Royston Drenthe

Royston Drenthe

Personal information
Full name	Royston Drenthe
Position(s)	Defender, Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Feyenoord Rotterdam
Number	24

Royston Drenthe (born April 08, 1987) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Feyenoord Rotterdam. Drenthe mainly plays as a left back, but he is also suitable for the left winger or left forward positions.

Feyenoord youth career

At Feyenoord he came into the D2 team, where Tim Vincken and Gianni Zuiverloon were part of as well. Drenthe played mainly as a left winger during his junior years. As a C player he was invited to join the B squad on a trip to Switzerland. Drenthe misbehaved during the trip and the trainer, Marcel Bout, wanted him to leave the club as a result. Thanks to technical director Rob Baan Drenthe was able to stay and he was only temporarily suspended by the club. After his suspension he continued to play in the C-team before moving to the B-team, where he again faced Marcel Bout as his coach.

Bout hardly used Drenthe in his line-up. Later, at the end of the season he was named as one of eleven players whose future at the club were questionable. Drenthe then decided to switch teams and moved to Feyenoord's feeder club Excelsior Rotterdam.

Drenthe improved during the two years he played at Excelsior. Coach Marco van Lochem wanted to try him as a left back, which turned out to be a success. Drenthe seemed to be a talent at this position and became a team regular. He impressed the Feyenoord coaches and was asked to join them again.

Feyenoord first team

In the 2005/06 season he reached the A1 team of Feyenoord, managed by his former C-youth coach Henk Fräser. Fräser told him he had to fight for his position with his team mate Mohammed Hammouti. Since the Otten Cup, a youth tournament at PSV Eindhoven where he scored three goals against Ajax Amsterdam as a left winger, he became a first-team player and even became captain of the team. In the meantime he also became a team regular in Feyenoord's second team.

Drenthe was offered a professional contract soon after. That same week he won an away match versus Ajax' second team 1-5 and was asked to train with Feyenoord's first team for the first time in his life. He continued to play for Feyenoord's youth and second team before manager Erwin Koeman brought him in his regular squad. He made his debut in the match against Vitesse in the Gelredome and finished the season with a total of three professional matched played.

In the 2006-07 season Feyenoord signed Belgian international player Philippe Léonard at Drenthe's position, while Pascal Bosschaart was also still part of the squad. Due to the injury of Léonard and the switch of Bosschaart to play for ADO Den Haag Drenthe was awarded a chance, which he grabbed immediately. In a short time Drenthe became a fans' favourite player, being one of the few positive highlights in a disappointing season for the club.

Netherlands under-21

In 2007 Drenthe was called up by Jong Oranje coach Foppe de Haan to be part of his squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship held in the Netherlands. Drenthe was one of the most important players in the Dutch wins in their group matches, which resulted in a semi final spot and an automatic qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Against Israel Drenthe brought the only goalscorer Hedwiges Maduro in position to score his goal. The UEFA choose Drenthe as the man of the match for this game. He was also praised after their second group match versus Portugal where he had another assist, this time to help Maceo Rigters score the second Dutch goal which secured them a 2-1 win. In the final group match against Belgium (2-2 draw) Drenthe set the Dutch 2-1 in front from a free kick.

Statistics

Season	Club	Competition	Apps	Goals
2005/06	Feyenoord Rotterdam	Eredivisie	3	0
2006/07	Feyenoord Rotterdam	Eredivisie	26	0
Total			29	0