sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

What Happened To Royston Drenthe: The Once 'Next Big Thing' At Real Madrid

What Happened To Royston Drenthe: The Once 'Next Big Thing' At Real Madrid

He's living a very different life in 2020.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

At the age of 20, highly rated winger Royston Drenthe was presented as a Real Madrid player alongside Wesley Sneijder.

A pacey customer touted to shine at the Bernabeu after a breakthrough season at Feyenoord, he was a prodigy held in high regard by many at Los Blancos but unfortunately, his fall from grace typified a generation of unfulfilled Dutch talent.

Just 11 years after signing for one of the world's biggest clubs, Drenthe was unable to find a club following his release from UAE Pro League side Baniyas and decided to hang up his boots at the age of 29.

From Real Madrid to free agent, it's been a rough ride for the player tipped for greatness but now, at the of 33, Drenthe has recently signed a new deal at Dutch third division side Kozakken Boys after coming out of retirement.

It's clear that former Everton winger is finding great happiness playing for the club.

"I feel comfortable with Cossack Boys. It is a nice environment with nice people and a good group of players. My physical condition is now completely on point, even though I am getting a bit older." he says.

Things have certainly been eventful for Drenthe, who originally burst onto the scene in June 2007, when he starred in Holland U21's win over England at the European Championships alongside the likes of Ryan Babel, Maceo Rigters and Daniel de Ridder.

All talented players but it never quite worked out for them, despite heaps of expectation during that era.

Drenthe
Drenthe

In a five year spell at Real Madrid, Drenthe, who was bought for £11 million months after his European Championship heroics, managed 48 appearances during that time, but loan spells at Hercules and Everton halted his progress at the Bernabeu.

We witnessed glimpses of his true potential during his time in England, scoring three goals in 21 appearances under David Moyes, but it wasn't enough.

His attitude was clearly a problem, and after failing to impress enough to earn a contract at Goodison Park, Drenthe admitted his problems:

"I used to confront David Moyes, thinking I had the right to talk to him like that. But in hindsight, he was so right about me most times." he told reporters.

"Now I can't believe I blew it at ­Everton. It is one of the most fantastic clubs in the Premier League. My ­attitude and poor mentality are the reasons I ruined my career there.''

Drenthe
Drenthe

After his spell at Everton, the winger joined Russian side FC Spartak Vladikavkaz after his contract expired at Madrid in 2012, but that ended in disaster, making just six appearances in total.

Unsurprisingly, Drenthe returned to England with Reading in 2013, and then joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan in 2014, but neither of those moves worked out.

Another year, another move and Drenthe managed a move to Turkish side Kayseri Erciyesspor in the 2015 January transfer window.

Despite scoring three goals in 11 games, he left the club six months later, joining Abu Dhabi-based side Baniyas Club - and lasted only a matter of months.

Drenthe was only 29-years-old when he declared he was 'fed up with all the stuff in the football world' and retired.

In a shock new venture, he soon turned to a career in rap by releasing his debut single Paranoia.

Drenthe went on to release a further three tracks in the space of a few months, and picked up thousands of views on YouTube.

"Music is a part of my life. When I'm in a car and there is 10 or 15 minutes with no music I always start to think 'what is missing'" he told The Sun in 2018.

"Before a game I had to listen to something, it was very important for me. Without music it was difficult to go [and play]."

And on top of his career in music, Drenthe has recently turned to acting, where he has starred in Dutch gangster TV series Mocro Maffia; a show about three friends who rise to become the top cocaine dealers in The Netherlands.


An incredible story, I'm sure you'll agree.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Football, Holland, Real Madrid