Royston Drenthe

Royston Drenthe
Drenthe with Hércules in 2011
Personal information
Full name Royston Ricky Drenthe[1]
Date of birth (1987-04-08) 8 April 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Left winger, left-back
Youth career
1992–2000 SC Neptunus
2000–2003 Feyenoord
2003–2005 Excelsior
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Feyenoord 29 (0)
2007–2012 Real Madrid 46 (2)
2010–2011 → Hércules (loan) 17 (4)
2011–2012 → Everton (loan) 21 (3)
2012–2013 Alania Vladikavkaz 6 (3)
2013–2015 Reading 23 (2)
2014–2015 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 15 (1)
2015 Kayseri Erciyesspor 11 (3)
2015–2016 Baniyas 18 (0)
2018–2019 Sparta Rotterdam 32 (5)
2019–2021 Kozakken Boys 9 (3)
2021–2022 Racing Murcia 28 (9)
2022 → Real Murcia (loan) 9 (0)
2022 Racing Mérida City 15 (3)
2023 Kozakken Boys 5 (0)
Total 284 (38)
International career
2005 Netherlands U18 1 (0)
2005–2006 Netherlands U19 6 (0)
2006–2008 Netherlands U21 17 (4)
2008 Netherlands B 1 (0)
2010 Netherlands 1 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
UEFA U-21 Euro
Winner 2007 Netherlands
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Royston Ricky Drenthe (born 8 April 1987) is a Dutch former professional footballer. Although primarily a left winger, he has also played as a left-back.[2][3]

Drenthe started his professional career with Eredivisie side Feyenoord in 2005, having graduated from the club's youth academy. He made 37 appearances for the side before switching to La Liga club Real Madrid in 2007. During his five years in Madrid, he made 65 appearances for the club, spending time on loan at Hércules and Premier League side Everton, making 19 and 27 appearances for those clubs respectively. He then joined Russian Premier League side Alania Vladikavkaz in February 2013 on a free transfer, making six appearances in a brief spell at the club, before he joined Reading in June 2013. In January 2015, he joined Kayseri Erciyessor, before moving to UAE Pro League side Baniyas Club in September 2015. After being released by Baniyas in July 2016, Drenthe announced his retirement from playing. He has since begun recording music under the name Roya2Faces.[4] After two years, Drenthe came out of retirement to play for Sparta Rotterdam in 2018.[5]

Drenthe made 17 appearances for the Netherlands under-21s between 2006 and 2008, and was a member of the team that won the 2007 European Championship. He later made one appearance for the Netherlands B team and also featured once for the full national team.

Club career

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

Born in Rotterdam, Drenthe, who is of Surinamese descent, joined local side Feyenoord's youth system at the age of 13, playing mainly as a winger during his junior years. After disciplinary issues during a trip to Switzerland with the B-side, coach Marcel Bout wanted him to leave the club, but the issues were resolved after the intervention of Rob Baan, the club's director of football.

Bout hardly used Drenthe in his subsequent lineups, and, at the end of the season, the 16-year-old was named as one of eleven players whose future at the club was questionable. He eventually moved to Feyenoord feeder club Excelsior.

Drenthe improved during the two years he played at Excelsior, with manager Marco van Lochem successfully playing him as left back. After impressing his former side's coaching staff, he was asked to rejoin the club, which he accepted.

Feyenoord

[edit]
Drenthe with Feyenoord.

In the 2005–06 season, Drenthe was promoted to Feyenoord's first team, managed by his former youth coach Henk Fräser. After scoring three goals against Ajax in the Otten Cup youth tournament he began training with the main squad, while still appearing for the reserves.[citation needed]

In the same week where he helped his club to a 5–1 win at Ajax with the second team, Drenthe was offered a professional contract at Feyenoord. Manager Erwin Koeman handed him his Eredivisie debut against Vitesse at the Gelredome, and the player finished the season with three matches.

In 2006–07, Feyenoord signed veteran Belgian Philippe Léonard, while Pascal Bosschaart was also still part of the squad. After the former suffered an injury and the latter was transferred to ADO Den Haag, Drenthe became first-choice as Feyenoord finished seventh in the league.

