Former Real Madrid star and Premier League flop looks unrecognisable as he makes rare football podcast appearance just two years after retiring

A former footballer who played for the likes of Real Madrid, Everton and Feyenoord during his career has made a rare podcast appearance — and several fans have admitted they no longer recognise him.

Royston Drenthe, 37, retired from football in 2023 following a second stint at Dutch club Kozakken Boys and has since worked as a commentator for Spanish outlet El Chiringuito.

The Rotterdam-born star began his career at Feyenoord before joining Real Madrid in 2007, where he remained for five years while undertaking several loan spells away from the Bernabeu.

One of those stints came at Goodison Park during the 2011-2012 season — and he later returned to England in 2013 to take up arms with recently-relegated Reading in the Championship.

Despite impressing as a youngster and riveting the gaze of Real Madrid, Drenthe struggled to kick on in his career and ultimately flopped with Everton and Reading during his time in England.

The left-sided player, who made one cap for the Netherlands in 2010, played for 13 teams over his 18-year career.

The Rotterdam-born star began his career at Feyenoord before joining Real Madrid in 2007

A handful of fans admitted they did not recognise the ex-Real Madrid star from the podcast clip

While appearing on the football podcast SDS this week, Drenthe went on a humourous rant about being an ‘all-rounder’ after it was suggested by one of the hosts that his best position on the pitch was left-back.

‘No, I was an all rounder,’ Drenthe said. ‘If you don’t understand that as a coach, then you are not a coach. Simple, I am an all rounder. 

‘Why can I score a free-kick? Why can I do something in the No 10 position? Why? Because I’m an all rounder.’

A handful of fans admitted they did not recognise Drenthe from the podcast clip.

One fan said on social media: ‘That’s him now?’ 

Another posted with a shocked emoji: ‘This is Drenthe now?’

In March 2024, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole included Drenthe in their ‘unfulfilled FC’, made up of players that they believe never reached the heights of their full potential.

The former England internationals placed Drenthe at left-back in the side, behind former River Plate, Portsmouth and Argentina winger Andres D’Alessandro.

Drenthe (left) pictured at Real Madrid alongside Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe

Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand previously included Drenthe at left-back in their ‘unfulfilled XI’

Drenthe revealed in 2023 that he fell out with David Moyes during his loan spell at Everton

The ex-Real Madrid wonderkid opened up on his falling out with David Moyes during the Everton manager’s first spell at the club back in 2023.

He claimed the Scot tried to ‘get under his skin’ during his loan spell from Real Madrid.

‘A lot has been made in the past of my time at the club, and the kind of character I was when I joined, and people know all about my relationship with David Moyes – especially while I was a player at Goodison Park,’ he said.

‘I think back now with a completely different mindset, though; as a 36-year-old, I can understand and appreciate the job he was doing, and how I thought back when I was 25 perhaps wasn’t always right. 

‘Back then, I was firmly of the belief that Moyes was simply out to prove to the other players that he could get under my skin. We’d argue and I’d just think “what the f***?’ ‘Is he taking the p***?”. And while there are certain occasions where I can say I still feel I was in the right, on the whole I’d say he was. 

‘Ultimately, he wanted to get the best out of me as a player, he wanted to help me, I just couldn’t see that at the time. But people change, and I can look back now a lot older and wiser, and I can understand why he did what he did with me.’