Mark van Bommel profile

A powerhouse of a midfielder, Mark van Bommel will be pushing hard to take on the holding role for Marco van Basten.

"Van Bommel quite literally marched ahead with the flag for PSV and almost alone brought Milan to the brink of defeat."
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Van Bommel made his name during a seven-year stint with Fortuna Sittard and PSV Eindhoven beat off a clutch of clubs to land his signature in 1999.

He won the Eredivisie title in his first season at the club and went on to collect the championship on three further occasions before moving to Barcelona on a Bosman free transfer in 2005, while he was crowned Dutch Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002.

Barcelona have a glittering array of attacking talent at Camp Nou and van Bommel found it tough to adjust to life in La Liga.

However, he is nothing if not tenacious and knuckled down and has featured regularly in the second half of the season.

He will head to Germany in fine form, having secured Liga and UEFA Champions League glory in his first season, and will have a point to prove.

Van Bommel's international bow came against Cyprus in 2002, but injury robbed him of the chance to feature in the 2004 European Championship.

He did not initially win over van Basten, but his commitment levels have improved immeasurably and he will look to show his class this summer.