After winning the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with the Netherlands, Feyenoord accepted a €14 million bid by Real Madrid after Drenthe threatened to take his club to court if they did not want to let him go.[6][7][8]

Real Madrid

[edit]
Drenthe with Real Madrid in 2008

Drenthe was presented as a Real Madrid player on 13 August 2007, alongside compatriot Wesley Sneijder. He made his official debut as a midfielder in the second leg of the season's Spanish Supercup against Sevilla, and scored the 1–1 equaliser from 40 yards out, with the ball hitting the crossbar and crossing the line. The Merengues, however, lost 3–5 at home and 3–6 on aggregate.[citation needed]

Drenthe played regularly for Real Madrid in his debut season, in both left-wing positions, but began appearing less after the development of Marcelo, being dropped from the list of 18 by manager Bernd Schuster in several games. At one time, after being left out for the match against Valencia, Drenthe stormed out of the training ground. He finished the campaign with 18 league appearances (plus four in the season's UEFA Champions League), scoring his first league goal against Real Valladolid in a 7–0 home routing on 10 February 2008. [citation needed]

Despite rumours of him leaving the club on loan, Drenthe featured in 15 of Real Madrid's first 18 games of the 2008–09 season. However, he also suffered from anxiety issues after being booed by the club's supporters during a 1–0 home win against Deportivo de La Coruña and did not feature for the club for a period, although manager Juande Ramos offered the player his support and insisted he would help him.[9] The manager later revealed that the player asked not to be picked for the three games after the Deportivo fixture.[10]

On 31 August 2010, after having appeared rarely in his third season, Drenthe was loaned to Hércules in a season-long move.[11] He made his debut on 11 September in a 2–0 away win against Barcelona,[12] and scored his first goal for the club on 14 November, netting from a free kick against Real Sociedad in a 2–1 home victory.[13] His performances with the Alicante team were subsequently praised by the Spanish press.[14] However, the player would soon fall out of favour with the club's board of directors and coaching staff after arriving one week after the winter break ended, citing a "loss of confidence in Hércules management", rather than what was previously perceived as "a protest over unpaid wages".[15]

On 3 April 2011, in his second game after his suspension, Drenthe scored twice to help Hércules to its first away win since September, a 3–1 against Real Sociedad.[16] He ended the season with 15 starts in 1,299 minutes of action, with his team being finally relegated. [citation needed]

Everton

[edit]

On 31 August 2011, Drenthe joined Premier League club Everton on a season-long loan deal.[17] He made his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute in the 2–2 home draw against Aston Villa, on 10 September. Again from the bench, against Wigan Athletic, he scored in the 97th minute to round off a 3–1 home victory.[18][19]

Drenthe made his first start for Everton on 21 September 2011 in a League Cup match against West Bromwich Albion, assisting the winning goal for Phil Neville in the 13th minute of extra time (2–1 home win).[20] On his full league debut, at Fulham on 23 October, he found the net just three minutes into the game in an eventual 3–1 win.[21]

On 21 December 2011, after three weeks out of the game due to an ankle injury, Drenthe assisted Leon Osman for the game's only goal at home against Swansea City.[22] On 18 February 2012, in a match against Blackpool for the season's FA Cup, he scored after just 49 seconds in a 2–0 home success.[23] Drenthe started in the next game for Everton, scoring a powerful low drive from 20 yards out for the first goal of the 1–1 away draw against Queens Park Rangers.[24]

In March 2012, Drenthe was given a leave of absence on compassionate grounds and, upon returning, he reported late for training. This resulted in manager David Moyes omitting the player from Everton's FA Cup semi-final squad; he was also told to stay away from the club.[25] Former Everton Goalkeeper Tim Howard confirmed that poor discipline and attitude around the club played its part in Drenthe being left out the squad. [26]

In a magazine interview published in April, he accused Barcelona's Lionel Messi of racially abusing him on more than one occasion, repeatedly addressing him as "negro".[27]

Alania Vladikavkaz

[edit]

Drenthe left Real Madrid after his contract expired on 30 June 2012.[28] In December, he signed a deal with Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, which came into effect on 2 February of the following year.[29] Drenthe made his league debut for his new team on 9 March 2013, against Rostov. After the game, coach Valery Gazzaev called him a "great professional and an example for the youth".[30] On 15 April, in only his fifth game for the club, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 home win over relegation competitors Mordovia Saransk.

