Fear for Royston Drenthe: "Struck by a stroke"

Royston Drenthe, a former professional footballer with a past also at Real Madrid, was hospitalized after suffering a stroke on Friday dayat. Breaking the news, only today, is the amateur club with which Drenthe continued to have fun on the field, FC de Rebellen, a collective of former Dutch and Belgian professionals.

“Last Friday, Royston Drenthe suffered a stroke – reads the press note from the L’Hague-based amateur sports association. He is currently being cared for and is in good hands. The team and those close to him trust in a speedy recovery. Royston’s family asks for quiet and confidentiality at this time so that he can receive the support and space he needs for his recovery”.

Native of Rotterdam but of Surinamese descent, Royston Drenthe comes from a family of soccer players: his brother John is also a professional, as are his cousins, brothers Georginio, Giliano and Rogerio Wijnaldum. He is also a nephew of Edgar Davids, a Dutch footballer who linked much of his career with Juventus.

Royston Drenthe’s professional career spanned from his beginnings at Feyenoord in 2005 to its conclusion in 2023 at Kozakken Boys in the Dutch third tier. In between, an’important spell at Real Madrid before playing with the shirts of Hercules, Everton, Alania Vladikavkaz, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Kayseri Erciyesspor, Baniyas, Sparta Rotterdam, Racing Murcia, Real Murcia and Racing Merida City.