Mario Melchiot (born November 4, 1976 in Amsterdam, Netherlands) is a Dutch football player who currently plays for Birmingham City F.C. as a defender.
Having been part of the youth system at Ajax Amsterdam, it was Chelsea F.C. who initially bought the player under the terms of the Bosman ruling, as they were rewarded with strong displays in all competitions by the player.
Melchiot played one game for the Netherlands in 2000 in a World Cup qualifier, a 2-0 defeat against Portugal on October 11.
The player still managed to pick up medals for Chelsea, including a runner-up medal in the FA Cup, however, when Glen Johnson was purchased on July 15, 2003, Melchiot's place looked under threat. This wasn't to prove so until the summer of the following year, 2004, when José Mourinho released Melchiot to Birmingham in order to bring in Paulo Ferreira.
He signed for Birmingham on a two-year contract in July 2004, and made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth F.C.
However, throughout in the ongoing 2005/06 campaign, Melchiot has lost his place in the side fuelling speculation that he will leave St Andrews in the January transfer window with Bolton Wanderers being touted to sign him.