Reading

[edit]

Reading officially confirmed the signing of free agent Drenthe on a two-year contract with the option of a third, on 21 June 2013.[31] On 8 March 2014, Drenthe scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw away at Brighton & Hove Albion after he cut in from the right and fired a left-footed shot into the bottom corner. Drenthe then scored his second goal for the club on 11 March in a 4–2 away win against Leeds United with a free-kick just after half-time. In July 2014, Drenthe was told he could leave Reading after only one season with the club,[32] whilst being stripped of his squad number when the official squad numbers were announced on 14 July 2014.[33]

Sheffield Wednesday

[edit]

Drenthe joined Sheffield Wednesday on a six-month loan on 1 September 2014, halfway through transfer deadline day.[34] He made his Owls debut as a second-half substitute for Chris Maguire in the 0–0 away draw against Bolton Wanderers on 13 September. His only Owls goal came in the 1–1 away draw at Charlton Athletic on 1 November.

Kayseri Erciyesspor

[edit]

On 23 January 2015, Drenthe joined Turkish Süper Lig side Kayseri Erciyesspor.[35]

Baniyas

[edit]

Drenthe joined UAE Pro League side Baniyas Club in September 2015.[36] He was released in July 2016.[37]

Hiatus

[edit]

Unable to find a club, Drenthe announced a hiatus from professional football, saying that he was 'no longer a footballer'.[38]

Sparta

[edit]

After training with the side for a few weeks, on 6 July 2018 Sparta Rotterdam announced they had signed Drenthe to a one-year deal.[5] After Sparta Rotterdam promoted to the Eredivisie during the Keukenkampioen 2018–2019 season, the club decided not to extend his contract.[39]

Kozakken Boys

[edit]

Drenthe then signed for Kozakken Boys.[40]

Return to Spain

[edit]

On 6 January 2021, Drenthe returned to Spain and signed with Racing Murcia.[41] On 30 January 2022, Drenthe was loaned to Real Murcia, playing in the same city but a tier above Racing.[42] In August 2022, he joined Racing Mérida City in the sixth-tier Primera División Extremeña.[43]

Return to Kozakken Boys

[edit]

At the end of 2022 he returned to Kozakken Boys on a try-out.[44]

On 17 November 2023, Drenthe announced his retirement from professional football.[45]

International career

[edit]

After his first full season at Feyenoord, Drenthe was called by Dutch under-21 coach Foppe de Haan to be part of his squad for the 2007 UEFA European Championship, which was held in the Netherlands. He was one of the most important players in the second consecutive title of the competition for the Jong Oranje, being chosen by UEFA as Player of the Tournament.[46] The following year, he represented the nation at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[47]

On 14 November 2010, Drenthe was selected for the first time for the Dutch senior team, as coach Bert van Marwijk picked him as a late replacement for the injured Urby Emanuelson. Three days later, he made his debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 1–0 friendly win over Turkey.

Personal life

[edit]

Drenthe's younger brother, Giovanni, is also a footballer. The striker opted to represent Suriname internationally.[48] His cousin, Georginio Wijnaldum, was another Feyenoord academy product.[49] He is also the cousin of the Suriname international Tyrone Conraad.[50]

Drenthe dated Spanish Playboy model Malena Gracia.[51]

Drenthe recorded a rap song with his friend U-Niq called "Tak Takie".[52]

In 2014, Drenthe opened a clothing store in Rotterdam with Michel Poldervaart.[53]

In December 2020, Drenthe declared bankruptcy after losing £3.2 million.[54]

Drenthe has eight children from different relationships. In 2023 he started working in the healthcare sector, as he explained 'My entire family has always been in care'.[55][56][57]

As TV commentator

[edit]

Drenthe was contracted by the Spanish sports program El Chiringuito de Jugones as commentator, on 1 March 2021.[58]

Career statistics

[edit]

As of 6 May 2022[59][60]

Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Feyenoord 2005–06 Eredivisie 3 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 4 0
2006–07 Eredivisie 26 0 1 0 4[b] 0 2[a] 0 33 0
Total 29 0 1 0 4 0 3 0 37 0
Real Madrid 2007–08 La Liga 18 2 3 0 4[c] 0 1[d] 1 26 3
2008–09 La Liga 20 0 2 0 5[c] 0 1[d] 0 28 0
2009–10 La Liga 8 0 1 0 2[c] 1 — 11 1
Total 46 2 6 0 11 1 2 1 65 4
Hércules (loan) 2010–11 La Liga 17 4 2 0 — — 19 4
Everton (loan) 2011–12 Premier League 21 3 4 1 — 2[e] 0 27 4
Alania 2012–13 Russian Premier League 6 3 0 0 — — 6 3
Reading 2013–14 Championship 23 2 1 0 — 0 0 24 2
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2014–15 Championship 15 1 0 0 — 0 0 15 1
Kayseri Erciyesspor 2014–15 Süper Lig 11 3 — — — 11 3
Baniyas 2015–16 UAE Pro League 18 0 3 0 — — 21 0
Sparta Rotterdam 2018–19 Eerste Divisie 32 5 0 0 — 0 0 32 5
Kozakken Boys 2019–20 Tweede Divisie 9 3 1 0 — — 10 3
2020–21 Tweede Divisie 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Total 10 3 1 0 — — 11 3
Racing Murcia 2020–21 Tercera División 15[f] 8[g] — — 2[h] 1 17 9
2021–22 Tercera División RFEF 13 1 — — — 13 1
Total 28 9 — — 2 1 30 10
Real Murcia 2021–22 Segunda División RFEF 8 0 — — — 8 0
Career total 261 35 18 1 15 1 9 2 305 39
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Eredivisie play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ a b Appearance in Supercopa de España
  5. ^ Appearances in League Cup
  6. ^ Includes six appearances in the second phase
  7. ^ Includes four goals in the second phase
  8. ^ Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs

Honours

[edit]

