Mario Melchiot

Mario Melchiot (born November 4, 1976 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football defender who currently plays for Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League. He can play as either a right-back or as central defender. Having been part of the youth system at Ajax Amsterdam , Melchiot played three seasons for the club, winning the Eredivisie in 1998 and the KNVB Cup in 1998 and 1999. He moved to Chelsea under the Bosman ruling in the summer of 1999, where he won the FA Cup in 2000. He signed for Birmingham City on a two-year contract in July 2004, and made his début in a 1–1 draw against Portsmouth . Birmingham were relegated during his second season in April 2006 after a 0–0 draw with Newcastle . He played his last game for Birmingham in their 1–0 defeat to Bolton on May 7, 2006. In August 2006, Melchiot joined French outfit Stade Rennais 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 FC 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 FC Nantes Atlantique. Melchiot's contract with Rennes lasted until the summer of 2007. Melchiot has picked up 21 caps for the Netherlands since making his international debut on October 11, 2000 in a 2–0 World Cup qualifier defeat against Portugal . His last international appearance was in the final group match of Euro 2008 against Romania on June 17, 2008. Melchiot joined Wigan Athletic on a free transfer on June 15, 2007.On 24 July 2007 he was given the Wigan captaincy, following the departure of Arjan de Zeeuw . He became a fans 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 Holland against Romania in Euro 2008. In 1998, Melchiot and Ajax teammates Benni McCarthy and Dean Gorre, calling themselves BMD, released a rap/R'n'B track called "Midas Touch".