The life of former footballer for Bani Yas and Real Madrid, Dutchman Roysteen Drenth, has returned to the spotlight after appearing on the television show 'Back to Fitness', aired on the Dutch channel NPO 3. He showcased his unconventional life, moving between a stellar football career, severe personal challenges, and a family life full of responsibilities before settling in as a security guard at a psychiatric hospital.
Drenth's life took a major turn after achieving stardom early on. He quickly rose from the streets of Rotterdam to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, one of the world's largest football venues, at a young age. He played for the Spanish giant alongside prominent Dutch names like Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
To fulfill his family responsibilities, he found a paid job and currently works as a care assistant and security guard in intensive care units at various psychiatric hospitals in the Netherlands. During his football career, Drenth played for fourteen different clubs, from Everton in England to Bani Yas in the UAE, from Alania Vladikavkaz to Kozakenvoet, before retiring from professional football, occasionally participating in amateur matches.
After stepping away from the pitch, Drenth also ventured into the music world, trying his hand at rapping under the name 'Roya To Vicez'. He collaborated in this field with his fellow countryman and former Al Ain player Ryan Babel. He also published a book about his autobiography, in which he admitted he did not approach his professional career with the required seriousness, and that his lifestyle and excessive spending contributed to an early end to his football journey.
On the final day of the summer transfer window in August 2010, his time with the Royal club ended as he was loaned to newly promoted Hercules Alicante, after which his performance began to decline.
During the TV program, Drenth revealed that he survived a serious medical emergency due to pulmonary embolism, but that was not the biggest challenge. In 2025, he suffered a brain clot from which he survived but which left clear effects on his health, as the footage showed the extent of the effort he is making in his recovery journey to return to better health.
The 38-year-old Drenth had gained weight in recent years, which prompted him to join the program alongside other former footballers like Wim Kieft and Wesley Sneijder in an attempt to regain his fitness.
On a personal level, Drenth's life was not without complications, as he became a father to eight children, imposing significant obligations on him. The dream had come true, yet its luster began to fade in the later years.
Drenth, the nephew of Edgar Davids and Georginio Wijnaldum, played a large number of matches in his first season with Real Madrid, but the addition of Brazilian Marcelo to the left-wing position led to a reduction in his playing time.