Real Madrid

Netherlands U21

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Acta del Partido celebrado el 16 de mayo de 2010, en Málaga" [Minutes of the Match held on 16 May 2010, in Málaga] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Drenthe, the unlikely Galactico". FIFA. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  3. ^ Royston Drenthe at WorldFootball.net
  4. ^ Gorst, Paul (8 February 2017). "Ex-Everton man Drenthe becomes a YouTube rap star".
  5. ^ a b "Royston Drenthe naar Sparta en maakt moeder trots" (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  6. ^ "El Madrid fichó ayer a Drenthe por 13 millones" [Madrid signed Drenthe yesterday for 13 million]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 9 August 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Real Madrid signs Royston Drenthe from Feyenoord". ABC Goal. 9 August 2007. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007.
  8. ^ "Real Madrid y Feyenoord llegan a un acuerdo para el traspaso de Royston Drenthe" [Real Madrid and Feyenoord agree on Royston Drenthe transfer] (in Spanish). Real Madrid. 9 August 2007. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  9. ^ Bailey, Richard (16 February 2009). "Drenthe hit by anxiety". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Real Madrid's Drenthe asking not to be picked due to anxiety". Sindh Today. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010.
  11. ^ "Official announcement: Royston Drenthe loaned to Hercules C.F." Real Madrid. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  12. ^ "Barcelona 0–2 Hercules: Spanish newcomers stun Blaugrana at Camp Nou". Goal.com. 12 September 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Duo on song for Hercules". ESPN Soccernet. 14 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  14. ^ "La madurez de Drenthe" [The maturity of Drenthe]. El País (in Spanish). 16 November 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Drenthe offers Hercules explanations after stay away". Reuters. 7 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Hercules claim giant win". ESPN Soccernet. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  17. ^ Gamble, Matthew (31 August 2011). "Blues secure Drenthe deal". Everton F.C. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Everton 3 Wigan Athletic 1: match report". The Daily Telegraph. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  19. ^ "Late goals lift Toffees". ESPN Soccernet. 17 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  20. ^ "Neville sinks Baggies". ESPN Soccernet. 21 September 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  21. ^ "Saha inspires Everton victory". ESPN Soccernet. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Everton 1–0 Swansea". BBC Sport. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  23. ^ "Blackpool rocked by quick-fire Toffees". ESPN Soccernet. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  24. ^ "Distin – Drenthe can't be tamed". Sky Sports. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  25. ^ Hunter, Andy (15 April 2012). "Royston Drenthe told to stay away by Everton after discipline breach". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  26. ^ "I Wanted my Team to LOSE! Tim Howard Talks About the WONDER Players at Man United | Season 5 Ep #6". YouTube.
  27. ^ "Barcelona dismiss claim Messi called Drenthe 'negro'". BBC Sport. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  28. ^ "Drenthe: from the top to the 'doledrums' [sic]". Marca. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  29. ^ "Алания" подписала контракт с Ройстоном Дренте ["Alania" have signed a contract with Royston Drenthe] (in Russian). Alania Vladikavkaz. 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  30. ^ "'Drenthe voorbeeld voor de jeugd, prof met een grote p'" ['Drenthe example for youths, pro with capital "P"]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). 9 March 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  31. ^ "Royals agree Drenthe deal". Reading FC. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  32. ^ "Royston Drenthe to play no part in Reading FC's pre-season plans". Get Reading. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  33. ^ "Squad numbers confirmed". Reading F.C. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  34. ^ "Transfer deadline day: Sheffield Wednesday sign Royston Drenthe". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  35. ^ "Drenthe moves on". Reading F.C. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  36. ^ "Baniyas' newest signing Royston Drenthe hopes to 'play as well as Cristiano Ronaldo'". The National. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  37. ^ "El Trashico: Winston Bogarde, Thomas Gravesen and the Clasico's worst players". MSN. 2 December 2016.
  38. ^ "How Royston Drenthe went from star of the future at Madrid to the Dutch second tier". 8 February 2019.
  39. ^ "Gepromoveerd Sparta heeft geen plek meer voor Drenthe en vijf anderen" (in Dutch). NOS. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  40. ^ "Royston Drenthe: Former Real Madrid and Everton winger has 'no regrets'". BBC Sport. 11 September 2019.
  41. ^ "Drenthe about to return to Spanish football". BeSoccer. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  42. ^ "Royston Drenthe jugará lo que resta de temporada en el Real Murcia". Marca. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  43. ^ "¡¡Bienvenido!!" [Welcome!] (in Spanish). Racing Mérida City. 22 August 2022.
  44. ^ "Oud-international Royston Drenthe keert terug bij Kozakken Boys" [Ex-international Royston Drenthe Returns to Kozakken Boys]. destadgorinchem.nl (in Dutch). 29 November 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  45. ^ "Royston Drenthe, former Real Madrid and Everton player, retires from football: 'It's hard to swallow'". Standard Evening. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  46. ^ "2007: Royston Drenthe". UEFA. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  47. ^ Royston Drenthe – FIFA competition record (archived)
  48. ^ "Suriname's little secret". FIFA. 15 February 2008. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  49. ^ "Royston Drenthe: Der zerplatzte Traum vom Bling-Bling-Leben" (in German). Goal.com. 20 December 2022.
  50. ^ "Interview Tyrone Conraad: "Het is heel speciaal om met Royston te mogen voetballen"". Elfvoetbal.nl.
  51. ^ "Reals Star Heiße Affäre mit Nackt-Model" [Hot affair of Real Madrid star with nude model]. Bild (in German). 1 May 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  52. ^ "U-Niq Feat. Royston Drenthe – Tak Taki Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  53. ^ "Royston Drenthe opent eigen kledingwinkel in Rotterdam" (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  54. ^ "Former Real Madrid and Everton flop declared bankrupt aged 33 after losing £3.2m". 4 December 2020.
  55. ^ "Ex-speler Real shockeert bij Goedele Liekens: "Kunnen toch aan de pil?"". www.voetbalnieuws.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  56. ^ "Former Real Madrid star Royston Drenthe reveals he is now a self-employed HEALTHCARE worker| All Football". AllfootballOfficial. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  57. ^ Mayo, Marc (17 November 2023). "Ex-Real Madrid ace Royston Drenthe retires from football: 'It's hard to swallow'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  58. ^ "El Chiringuito ficha a Royston Drenthe como colaborador". Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  59. ^ "Royston Drenthe". Football Database. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  60. ^ "Royston Drenthe". UEFA. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
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