We and our partners use technology, such as cookies, and collect information that is browsing to personalise the content and advertising and to provide you with the ideal online experience.
Please let us know if you agree.
By Sean Cole
Football author
If Royston Drenthe answers the phone he is on his way. It is for an underwear business, and will comprise several footballers. “I do not have a six-pack but they still want me,” he yells.
Real Madrid, the Feyenoord and Everton winger has been willing to try new things. For such a colourful character, that has explored interests in perfume, fashion, music and poker, nothing must come as surprise.
In 32, Drenthe is looking for Kozakken Boys at the third tier of soccer. He was once perhaps the most searched prospect in Europe, although the world, but his career did not quite go to plan up before his retirement in age 29.
“The two years I stopped I needed something new,” states Drenthe. “I simply needed to step out for a little to find myself .”
In the summer of 2007, Drenthe was hailed as the Netherlands’ superstar having led his country to success in the Championship, in addition to claiming the award for the best player of the tournament.
Famous figures such as Andrea Pirlo Luis Figo and Fabio Cannavaro had won the award.
“This was an incredible feeling. At the European philosopher everything was going well and when nightclubs begin asking for you it’s like a fantasy come true. I needed to make a decision about what I wanted to perform.
“You will find large clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona. It wasn’t a simple decision to make but I chose Real Madrid since my step-dad was always a big fan of those.”
Drenthe was only 20, with a single year in football supporting himwhen he transferred to arguably the world team for euros.
“You must take some chances immediately. A good deal of folks would say,’it had been way too premature for him. Why did he leave Feyenoord?’ That’s football. You make decisions to triumph but sometimes they don’t go how you want,” he states.
“I felt at home straight away since the players were rather great to me and they assisted me. They were big stars but they treated me as a normal boy.”
Drenthe tended towards the spectacular. He scored on his debut using a thumping long-range strike and featured regularly initially keeping Marcelo. He even won the title but fell out of favour.
At the supporters of a demanding club, whose, Drenthe occasionally came up short. Anxiety was induced by the strain.
“I had been a young lad who arrived to a big clubplaying in front of 90,000 people every home game,” he describes.
“There came a moment where I had a issue but the people around me talked to me and helped me in the right direction”
Loaned out following a tough third season in Madrid to Hercules, strife and uncertainty accompanyed progress on the pitch it off.
“It was really good but also very bad. It was a lousy time to your club although I had a terrific time . They were not paying salaries and that kind of material,” he states.
“At the instant it was not straightforward. I was like,’When they do not pay wages, I am not coming to coaching’.”
Drenthe went on attack, and found herself a goal for those fans’ frustration as a outcome.
Another loan spell at Everton turned sour when he was ostracised by David Moyes amid rumours of indiscipline and a lifestyle that was wayward.
“Sometimes things happen and I got punished for the things which I did. It’s like seven years today. Some of the crazy things that I did, so I do know I did .
“I always focused on football. You guys believe that I did not but that I did. So they obtain their own opinion Many folks see things and see things. But they don’t understand me as someone. It doesn’t bother me.”
Drenthe needed a reputation as a playboy and celebration animal. Wrongly or rightly, the general perception has endured as his priorities have changed. It surely doesn’t tally by how he sees himself.
“I love to help people. I’m open. I am a family person. I Royston, you understand? I go with the flow.”
After departing Real Madrid after his contract expired, Drenthe spent in Russia before returning to England and then Sheffield before charms in Turkey and the UAE.
After more issues with representatives and wages Drenthe, disillusioned, retired in 2016nine years on from Europe’s biggest clubs clamouring to sign him.
“I was making music but it’s hard to say I was focused on one thing. I was busy with a lot of different items,” he states.
“I’ve always liked music. I listen to audio as 19, when I’m happy when I am depressed and I listen to music. It always gives me a good feeling.”
Aside from rapping as Roya2Faces, there was a company, a clothing store, a perfume shop and his six children to keep him busy.
Then he received an offer Henk Fraser, the manager of Sparta Rotterdam, to give football another go.
And Drenthe’s playing with Kozakken Boys in the Dutch tier before crowds of a few thousand. It’s not exactly the Bernabeu but he’s glad to still be playing.
For casual observers there’ll always be a sense of what could have been, but it doesn’t be shared by Drenthe himself.
“No regrets at all. Everything happens for a reason,” he says. “I don’t regret anything because I am happy with where I am and I’m content with where I’ve been. I’m living my life right now.”
Is the billionaire philanthropist at the center of a global conspiracy?
Get latest scores and headlines sent right to your phone, sign-up to our newsletter and also find out where to find us on online.
About the author: Roberto Bannon
Related posts:
