Sherida Spitse: The Netherlands defender with 244 caps – and she is not finished yet

New York Times

05-07-2025

There is nobody at Euro 2025 like Sherida Spitse.
At 35, the Netherlands and Ajax captain is the most-capped European player of all time (244 appearances) and she is set to extend that record this month.
The midfielder-turned-defender's tally surpasses any male player on record — Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has 22 fewer caps than Spitse despite making his debut three years earlier. Only seven women, led by the USWNT's Kristine Lilly on 354, have more than Spitse.
Her consistency and longevity are unparalleled in Europe but, despite this being her eighth international tournament, she still somehow flies under the radar.
'There aren't loads of super fans of Sherida,' says Mark Parsons, her national team coach from 2021-22. 'But I've been in winning environments where you overachieve. I've been in environments where you underachieve. The difference is often people like Sherida — the leadership, intensity, focus and dedication.'
This summer, Spitse will captain the Netherlands in the tournament's most difficult group. They play France, who knocked them out of Euro 2022 in the quarter-finals, holders England and Wales. They must overachieve to progress, and the difference Spitse makes will be more important than ever.
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When 16-year-old Spitse made her international debut in 2006, she was playing in the boys' team at her local side VV Sneek, in the north of the country, before moving on to Heerenveen when the Dutch women's league was founded a year later.
She earned her first cap in a 4-0 loss to England in the Netherlands' unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2007 World Cup.
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Eleven years later, after two more international tournaments and spells at Norwegian side Kvinner and back home at Twente, she faced England again in what was the best summer of her career.
In front of a sell-out crowd of almost 30,000 in Enschede, Sarina Wiegman's Netherlands won 3-0 to reach the Euros final on home soil.
In the final three days later she won player of the match, scored the decisive third goal and lifted the European Championship trophy in the 4-2 victory over Denmark. Spitse played every minute of the tournament.
'Championship-winning teams have to have one or two people like Sherida,' says Parsons, who took over from Wiegman when the Dutchwoman became England head coach in 2021. He was in the job for a year before Andries Jonker replaced him.
'Her ability to bring 100 per cent every single day is incredible, to demand 100 per cent from other people too. You need these types of characters, leaders, and that's Sherida.'
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Anouk Dekker, Spitse's former international team-mate, says Spitse is 'one of the key figures in every team that she plays in'. The two played together at Twente from 2012-14 and for the Netherlands at Euro 2017, as well as the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
'She's evolved into a true leader off the pitch, and being that role model the new generation needs,' Dekker says. 'I consider her a friend and someone I really respect. She can still be so important with her communication and leading the team.'
Since 2017, the Netherlands have needed her leadership. In 2019, they lost 2-0 in the World Cup final to the U.S. and their European title defence under Parsons in 2022 was scuppered by fitness issues.
Forward Vivianne Miedema, formerly of Arsenal and now at Manchester City, missed two group games through Covid-19 infection, while former Chelsea defender Aniek Nouwen and captain and goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal were injured in the opening game. It continued a pattern of injury and illness that had played havoc with their preparations.
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'I had played 30 different people in six months because of Covid and injuries,' Parsons says. 'There were so many issues, but Sherida was consistent.
'That gave us a chance. We got out of a group of Switzerland, Portugal and Sweden (before being eliminated by France in the quarter-finals). It would have been a lot worse without Sherida.'
Parsons compares Spitse's leadership and character to Christine Sinclair, with whom he worked at Portland Thorns. Canada's Sinclair made 331 international appearances — a total only bettered by Lilly.
'Sherida will absolutely be giving her best but demand the best,' says Parsons. 'At first, you're probably like, 'Why is she like this?'. And what you realise is she wants the very best for the Dutch national team.
'Once you realise that, the young players have a role model in someone who maximises their quality, maximises their abilities. It's invaluable for a group to have.
'While I had her in my leadership group, I wish I had empowered her more.'
Spitse's leadership is part of the reason for her new two-year contract with Ajax, announced on June 17. She helps develop the club's young talent, such as American teenager Lily Yohannes, and the deal was signed with a view to a potential coaching role once she finishes playing.
Spitse has started every Eredivisie match with Ajax for three consecutive seasons, including their title-winning 2022-23 campaign. She will now occasionally skip a training session to keep her body fresh — having been the first to the field and the last to leave.
'She is so strong, so fit and so consistent in putting football first and doing everything that needs to be done to be there every weekend,' says Dekker.
Her fitness has persisted despite a heavier footballing load than others with similar international records. Spitse's 244 caps are outstripped by six Americans and Canadian Sinclair but many of them played the bulk of their career at a time when female players had far fewer club fixtures. From 2007-25, Spitse has played more than 350.
In recent years, her role has changed. Parsons admits he was surprised to see Jonker deploy Spitse, traditionally a central midfielder with an eye for goal, on the right of a back three at the 2023 World Cup in Australia.
'I didn't think it would work,' says Parsons. 'In possession, I thought it would be brilliant, because Sherida's quality is when she's faced up, looking forward with the ball — but I was a bit concerned defensively. That's a big new job. I was wrong.'
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In their five World Cup matches, the Netherlands conceded only two goals with Spitse on the pitch. She started every game.
It was an impressive transition into a defensive role. Dekker is not surprised by how Spitse, who now predominantly plays as a centre-half in a back four for Ajax and the Netherlands, has adapted.
'When I played behind her or in the same position, you can trust her 100 per cent,' Dekker says. 'She has such great technique, vision and positioning. You can't doubt her, if she's covering you — she will be there.'
Spitse has played in defence in all six of the Netherlands' Nations League fixtures this year, starting three. It is unclear whether she will be a starter for Jonker, who will be replaced as head coach by Wiegman's long-time assistant Arjan Veurink after the tournament.
Starting or not, she will have a key role in Switzerland.
'Sometimes I feel like there's not enough respect for Sherida,' Dekker says. 'She's a true leader and a remarkable person. Her 244 caps say enough.'