Mzansi star, Steven Pienaar celebrates his 33rd birthday today, but did you know the former Bafana Bafana captain played alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
Read: Schillo Third Best African On EPL Assist Charts
Schillo joined Ajax Amsterdam as an 18-year-old in January 2001 but only received his first team debut over a year later. It was around the same time that the star of a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic rose at the Dutch side.
Together, the duo won two Eredivisie titles as well as one KNVB Cup and one Dutch Super Cup before the Swede left for bigger tasks in 2004.
Pienaar stayed another two seasons in Holland before joning Borussia Dortmund in Germany. However, he never found his feet in the Bundesliga and then joined Everton on loan in 2007, before being transferred to the Toffees at the end of that season.
Following three campaigns at Goodison Park, Pienaar joined Tottenham Hotspur for £3 million (R55 million) but his time at White Hart Lane was overshadowed by injuries.
In January 2012, he re-joined Everton on loan until the end of the campaign and in August both clubs agreed to a permanent deal worth £4.5 million (R82 million).
His first season back at Everton was an instant success, and he also contributed immensely under Roberto Martinez last season. This season, however, he has again spent more time on the sidelines following a series of injuries.
The 33-year-old still has another year on his contract and is reportedly close to first team action again. Hopefully he can soon fully recover from his injury – Everton could surely still benefit from his skills.
"We are missing a little magic and those moments we have seen so many times from Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar and even Aiden McGeady – they have real quality in finding space," his coach, Martinez said recently.
Click through the gallery attached to the article to view some of the best pictures of Schillo's career.
Join us in wishing Schillo all the best to his birthday and leave your wishes in the comments section below.
