Although he began at Ajax as a striker, he has settled into the right midfield role as the Dutch lack anyone to play as an out-and-out winger.

Linked to a move with Arsenal before his switch to Spain, de Boer came through the Ajax youth academy to make his debut in 1987.

In the following 11 years he won five league titles, the Champions League and the Uefa Super Cup, playing with his twin brother for all but a fraction of that time.

Comfortable on the ball and dangerous going forward - it was his perceptive pass that led to Dennis Bergkamp's spectacular goal against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals.

De Boer remains one of the stalwarts of the Dutch team.