Kevin Strootman: “Balance is My Magic Word Now”
After nearly two decades in professional football, Kevin Strootman recently closed the book on his playing career. But don’t expect sentimental tears — he’s ready to move on. In this interview, from high above Rotterdam in Celest, the former Dutch international reflects with honesty, humor, and surprising clarity on his life after football.
Letting Go
At 35, Kevin Strootman says he’s genuinely at peace with walking away from the game. “I had been thinking about it for a while,” he admits. “For me, it was clear. I was no longer satisfied with my level. And for everything I had to do to maintain it… it just wasn’t worth it anymore.”
“There were just too few moments of joy left. During your career, you get rewarded sometimes — a good match, a bit of appreciation — that makes the sacrifice easier. But those moments became less and less.”
Known for his midfield presence and work ethic, Strootman always carried a rare self-awareness. Now, in retirement, that introspection sharpens further. “In my head I was still at a certain level, but on the pitch, I wasn’t there anymore. So sometimes, jokingly at training, I’d say: ‘I really need to stop.’ But honestly, that was a kind of self-defense.”
From Ridderkerk to Rome
Strootman’s journey took him from humble beginnings at Sparta Rotterdam to European nights with AS Roma. Despite enduring devastating knee injuries — setbacks that sidelined him for nearly two years — he speaks with remarkable detachment about those lost opportunities. “I could’ve had those injuries at 18. That would’ve been worse.”
And those missed tournaments with the Dutch national team? “Eventually, better players came along. Frenkie de Jong, for example — after his first training, it was obvious: I’d lost my spot.”
There’s no bitterness, just realism. And warmth — especially when the conversation turns to Italy. “Those were the best years,” he says, lighting up. “Playing and living there… The Premier League was always my dream, but after three months in Italy I told my wife: we’re never leaving. It’s the people — their warmth, their mentality, how they treat each other. They’re warmer than the Dutch. More emotional too.” He might not know if he’ll live there again, “but it’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
The Obsession with Fitness
Even in retirement, Strootman’s routine still revolves around movement. “I can’t sit still. I need to do something in the morning — preferably two workouts a day. Padel and strength training.”
That intense discipline stems from his playing days — but looking back, he questions if he pushed too hard. “Maybe I went too far. People would say: Kevin is so professional. But now I wonder if all that fitness actually improved my game. If I had a bad training session, I’d just hit the gym harder. If I didn’t play, I went to the gym again. I watched my diet obsessively.” It was, as he now sees, a form of overcompensation. “The balance was lost.”
Chasing and Finding Balance
Balance. It’s a word that keeps surfacing — not just in hindsight, but in his daily life now. “Even the greengrocer asks if I’m in a black hole,” he says, smiling. “It’s funny. Like walking up to a stranger and asking if they’re depressed. But with footballers, apparently you can just ask that.”
He insists: no black hole here. Just simplicity. He goes to the market, stands at the school gate. The life he once called ‘burgerlijk’ — ordinary — he now embraces. “I used to live in a bubble. Everything revolved around the next result. You only realize that after your career.”
Curious for more? Read the full interview with Kevin Strootman in our latest issue — Life After Football Magazine, Issue 84.
