team2
2000–	Netherlands	022 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:39, 18 August 2009 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 25 May 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Mario Melchiot (born 4 November 1976 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football defender who currently plays for English Premier League club Wigan Athletic. He can play as either a right-back or as central defender.

[edit] Career

[edit] Ajax and Chelsea

Having been part of the youth system at AFC Ajax, Melchiot played three seasons for the club, winning the Eredivisie in 1998 and the KNVB Cup in 1998 and 1999. He then moved to Chelsea under the Bosman ruling in the summer of 1999, where he won the FA Cup in 2000.

[edit] Birmingham City

He signed for Birmingham City on a two-year contract in July 2004 and made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Portsmouth. Birmingham were relegated during his second season in April 2006 after a 0–0 draw with Newcastle United. He played his last game for Birmingham in their 1–0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers on 7 May 2006. He scored two league goals during his spell at Birmingham, against Charlton^[1] and Wigan.^[2]

[edit] Rennes

In August 2006, Melchiot joined French outfit Rennes on a one-year contract. Super Mario made his debut in a 1–1 draw against AS Monaco and has started in all league matches for Rennes since. He scored his first goal for the club in a Coupe de la Ligue Round of 16 tie against Ligue 2 club Libourne-Saint-Seurin. Melchiot endeared himself to the Rennes faithful when he scored his first league goal for the club in a 2–0 win over fierce rivals Nantes. Melchiot's contract with Rennes lasted until the summer of 2007.

Melchiot has picked up 22 caps for the Netherlands since making his international debut on 11 October 2000 in a 2–0 World Cup qualifier defeat against Portugal. His last international appearance was in the final group match of UEFA Euro 2008 against Romania on 17 June 2008.

[edit] Wigan Athletic

Melchiot joined Wigan Athletic on a free transfer on 15 June 2007.^[3] On 24 July 2007, he was given the Wigan captaincy,^[4] following the departure of Arjan de Zeeuw. He became a fan-favourite at the JJB, and made Latics history when he became the first Wigan player to play in a major international tournament by coming on for the Netherlands against Romania at the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament.

[edit] Musical career

In 1998, Melchiot and Ajax teammates Benni McCarthy and Dean Gorre, calling themselves BMD, released a rap/R & B track called "Midas Touch".^[5][6]

[edit] Playing Honours

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 1997-98
• KNVB Cup: 1998, 1999
• Bruges Matins Trophy: 1997

Chelsea

• FA Premier League: runner-up 2003-04
• FA Cup: 2000, runner-up 2002
• FA Charity Shield: 2000

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Mario Melchiot's profile, stats & pics
• Mario Melchiot career stats at Soccerbase
• (Dutch) Wereld van oranje.nl Profile

v • d • e Netherlands squad – UEFA Euro 2008 1 van der Sar • 2 Ooijer • 3 Heitinga • 4 Mathijsen • 5 van Bronckhorst • 6 De Zeeuw • 7 van Persie • 8 Engelaar • 9 van Nistelrooy • 10 Sneijder • 11 Robben • 12 Melchiot • 13 Timmer • 14 Bouma • 15 De Cler • 16 Stekelenburg • 17 De Jong • 18 Kuyt • 19 Huntelaar • 20 Afellay • 21 Boulahrouz • 22 Vennegoor of Hesselink • 23 van der Vaart • Coach: van Basten